ABOUT (cont)It all started with an idea for a gift.

In fact, painting hasn’t always been a part of Sharon Kearns life. “I did not know I could paint fine art until I sat down one day to do something special for my sister,” said Kearns. “And, I was truly amazed at the outcome of my efforts. I decided to try another painting and I was equally amazed at something that seemed so beyond what I believed to be my own ability.”

Ironically, although she has always had a creative flair and a desire to illustrate, she holds no formal artistic training. Kearns graduated from St. Mary’s College in 1981 with an associate of arts degree and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in business communications.

Her artistic background began as an advertising account executive for The High Point Enterprise, a local newspaper. When a position opened in the art department, she approached the advertising director about a possible move. “I asked him to give me a chance as a staff artist,” Kearns said. “But, I also wanted to make sure I could have my old job back if for some reason the new staff artist position didn’t work out.” 

She stayed in the art department, building a solid foundation in graphic design and illustration skills, as well as learning to blend and print color.

Family moves prompted a career shift to sales, but Kearns maintained freelance projects to fulfill her creative drive. From illustrating steeples for a church catalog, to painting a logo on a basketball court at a local health club, Kearns found ways to keep art an integral part of her life.  “At one point, I even established my own hand-painted linen company,” said Kearns.