Suckarepellent

She is a woman, a mother, a friend, a daughter, a sister, but still so much more. She is Strength, Courage, Power & Beauty. I have never met Sharon Catchings, but I can read this in her words and in the strokes of paint she creates on canvas. We put labels on ourselves and each other. Categorize people as specimens. Evaluate and analyze them to bring some sort of reason, meaning, or clarification to that which we don’t understand, but want to. We are a curious species, multi-faceted, complex, original, boring, intriguing, dangerous, beautiful, and that’s just the beginning. We sometimes hide ourselves, restrain from emotion, contain feelings, therefore we become inclined to express ourselves in some other way shape or form. We all choose different mediums, and how others perceive those
mediums is not always the way we intended them to be perceived. That is Art and Art is subjective. Beauty is also a wonderful Illusion.

Name and where you’re from?
Sharon Catchings, born and raised Houston, TX….and no, we don’t have horses, we do drive cars.

What do you like about Houston and living here?
I like that Houston is a rapid growing city. It gives lots of room for new ideas and change to be considered.

Education background> Where you trained in the arts?
I was awarded scholarships to a community college but I do not have a degree in arts. I inherited my artistic talent and I’ve matured as an artist through practice and experience.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be so many things (ha ha). I wanted to be a model, artist, singer, teacher…I was such a girly girl!

If you had to describe your work, what’s 1 word you would use to describe it?
Life

Your work deals with “motivational images” and “inspiration from reflection of life experiences” what else inspires you when creating art?
Mostly world occurrences and experiences are what fascinate me. I’m a very passionate person so I like to paint about things that move me. Abstract expressionism suits me well.

How does being a -Mother inspire, shape your work?
I work a full time job that I really enjoy. However, art is my passion, my escape, so I fit that into my life. I’m an example to my daughter so she has a major impact in keeping me motivated to pursue my aspirations. I have to lead by example.

How has it changed you as an artist?
After becoming a mother, it has become more challenging to find time. However, being a mother has given me more to be passionate of, which gives me more to paint about.

How do you feel about the “What are you?” question -
I personally get that alot, and just by looking at you, I’m curious to ask about your -racial makeup, ethnic identity.
I’m American Indian and Irish but if we go back in time aren’t we all a little of everything? ( LOL ). I realize that people question my ethnicity quite often because I do have unique features. It doesn’t bother me; I like being “different”.

In your work you have several pieces that touch on issues of Racial Ambiguity & Ethnic Identity:”Color shouldn’t Matter”, “My Life series”, “Envy”, “Hardships”,tell me about those pieces, and where you drew you inspiration, beside the obvious.

Color Shouldn’t Matter: I painted a beautiful woman green to make a point that she is still beautiful no matter what color she is. If I had painted her black, white or any other color then people would identify with her as a certain race. I colored her green so they would disregard race and think of only her beauty. We have way greater issues in this world that we should invest our time/energy into, rather than worrying about the color of someone’s skin.

Envy: I intentionally colored her eye green as for “green with envy”. I wanted to make a point that woman may want to stop looking out at other woman and envying what others have and instead finding and appreciating their unique beauty.

Hardships: We all have our ups and downs; our hardships are a part of life. I believe that they are meant to teach us more about ourselves. This piece has the (yellow canvas) woman who is tied up which represents that sometimes we go through hard times and so many things are happening to us at once that we feel like our hands are tied. We have a choice to take the hardship and reflect upon it and learn something about our self from it, grow from it (the red canvas). Some choose to let the hard times weigh them down, loose focus, and not learn from them (blue canvas).

Has Ethnic identity, and fitting into 1 mold, or box, affected you as an adult, or growing up?
It did when I was a child, but not as an adult. Kids used to tease me because my mother didn’t know how to come my nappy hair. Ha ha!

Before you paint, draw, create a new work, How do you go into the “zone” to prepare.(like light a candle, but music on, etc?)
First I like to write about what I’m going to paint about and that gets my mind stimulated. I put on some good music and go to town! While my paintings are drying I will take a break and read a great book to inspire me.

What’s your favorite medium to use?
Right now I’m using a lot of acrylic and oil sticks. I don’t really have a favorite, I’m always exploring new mediums.

Who are some of your favorite artists?
I have many artist that I look up to. Frida Kahlo is one that comes to mind. She was such a strong woman.

Do you have a favorite gallery, museum in town, and why?
I have no favorite galleries. I go to exhibits all over Houston as I have free time to do so.

What are you currently listening to?
Nina Simone!

Voting for in this year’s election?
If I tell you then I’ll have to kill you (wink)

Any current exhibits or up-coming exhibits?
For 2008, I have been working on my application for the Downtown Bayou Art Festival so that has kept me very busy.

What else should I be asking you?
What my blood type is? Ha ha…just kidding. Forgive me, I’m always joking around.

www.sharoncatchings.com