The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
Sharon Marrell
Middleburg Hts Ohio 44130 United States Home Phone: 2164104885 Website: sharon Marrell Fine Art
Bio
Art has always been a part of who I am. Long before I picked up a paintbrush, I was searching for ways to capture the beauty and emotion I saw in the world around me. My creative journey began behind the camera in the late 1980s and early 1990s, photographing nature throughout Michigan. I was drawn to the details that many people overlooked—the quiet moments, the changing light, and the unexpected beauty found in ordinary places. Those photographs earned several awards, but more importantly, they taught me to observe with patience and intention.
As my artistic interests grew, so did my desire to create rather than simply capture. In the early 2000s, I discovered Donna Dewberry’s One Stroke Painting technique, a style that introduced me to a new understanding of color, movement, and brushwork. I eventually became a Certified One Stroke Painting Instructor, sharing that passion with students and encouraging them to discover their own creativity. One of the greatest compliments I ever received came from a former student who told me that my classes had opened a creative door she never knew existed.
Although I enjoy working in many styles and subjects, portraiture has remained one of my greatest passions for more than twenty-five years. A portrait is far more than a physical likeness; it is an opportunity to preserve a personality, a memory, and a story. Whether painting a child, a beloved pet, or a family member, my goal is to create artwork that reflects the unique spirit of the subject.
Throughout my journey, I have continued to study and grow as an artist. I have had the privilege of learning from accomplished artists Sharlene Green and Bill Kufahl, whose guidance strengthened both my technical skills and artistic confidence. Their influence, combined with years of experience and exploration, has helped shape the artist I am today.
Music has also been an important part of my life. My experiences as a performer, director of community choirs, and owner of a music academy nurtured a spirit of creativity, innovation, and expression that continues to influence my artistic journey. I have often found that painting and music share the same creative language. Both are rooted in harmony, balance, intuition, and expression, inviting us to move beyond technique and create work that resonates on an emotional level.
Over the years my work has expanded beyond portraits to include wildlife, landscapes, still life, abstracts, and works of social commentary.
I enjoy exploring a wide variety of subjects because each offers a different way to tell a story. Some paintings celebrate the quiet beauty of the natural world, while others invite reflection on the human experience. Regardless of the subject, I am always searching for an idea, an emotion, or a perspective that feels genuine and unexpected.
Today, I continue to explore new ideas while remaining grounded in the same curiosity that first inspired me to pick up a camera decades ago. Every painting begins with a sense of wonder and the hope that it will encourage someone to pause, look a little closer, and discover something they hadn’t seen before.
Art has never been simply about creating beautiful images. For me, it has always been about connection—between artist and subject, artwork and viewer, memory and emotion. It is a privilege to create pieces that become part of someone’s home, commemorate a cherished life, or simply bring a moment of beauty into the everyday.
Artist Statement
My work begins with observation but is shaped by curiosity, emotion, and imagination. I am drawn to the details that give a subject its character—an expression, a gesture, the texture of an animal’s fur, the movement of a landscape, or an unexpected combination of color and form.
Portraiture has been an important part of my work for more than 25 years. Whether I am painting a person or a beloved pet, I strive to capture more than a recognizable likeness. I look for the personality, presence, and subtle qualities that make each subject unique.
My broader studio practice includes wildlife, landscapes, abstracts, mixed media, and works that explore social themes. I enjoy moving between realism and abstraction because each offers a different way of seeing. Realism challenges me to observe closely, while abstraction gives me the freedom to respond more intuitively to color, texture, movement, and emerging imagery.
Working in acrylic, pastel, charcoal, pencil, watercolor, and mixed media allows the materials themselves to become part of the creative process. I often begin with an idea or reference, but I also value the unexpected changes that occur as a piece develops.
Ultimately, my work is about looking closely, finding what makes each subject unique, and creating art that invites the viewer to see something they may not have noticed before.