Nothing Scary About Color with Sharon Cummings

Questions/Written by: Aleon de Silva, Answers by Sharon Cummings All Images courtesy of Sharon Cummings

Don’t ever try to box artist Sharon Cummings into only the ‘abstract art’ category. Yes, she creates a lot of abstract works, but her creativity encompasses a lot more than that. The best way to identify her is as a ‘creative’. She paints, cuts, clicks, sculpts, draws, and snaps to create and express what she feels. She is never confined. Her freedom can be boldly seen in all her creations. Her art is as though something already beautiful was put under a microscope to reveal a pure essence that is even more beautiful. Her work is appreciated by many, and Style.No.Chaser is just the latest of her admirers. Sharon is a rare individual who has found her place in life by understanding that fully living primarily comes from ‘doing’. Sharon is not scared of color and she proves this over and over again with her brilliant images that strangely stimulate most of the senses.

“I’ve used dinosaur bones in my art before! I’ve done pieces …”

Please tell us a little about yourself – your childhood, siblings, where you grew up, what you liked as a child, strange thoughts as a child/now, unique attributes, where you live now, etc.?

I am definitely a “small town” girl living in a big city. I grew up in a little beachside community called Siesta Key and even though I moved away in my teens to pursue my education and career in Tampa, my heart belongs to the ocean. Recently, I’ve been able to purchase a weekend getaway back by the sea, so I split my time between the two. I have OCD and while many suffer horribly with this, I have been fortunate to find a way to channel it into something positive. As a child, I would walk the beach for hours looking for sharks teeth. I counted everything. I collected all sorts of things. And my room had to be neat as a pin. But as an adult, I simply create my art and it satisfies my every compulsion. Ok, I still keep my space pretty tidy.

What is your earliest art memory?

I remember my Grandmother showing me her paints and allowing me to do a little brush work with cadmium yellow and phthalo blue. She never let anyone near her art studio, but we had a special bond and she let me in when the rest of the grandkids weren’t around.

How do you describe your form of art and how did you develop your art style?

Generally when people ask me about my art, I say I am primarily an abstract artist, but I also enjoy digital collage work and photography. My art cannot be easily defined by any one medium or style. Though people do recognize my work easily. It’s bright, high contrast and colorful, but I am told it has a “Sharon Cummings” element. I never limit myself when it comes to creativity. I’ve used dinosaur bones in my art before! I’ve done pieces with human ashes. I sculpt. I draw. I paint. I snap. I click. I have been creating since I was a child with anything I could get my hands on. I’ve never minded the medium or the rules for that matter.

What messages are you trying to convey with your art?

I would say the underlying message my art conveys is that there is nothing scary about color. Red is your friend. Brown doesn’t really do anything for you. Go bold or go home.

What philosophy do you live by and what is your ultimate aspiration?

I have to steal this one from Nike “Just Do It”. So many people spend their lives worrying about what others will think, failure, success or even what they will think of themselves. Opportunity rarely knocks twice so just go for it! I always aspire to grow both intellectually and creatively. I want to open a gallery of thought. A place to not only look, but think. I have this strange idea brewing, but it isn’t fully formed yet.

How do you think art can change the world we live in for the better?

Art brings happiness to so many people. It can make you smile and laugh. But it can also make you feel sad and angry. Art has the power to move you. Anything that makes you “feel” something in a World that has become impersonal and distracted is a good thing.

Which artist/s do you look up to the most?

I have a bit of a fascination with Frida Kahlo. She created her amazing art while dealing with constant intense physical pain. No matter how much she agonized, she still painted. You have to respect that.

Other than art, what other profession would you like to attempt if you had the time and resources?

I really enjoy forensic science. It would also be perfect for my obsessive compulsive nature. I could absolutely picture myself spending hours combing through a carpet looking for fiber evidence.