Your Favorite Artsit, Checking In!

Hanging out in Lewiston, Michigan at my Uncle Harry's cottage for a family reunion

Everyone loves to check into real life and enjoy family! Here I am in Lewiston, enjoying the cottage life with my family for a family reunion. An artist lives to create, but even a busy artist needs to check out of the studio and into social life. I'll see ya back in the studio next week! Have Fun! 

Orange Sunflower

Painting in Oils,  Vibrant , textured - size 24"x36"   $1700  SOLD

Pink Poppies

Painting in Oils  16"x20"  $550

Vibrant Blue Morning Glory

Painting in Oils,  size 16"x20"   $550

"WoMan Of Courage" Art Prize 2010

This work of art has a very long story to it. The concept and the composition came about in my mind while I was visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2009.  I created this piece for the Grand Rapids Art Prize competition in 2010.

 I  was going thru some difficulties in my life and wanted to express them through a work of art.  I thought that I could help be a mouth-peice for the injustice and harm that comes to females throughout  the world. Although it may be a small contribution to the big picture I had alot of responses to my art. When you look closely at the art you will see small messages and stories the women are telling. The overall big picture when you see this is Beauty. Strength, Courage & Community.   I come to bring women of all colors and locations together to stand for our positions in the world and to stay strong as we unit.

Stained-Glass Window

This stained glass window was made for a client that just lost her husband. They used to walk on the beach and if you look in the bottom photo you will see actual pebbles that he had picked up and saved, they walked along the shores of Lake Michigan together and this represents that for the widower. The piece is 36" in diameter, with shades  blues for the skies and water and tan for the sand with a band of sunset pink on the horizon.

TAMARAC HEALTH CENTER- SPECTRUM HEALTH

Mosaic Glass custom made for Tamarac Health Center- Spectrum Health Hospital- Fremont Michigan 

Design and intricately made from hand cut glass, this oak tree twisting and turning up into the painted portion of the curved wall at the Tamarac Health Center.  Adorned are copper leaves each engraved with the names of  donors that contributied to this beautiful facility.  Sharon Smithem signature at bottom right etched in glass.

TAMARAK HEALTH CENTER MOSAIC MURAL

The Finished Donor Tree for the Tamarak. The leaves on the tree are made from brass and engraved. The names on the leaves are the people that donated to the Tamarak , people and businesses around the area. I thank everyone for this oppurtunity to use my talents.

GRANT TOWNSHIP HALL MURAL

GRANT TOWNSHIP HALL MURAL

14'x8' designed and painted by Sharon Smithem

Theme: AMERICA

This mural has a long story........    The committee at the Grant Township Hall consisted of 4 men with strong opinions on what to place on this mural.
They gave me a long list of things they would like to incorporate .  Started with the old  Rothbury Township Hall. The Claybanks Church. the Constitution of America, the pledge of allegiance to the flag, a John Deere tractor, a International tractor, the surrounding farmlands, the American flag and a good ol boy driving the tractor. Oh Boy! that was alot to try to design into a mural painting but I came up with an awesome design and proposal and they accepted it. This painting took 6 week to finish working on it daily. It is very intricate with the stalks of wheat to the detail in the tractor, the constitution handwriting and the boy riding the tractor. If you look closely you will see where the International has a place on the mural. It was a fun project and of course I put my whole heart and skill into it.
The location is Grant Township Hall  7140 S. Oceana Dr, Rothbury Mi. I am not sure of the hours of operation, maybe you can catch them open to get a view.
Its stunning!

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MURAL

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN GRAND RAPIDS
   Year 2000      12'x8' Mural - Located in the lobby of the MDOT on Front Street

NBC MIDDLE SCHOOL MONTAGUE MICHIGAN

   MONTAGUE NBC MIDDLE SCHOOL MURAL  2000

40 ft. x 4ft. located in school hallway over trophy cases

MONTAGUE HIGH SCHOOL . MONTAGUE MICHIGAN

 MONTAGUE WILDCAT MURAL 1991 

It has been a few years......

It's been a few years since I posted on this blog- 

4 years to be exact. 

I will be posting past artwork.

 Then on to the new!

2009 Mural painting- Utopian Marketplace, Montague Mi.
no longer open