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Sha L. Willems

The Arts Center Exhibitions:

• 'Portals,' Winter Show & Silent Auction, 2011

Artis'ts Statement:

Most people start their artist bios out with an explanation of how they got interested in art or how long they’ve been an artist. When I realized that I needed to write one of these for the show I had every intention of following that same format, but as I was sitting down over a nice cup of coffee, with a blank piece of paper staring up at me, I slowly realized that I can’t actually pinpoint when or why I became an artist. The truth is: it’s in my blood. I honestly cannot remember a time when I wasn’t scribbling, drawing, painting, designing or creating something. I love to work in every kind of artistic medium equally.

I am the daughter of a musician mother and a scientist father, and the sister of a very talented architect. With a family like that I’m sure you can imagine how the desire to create and discover might be in my genes, but it is my family’s constant encouragement to explore the arts that has had the biggest impact on my life. In the summers when I was very young, my Mom would set me up on a little bench outside, in front of an easel, with a set of watercolors and a brush. I sat there happily painting away entire afternoons. To the discerning eye my creations might have resembled brightly colored blobs at best, but to me they were masterful recreations of the paintings that I saw Bob Ross do every week after school on PBS. I would even talk to my imaginary audience and tell them all about how my purple blotch was a “happy little tree”. My parents know how easy it is to get so caught up with making your way in the world that you forget to enjoy the simple things along the journey and they did an excellent job of helping me to balance hard work and creativity.

I’ve traveled and worked all over the country but mainly grew up in Oklahoma and Colorado. I spent a summer gallivanting around Europe with an orchestra as a teenager, met my husband during my years as a designer in Colorado, and finally settled down in our cute little house in Corvallis. Throughout my adventures it has been my honor to be involved with so many different art shows, exhibits, charities, and concerts that I can’t even remember them all and I’ve loved every second of it. Currently, I am a happy volunteer and occasional teacher for The Arts Center here in Corvallis, and am so excited to be a part of this year’s Winter Show.