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Sharon Knox had never put paintbrush to canvas before enrolling in an art class a month ago. As an interior designer, the only visual art she'd created were floor plans and sketches of window treatments.
Now, having finished several watercolors, this Willow Glen resident says she's ready to go public with her paintings.
Knox will be showing her work in the 10th annual student show at Campbell's Kensington Art Centre, where she takes her class. The show opens April 16.
"I sell lots of decorative art, so now I want to create it," Knox says. "I've only done four pieces, and every one seems to be progressing."
In her design work, Knox says, "I live in the world of color. That's why I really enjoy watercolors."
She's also enjoying her Tuesday night classes at Kensington. "It makes you better," she says. "It's a creative group and everyone has their own style, so it's a really supportive, noncompetitive environment. It's nice that everyone gets to work at their own pace."
"I like the fact that everyone's doing something different," says Karen Bacica, the featured artist in this year's student show. In classes where everyone paints the same subject, she adds, "you can't develop your own style because you're always comparing yourself to the person next to you."
Bacica has been painting for more than 20 years and started attending classes at Kensington three years ago. She said the weekly sessions help her stay focused on her art.
"I've seriously gotten back into it in the last three years," Bacica adds. "Raising kids got in the way a little. Now I have more time. [Painting is] very therapeutic. I get lost in it. It's very relaxing."
Instructor Carolyn Larsen encourages a relaxed, unstructured atmosphere in her classes.
"My philosophy is that people are attracted to different media and different subjects," Larsen says. "Some work fast, and some work slow. Therefore, our classes are multimedia, and each person works on that which they're most interested in."
Willow Glen resident Jannel Waldo said she prefers painting florals and landscapes, and watercolor is her medium of choice. "I like the ability to mix colors and the way they blend in water," says Waldo, as she put the finishing touches on her painting of a golden poppy on a black background.
Like Knox, Waldo is new to Kensington. She started taking classes at the center 21/2 months ago. "I probably hadn't painted for 10 years," she says. "Being so new, it's nice to have guidance every now and then."
Waldo says Larsen has an uncanny knack for knowing when to offer guidance. "She's focusing on one person but also has her eye on everyone else."
"Just when you're struggling, Carolyn sneaks up behind you," Bacica adds. "Carolyn has a real intuitive knack for guiding and getting you to try something different."
Waldo, Knox and Bacica are among 41 student artists who will have their work displayed in the Kensington show. "It's part of their learning experience," Larsen says. "Someone who's studying piano or dance has a recital. This is our chance to show what we can do and be acknowledged."
The 10th annual Kensington student art show is scheduled for April 16 through May 7, with an opening night reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kensington Art Centre, located at 347 E. Campbell Ave.
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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer