Meet Sharon Teal Coray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Teal Coray.

Hi Sharon Teal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself

I was born in Salt Lake City and was raised in Emigration Canyon. My Dad studied to be a commercial artist, but WW2 started, and he was called to serve in the army. He somehow managed to carry a small watercolor kit with him throughout his time in Germany, recording the beauty of the landscape and sending me and my mom wonderful hand-painted greeting cards. He was almost killed when his half-track was hit by a mortar shell, and he helped free a concentration camp.

When he came home, he learned that there was very little call for commercial artists in Salt Lake City, so he put his art away and took a job as a mechanic to support our family. I would sneak out in the garage and get his portfolio down from the rafters to look at his beautiful paintings. I always loved to draw, and we had to travel over 45 minutes on our school bus to get to our school, so I spent that time drawing every day. I often told my dad that I wanted to be an artist and he would tell me it would just be a waste of my time. This did truly little to put out the flames of desire in me if anything it spurred me on. I went to beauty school and got married and had three children by the age of twenty-eight.

I still wanted to be an artist, I had the fervent desire to be creative, I did craft and sewing but that was not “real” art. I still had the deep desire to learn how to paint. I was determined to do it! When my last child, was about a year old a neighbor asked me if I wanted to go to an art class at the local high school with her. I jumped at the chance unfortunately the class was so big with at least fifty students that we rarely saw the teacher. One time when the teacher finally came to me, I asked him how to paint the clouds in my painting as I was struggling. His reply taught me many things, he said, “Oh you can paint clouds with any brush or even with your finger.” Finger?

Then he moved on! I was left there with no help at all! In later years that remark came back to me when I was a teacher, if someone is asking how to paint something you show them, you do not just give them some idiotic answer! Plus, this man wore a wig, a bad wig… and he never was able to keep it straight on his head, it was always cocked to the side, so when he would be telling me something, I could not take my eyes off his wig… I did not learn very much from him except what not to do if you want to be an art teacher. Then, I found some workshops from the local artists and decided to take a few. Unfortunately, the teachers at this time were all friends and had been in classes together and painted like each other which was a very loose style. So obviously they taught this method.

I discovered that I did not like to paint loosely, my attempt would always be tighter, and each time the teacher approached me it was the same result: “You need to loosen up”. I tried to do this but each time I failed miserably. I could not understand why they could paint loosely, and it would look good but when I did it looked sloppy, and I hated it. It just did not feel right for me, and my instinct was that this was not going to help me become an artist. Later when I became a teacher, I realized why I had been struggling with that type of painting, my students taught me why! My students were all beginners and as they developed, I observed each one had a different talent, some painted loosely others were more photorealistic.

My classes were not the “paint along” type, each student worked on something they chose to paint. Sometimes a student would try to change their style, but it never worked, they became frustrated and returned to their original method. I realized that we must be born with either a loose way or a tight way of painting. It is like our handwriting. We cannot change it! Being very discouraged because I did not fit in with all the other students, I left the workshops and decided that I should get more education from books written by artists that painted like I wanted to paint, more realistically. I needed to teach myself.

So, my journey started at the library, where I found a plentiful supply of books on art. I would check out stacks at a time and go home and read… eventually, I had read about every art book they had to offer. I had studied every subject possible, from still life to portraits. I realized that I needed to stop reading all the books and subjects because they were just confusing me. By then, I had learned all the basics an artist must know, and it was time to start developing my style not, someone else’s. I needed to just paint!

I started painting every day, I painted every subject, perfecting my skills. Learning from each painting. Then a neighbor saw my work and asked me if I would teach her. By then, I had been painting for several years, so I said yes. I set up a small classroom in my basement and before long I had twelve students twice a week learning how to paint. In the mid-’80s, we built a large studio on the back of our house. I called it the Shining Feather Art Academy for Women; I focused on women because for centuries they have not been taken seriously in the art field. I went from twelve students to over 80 a week with four classes. I taught from 1978 until 2004. Being an art academy owner and instructor for years allowed me to meet lots of people who wanted to be artists.

It was interesting to see the ones who had the drive and would pick my brain for all the info they could get. I understood that not all my students wanted to become talented artists, some just wanted the weekly outlet, a place to be with other women and just enjoy the time in class where they could completely relax and forget the daily problems they faced at home. That was fine, to each his own. I loved both and respected both, but the ones that wanted what I had accomplished immediately with many years of demanding work and study were the most interesting. They did not want to learn the basics; they just wanted a “quick fix” “Just show me how to do it… don’t tell me why I am doing it!” was their mantra.

