Introducing Sharon Knettell!
 

Hi, all.

Cynthia suggested that I introduce myself, so here goes. I'm am a professional painter and pastel artist working in the New England area for the past thirty years. I worked in the commercial illustration business for many years before turning my full-time attention to portraiture. Also, I have taught illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. I belong to the Copley Society in Boston and have had many showings in the area. I work out of my home in Woonsocket, RI, with my husband and five cats. My current passion is huge pastel drawings. Some of the commisioned portraits I have done can be seen at this web-site www.portraitartist.com/knettell.

I'll try to answer any questions relating to oil painting, pastel and illustation methods. Most recently I've done a great deal of sleuthing on the topic of paper, especially as it relates to large format pastel, so don't hesitate to 'pick my brain' on that subject.

Sharon,

This past summer my daughter and I had the pleasure of viewing an exhibit at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. We were visiting Brown University as our last stop on a New England tour of colleges.

My daughter and I were very impressed with Providence and Rhode Island. One of the nicest cleanest cities that we visited. Loved Newport.

My daughter liked Brown very much and of course being so closely affiliated with RISD seems to give many other options to a curriculum.

Sharon wasn't successful in putting up her sample image, so, I'm posting it for her.

Hi Sharon,

Welcome to the Forum! I have admired your work for a long time and look forward to seeing you online! I am also interested in these enormous pastels!

Kindest regards

Welcome
 

Sharon, I've visited your site many times to admire the grace of your work. As a beginner, I'm glad that you're here as a guide!

Respectfully,
Jean

Here's the closeup.

Sharon,

The trial of Hizzoner was going on while we were in Providence. I see recently that he was convicted. I didn't know he was a Brown grad.

My daughter is presently a Junior in H. S. and has not settled on a major. She loves art and I believe that at some point in her life she will pursue it. When she was much younger I would give her painting lessons during the summer. I find that I can't do that anymore. I learned long ago not to teach anything to those that are very close to me.

Welcome Sharon, I like your work. I particularly like the small child with the Hydrangeas.

Linda Ciallelo

Hey Sharon,

You may be right about Buddy having a degree from Brown, but he was a classmate of mine at St. Louis Univ. in 1959, and roomed down the corridor from me in Clemens Hall. Of course it's possible that the Holy Jesuits wised up to him and tossed him out (like they did to me), but I think he went on to get a degree there before starting his illustrious career in Providence, his home town. If Buddy's claiming to have a degree from Brown it would be wise to do a thorough check with the registrar's office there before relying on that claim. :)

Hi Sharon! Great work you have on your site! I also love this pastel you did and wanted to know what ground you used for it. Where do you find paper that big? Forgive my ignorance! I look forward to learning techniques from you in the future!