Mentorship is the fastest way to go from where you are today, to where you want to be! Learn How Mentorship Works or join this mentors group below. Not sure what stage you are? Click here for descriptions.
Mentoring Emerging & Accomplished Artists Not sure if you’re an emerging or accomplished artist? Find your stage here.
MEDIUM: Oil Paint | Acrylic Paint | Watercolour Art | Mixed Media Art | Encaustic Paint SPECIALTY: ✔ Generalist
My passion is helping artists to paint with their own individual voices rather than reproducing a photograph. The best way I have found to do this is by teaching a self critique process where we look at 3 stages of art creation: before you begin to paint, during your painting process, and at the end of the process.
“My goal and ambition is to bring beauty and peace into people’s homes through my art, and to offer the life-giving joy of creation to my art students.”
Sharon’s EXPERTISE
Listed below are this Mentor’s specialty skills. Join this group if you want to grow in these areas.
Specialty: ✔ Generalist
Technical:
Z
Colour and Composition
Z
Supplies and Tools – what to use, where to save, and where to spend
Z
Providing Art Critiques
Z
Teaching How to Self Critique
MARKETING & BRANDING:
Z
Shows and Exhibits
Business:
Z
Pricing Artwork
Z
Running your art business the day-to-day
Sharon is a wonderful mentor. I appreciate her guidance and constructive feedback on my work and listening to the feedback on the work of others is also very helpful.
Sharon has great energy and gives positive feedback.
Sharon is an outstanding teacher! She is so knowledgeable and so eager and willing to share that knowledge. She had an answer to all of my questions about anything related to art. She thoroughly researches the topic and then relays the information in a way that is easy to understand. Sharon is friendly, enthusiastic, encouraging, and very good at critiquing her students’ work. Her preparation for classes and homework is extremely thorough and professional. I have learned so much from Sharon and highly recommend her as an art teacher and mentor.
Celeste
Sharon always shares her knowledge and experience freely and challenges me to a better artist.
Always an amazing session with Shannon! So much wisdom and camaraderie. I learn so much every time.
Sharon is a superstar at providing feedback on our paintings – both the good and the incredible suggestions for improvement.
“Mastrius has done wonders for my confidence. I have managed to step way outside of my comfort zone which has in turn given rise to so many more opportunities to further my art career.”
Deb Nicolaisen, Emerging Artist
I really appreciate the supportive attitude of Sharon. Also, her honest feedback.
Sharon is very thorough, and extremely knowledgeable and she very willingly shares her knowledge with the group. I’m learning a lot.
It really is a game changer! I absolutely love everything about Mastrius.
I thought about getting a mentor for about a year and a half before actually going through with it, and I’m so happy I joined.
Debbie Halliday, Emerging Artist
Sharon is absolutely AMAZING!!!
JOIN NOW
select your mentorship group
If the group you're interested in has a waitlist, you have the option to join another group to get started. When your group opens we can transfer you over.
Your Membership Includes (click here):
Mentorship Session: Meet via video conference for a monthly 2-hour session with your Mentor and small group. You choose the mentor, we provide the group!
Mid-Month Session: Meet via video conference for a 1-hour session with your small group and Navigator to connect, share progress, encouragement, and support.
Weekly Events: Attend LIVE weekly events online, on hot topics like Finding Your Style, Composition & Critiques, plus master DEMOS. Access event recordings!
MyStudio: Access your private online studio space equipped with business tools and Mentorship Session Recordings.
Chat Group: Access your private online chat group to connect with your small group and Navigator (group facilitator) anytime.
Discounts: Enjoy member discounts on LIVE and ON-DEMAND courses, art supplies, and more!
Emerging
Mentorship Membership
$ USD90/Monthly Membership
Next session: August 12, 2025
On the 2nd Tuesday of every month 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM MDT Tue
Not your timezone? Click below
Accomplished
Mentorship Membership
$ USD90/Monthly Membership
Focus: Igniting creative expression (note: duration is 2 hours, and not 3 hours as shown below)
Next session: July 22, 2025
On the 4th Tuesday of every month 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM MDT Tue
Not your timezone? Click below
ON-DEMAND ONLINE COURSE
How To Simplify Your Reference Photos To Tell One Unique Story
2 hours 10 minutes
Learn how to develop several paintings from one photo telling a single, clear story.
I have been passionately painting and teaching in diverse media and subjects for over 35 years, and have earned signature status in the Federation of Canadian Artists (AFCA) and the International Plein Air Painters (IPAP).
My current work is based in my love for the landscape, filtered through my extensive background of color and design, to express the joy and freedom I find in the subject. After a 20 year studio career, primarily in abstraction, 8 years ago I began to paint ‘en plein air’ (outside in front of the scene) in order to truly understand the way light plays on the landscape and to teach myself to paint in oils. I was able to really absorb myself in it, not only the visual input but also through my other senses. The feel of the breeze, the smell of the earth and foliage, and the sounds of nature were also able to be captured within my work, and that made all the difference.
I published a book called “En Plein Air -One Artist’s View” to show how I interpret what I am seeing.
After that time, the experience on the land was in my soul, and I felt the freedom to begin to express myself in less representational ways. I began to seek a more personal and contemporary expression, often moving into working from my imagination in mixed media -moving back to my roots in abstraction. That experimentation began in the studio using acrylic paint for its quick-drying and ease of radical shifts in direction. The new aesthetic that I have developed focuses on a limited amount of very interesting shapes; strong decisive brush marks; inventive, pushed, and gradated color; flattening of the picture plane; pattern, and strong value contrasts. As my mantra is “What would happen if…”, I am always exploring new ways to make my work and always growing as an artist. The excitement of working from chaos to order is invigorating and creates a dialogue between the work and the artist that I love. My interpretation of the beauty around me, as well as my vivid imagination make for an eclectic and varied body of work!
My work can be seen in person at the Leighton Art Centre and Lineham House Galleries and on my website.
FREE eBOOK: Secrets You Won't Learn In Art School
✔ Where creative BLOCKS come from, how to identify them, and how to quickly move forward
✔ What not to be a SLAVE to (this feels counter-intuitive to most artists)
✔ Two things to focus on that improve the VALUE range making your art more interesting
Plus 16 other tips from successful Master Artists that you won't learn in art school.