Well, that would be like trying to play the piano and the student saying: “I just want to play well, I don’t want to learn to read music, just show me how to play the piano! It takes years to become a renowned artist, you need to be dedicated to it and I was. During this time, I was still searching for a subject that would fill my passion. Then my 16-year-old son John developed an avid interest in the history of the Native Americans and Mountain Men.  History was one of my favorite subjects in school so I encouraged him to learn all he could about them. John like me, when curious about something, would read all he could find on the subject.

He shared his knowledge with me, and we would spend lots of time talking about it. Our family started attending all the Mountain Men Rendezvous and Indian Pow Wows we could find in our area. This started a fire in me, While John learned how to do everything a Mountain Man would do, I sewed authentic things for my family and for myself. I made myself an old Cheyenne design dress out of soft buckskin, adding over seventy-five tiny tin cones that jingled when I moved. I made my husband authentic moccasins and put beading on a pair I had.

One day as I was cleaning, I found an old Indian rug that my husband’s father had given to him years ago. I studied the blanket and my mind started working and I remembered I had some pottery I had purchased in Jackson WY. I decided to set up a still-life using the blanket, the pots, and a fur piece I had purchased at a rendezvous. This first painting of an Indian blanket and pottery was the beginning of a long journey of discovery, excitement, and opportunity for me. Now I was checking books out from the library on the Ancient Indians of the southwest!

As my interest grew, I knew that to paint something well I needed to know everything I could about it. Researching through books was great but I wanted to experience the pottery, baskets, and blankets and where they were made firsthand. So, my husband and I traveled all over the southwest visiting the ruins and museums in the southwest. I never tire of seeing where these people spent their lives or created their beautiful pottery, baskets, and blankets. I was amazed at how delicate and thin the Anasazi pots at Mesa Verde were and how artistic the designs looked.

When we returned home, I knew what I needed to do. Once again reminding myself an artist must have firsthand knowledge of a subject to be able to paint it with authenticity and make it communicate with the viewer, I signed up to take a class at the University of Utah on primitive pottery making. I wanted to know how they felt when they were making their pots, I wanted to know how they did it down to the last detail. We learned how to look for the earth that made good clay, how to boil the bee plant to make the black paint they used and, how to make a brush out of a Yucca plant.

I sat in class for days learning how to make coiled pots. I remembered how thin the real pots at Mesa Verde were and marveled at how they must have done it. I struggled to get mine to look symmetrical let alone thin! It was not easy, and I came away with greater respect for the ancient potters. We then put all our finished ware into a fire using dung which is how the Native Americans did it. As we sat on the lawn waiting for the firing to finish, we kept hearing our pots bursting, it was very devastating! Out of the ten pots I made only one came out of the fire in one piece. It is so hard to create a pot and have it fire correctly.

After the class, I started painting still-life paintings of Navajo blankets, baskets, and pottery, I had a friend who owned a Southwestern store in Park City, he wanted my art in his store. He loaned me blankets to take home and photograph. I was able to take photos of the expensive pottery in his shop that I could use as a reference and with these, I could create a wonderful composition.
Next, I decided to start entering art contests and exhibits. I found that Utah judges did not like tight work, I got oodles of rejection notices. So, I decided to try out-of-state shows. At this point things started happening, I started winning ribbons. One, in particular, was remarkably interesting, I entered it in a show in SLC only to have it rejected and then win “Best of Show in an out-of-state exhibit!

It just kept getting better and better with me winning more awards. I decided to take a big leap of faith. I entered a painting into the C.M. Russell Art Exhibit and Auction in Great Falls Montana. This is one of the most prestigious shows an artist can ever hope to get in. It is not easy to get accepted in this show. I was truly shocked that my work was accepted for the auction. I am not exaggerating, shocked is putting it mildly! This one leap of faith opened the door for me, and since then have been in numerous galleries in the southwest. I have been accepted in local and regional exhibits. I have had a one Woman show in Tlaquepaque Sedona AZ.

I have sold paintings to people all over the world. In 2014, my firstborn son died from an overdose. He had mental problems all his life and had tried to take his life three times before he died. This was truly a tragedy for our family but one that we expected. After this, I had a time when I could not paint. After a few months, I got back into my studio and started painting portraits of my family. My art was healing, it helped me get through losing my son. It is a well-known fact that being creative can help depression and anxiety. I have witnessed this with myself and with my students.

I am now retired from teaching and formal gallery work, I still love to paint still life’s, portraits, and seascapes. However, I have recently started painting commissions for people who have vintage cars. They love to have their car painting hanging on their walls. My husband and I own a 1937 Dodge and we go to car shows that raise money for children who are handicapped or sick with rare diseases. I am the official driver of our car and I love driving it! One of the paintings I did was for Rick Edwards, his grandfather Don Carlos Edwards founded the Arctic Circle in Salt Lake City. This was a popular hangout for teens in the fifties.

In 2002, I was approached by Leisure Arts Publications wanting me to author some how-to books for the Decorative artist. I did this and I tried to incorporate more fine art techniques into my books hoping this would make the reader want to advance to fine art. I found that I didn’t really like painting like this and eventually came back to fine art. In 2019, I wrote my biography, and just last January I finished my latest book, “Dreaming of Being an Artist.” It is for the person who has always dreamed of being a fine artist, everything they need to know to reach that goal!

What has given me the most pleasure? Well, I would say that seeing my students go on to win awards and teach others to paint. I am so proud of them! I have always loved sharing my knowledge with others. I know that if you really want something in this world you can get it, but you need to work hard for it. You can climb the ladder of success, but you cannot skip a rung. My motto for my students was “ No Talent Needed. Just Desire”

I had a man once ask me how long it took me to paint a certain painting, my answer was; 10 years. By the look on his face, he was shocked, but what he did not realize was that it took me 10 years of challenging work, painting every day, and studying to be able to paint that painting! I feel very blessed to have had the ability to paint and to teach others. God gives us all certain talents and I believe they should be shared. My southwestern still life paintings are sort of a tribute to the ancient Native Indians; the artifacts in my paintings were used daily as practical tools for centuries.

I have always found it fascinating that these primitive people, struggling to survive had the time and creative urge to produce such beautiful works of art. Each pot or blanket I paint has a story and a spirit of its own. If they could speak, imagine what we could learn about their creators. It is extremely rewarding for me to know that these beautiful blankets and pots I have painted have given people all over the world the opportunity to own a part of the southwest culture that is rapidly disappearing in this modern age.

• 47 years of experience as an artist, teacher, and designer.
• Owner and Instructor of Shining Feather Art Academy for Women
• Workshop Coordinator and Instructor for 26 years memberships
• American Academy of Women Artists, Oil Painters of America,
• National Western Art Association, Rocky Mountain Western Art Association
  Exhibits
• Fine Art Expo
• Murray UT
• Festival of the American West, Utah State University
• Logan, UT (invitational)
• 8th North American Wildlife and Still life Exhibit,
• Phranques Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT
• Salmon River Annual National Art Exhibit
  Riggins, ID
• Days of 47’ Heritage Exhibit RMWAA
• Salt Lake Art Center, Salt Lake City, UT, Fourth Annual Art Center Exhibition
• Central WY College Riverton WY
• Utah Women Artist’s Exhibit
• Springville Art Museum, Springville, UT
• Utah Women’s Traveling Exhibit (yearlong)
• 22nd Annual Art Show, Cody County Art League, Cody WY
• Rocky Mountain Western Art Association 3rd Annual Show
• Sun Gallery, Park City UT (Invitational)
• Days of 47’ Annual Western Art Heritage Exhibit
• Saxton-Sullivan Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT (invitational)
• C.M. Russell Art Auction and Show
• Great Falls, MT (2 pieces accepted)
• One Woman Show
• El Mundo Magico Gallery, Sedona AZ
• National Western Art Show Ellensburg, WA
• C.M. Russell Art Auction and Show
• Great Falls, MT (2 pieces accepted)
• Celebration of Western Art, WA
• Colorado Springs Western Art Auction
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Snake River Showcase, Clarkston, WA
• Phippen Memorial Day Art Show, Prescott AZ
• Western Academy Of Women Artists Exhibition and Show
• Desert Caballeros Western Museum Wickenburg, AZ
• Blackfoot Valley Art Auction
• Lincoln, MT
• C.M. Russell Art Auction and Show
• 10th. annual Student Scholarship Exhibit Holladay, UT
• Oil Painters of America Regional Exhibition
• Sangre De Cristo Art Center, Pueblo CO

Awards

• Delta Design Challenge
• 2nd Place
• Mayors Choice
• Shorr Gallery Annual Show West Jordan, UT Junta CO 1st. place
• Annual Bear River Historical and Indian Art Exhibit 3rd. Place Craig, Co
• 45th Annual Regional Juried Art exhibits Grand Junction Co 1st. Place
• National Western Art Show and Auction Ellensburg, WA Merit Award
• Snake River Showcase
• Clarkston, WA
• WRVAG Art show Dubois, WY.
• “Best of Show”
• Sweet Water Annual Exhibit
• Rock Springs, WY
• 3rd. Place
• People’s Choice and Winsor Newton Award
• 40th Annual Wind River National Exhibit
• Dubois, WY
• Sweetwater National Art Exhibit
• Rock Springs, WY
• HM
• Art and Soup Exhibit
• Salt Lake City, UT

Galleries

• Sun Gallery, Park City, UT (4 years)
• Southwestern Expression, Park City, UT (5 years)
• Gallery of Art and Frame, Idaho Falls, ID (2 years)
• Garden of the Gods Gallery, Colorado Springs, Co
• The Gallery, Coeur d’Alene, ID
• Elkhorn Gallery, Jackson, WY
• Hoffman Galleries Park City UT
• Jerry Anderson Gallery, St George, UT
• Authentic Arizona Gallery, Sandy, UT
• Canyon Spirit Gallery, Estes Park, CO
• El Mundo Magico Gallery, Sedona AZ (10 years)
• Agnisiuh Gallery, Hillside Courtyard, Sedona AZ (7 years)
• Golden Gecko Gallery, Sedona AZ (4 years)

Published Books

• Painting the Southwest
• Floral Treasures
• Southwest Florals
• Southwestern Flair
• Teach Yourself to Paint Seascapes and Clouds
• Fairies of Enchanted Glen
• Return of Fairies of Enchanted Glen
• Scenes from the Mediterranean
• Seasonal Tapestries
• Just a Pigment of My Imagination
• “So Simple Color Workbook”

My painted Expressions

• Just a Pigment of My Imagination Vol. 1
• Just a Pigment of My Imagination Vol. 2
• Painting the Southwest
• Painting Fantasy Seascapes
• So Simple Color Mixing Workbook for Acrylics
• So Simple Color Mixing Workbook for Oils

Featured in the magazine “Art Of The West” November/December issue.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I lost my mother when I was 22, she died a horrible death from breast cancer. Then my firstborn son started to have problems and we found out later that he was bipolar. He was in and out of the hospital after he turned 14. He tried to take his own life three times. He finally succeeded in 2014. Losing my mom and having a son with this mental illness took a toll on me and I developed clinical depression, anxiety disorder, and PTSD.

Through my art I found peace. My studio was my sanctuary, painting got me through many times when I felt like there was no hope. When I started teaching I found that many women suffer from depression like me, and my getting them involved in the arts helped them and in return helped me. I am a self-taught artist and was told by many that I would never get anyplace being one.

I found out that being an artist is hard, putting your work out there is hard, it is part of who you are! I learned how to let offensive remarks about my art just roll off my back. That is something that every artist needs to do because there are always critics out there that are happy to put your work down, especially if they are artists themselves.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am known for my still-life paintings of Native American pottery, blankets, baskets, and fur. I am also known for my portraits of Mountain men and Native Americans. I paint realistically and I am most proud of my teaching myself. It was not easy, it took years but I was determined to do it and I did.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in the canyon, I loved nature at an early age. My Grandfather loved horses and he bought me one when I was 16. I hated to ride with a saddle so I learned how to ride bareback. I would ride into the hills and spend hours alone with my horse and return with a basket full of Chokecherries for my Grandmother to make jelly with.

I was the oldest of 5 and as a result, I grew up fast. I was the little mother’s helper. I loved to hike in the hills and look for rocks which I have always loved and collected. One time when I was hiking with a friend in the canyon we found an old shack, it must have been there for many years, tucked away in the trees. Inside was an old pump organ! It still played a little bit and we had a blast trying to make it work. We had dear, mountain lions, sheep, rattlesnakes, and tarantulas in the canyon.

We would get snowed in during the winter and have to miss school. That was a treat! I have always loved to write and draw. I loved anything that was creative. At an early age, I was going to be either an archeologist or an artist. I am thankful now that I am an artist, I don’t think being on your knees in the dirt is really that appealing!

Contact Info:

• Email: srtcoray1920@comcast.net
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiningfeather1942
• Other: https://originalartbystc.blogspot.com