From the little island of Penang, Sharon Kow embarks on a mission to prove that coloured pencils can be so much more.
By Kelvyn Yeang
The mere mention of coloured pencils will evoke memories of being in primary school. If you had a box of Luna’s 36, you were the cool kid in class. For most, coloured pencils remained a plaything, and proper regard for it never went beyond the four walls of the classroom. But for Sharon Kow, coloured pencils are a serious affair. Having built an illustrious portfolio and recognition as a coloured pencil realist is pretty remarkable—but it is no walk in the park. Even within the art community, stigmas exist, and Sharon feels obligated to address these issues with persistence.
Sharon Kow and the tools of her trade.
Sharon started her artistic journey in 2013 at the young age of 43. When asked why she didn’t start sooner, “too many distractions” was her reply, Remarkably, Sharon isactually thankful that art came to her at a later part in life. “If I was any younger, I wouldn’t be as focused or level-headed enough to pursue this seriously.
Sharon cites her father as her inspiration. “When I was just starting out, he would call me to check on my progress regularly and give me his opinions. He was truly encouraging and I will always remember that. He supported and believed in me fully when nobody did,” Sharon shares emotionally.
Sharon’s choice came out of sheer convenience. “Oil paints were my first choice,” she says, “but it’s messy, and I don’t have a studio for that, so maybe I’ll try coloured pencils.” That decision launched her into a never-ending process of self-discovery and refinement. Sharon was initially looking for other budding coloured pencil-meisters to connect with on a local level, but after an exhaustive search, she conceded that there was likely no one pursuing coloured pencil realism in Southeast Asia. Though lonely, Sharon recognised this as a potentially great position to be the first to excel in this field of art. So, armed with a reference book she bought about an American coloured pencil artist and some tips from Facebook community groups, she taught herself into professionalism.
Picture-perfect—except that it is not a photograph but a detailed coloured pencil piece.
Sharon’s considers herself a photo realist. The execution is extremely tedious, but the nuanced articulation afforded by coloured pencils means that even the minutest of details are captured with extreme precision. As a result, most of her pieces are indistinguishable from a real picture if viewed from a distance. Sharon’s talent began to capture the public’s intrigue.
A quick visit to her website sharonsskow.com unveils the magnitude of her achievements. Her piece, Contemplation, was given the Award of Excellence at the 23rd Annual Colored Pencil Society of America International Exhibition in 2015 Atlanta, GA, USA.
Then in 2016, she was critically recognised and awarded the signature status by the Colored Pencil Society of America. This is a difficult feat because, as Sharon shares, “To gain the status, members have to get their artworks juried into their annual exhibition three times in 10 years.” Sharon did it in just three years.
Contemplation, Sharon’s first award-winning piece. Image from
http://sharonsskow.com/portfolio/contemplation/
She has also been awarded the Best in Show by the Coloured Pencil Community of Australasia Inc’s “Drawn Together” Inaugural International Online Exhibition 2019.
But after participating in countless exhibitions and having received multiple awards, Sharon feels far from content. “Though I am well-received overseas, I wish it were the same here. I feel the reception for new art trends, genres and mediums locally are slow,” laments Sharon. “I have been criticised for being too realistic because I might as well just sell a photograph instead of spending an eternity creating a picture.” Though this was quite upsetting at first, it did not fail to dampen her spirit. “I find myself improving through criticism. It also means I am being noticed,” she shares.
Though the threat of Covid still haunts the art industry, Sharon has taken measures in being productive and staying relevant. “From the get-go, I knew that I mustn’t overlook internet presence. Thanks to that, I still have a steady stream of commissioned work by connecting with people online. Social media has been
tremendously useful in giving my art exposure.” Like an unstoppable ball of energy, Sharon tirelessly churns out work. Every piece is better than the last.
“We artists will never retire. I still work on my art every single day. It is a way of life,” Sharon says. And it indeed takes a little more than endurance to allow yourself and your work to be vulnerable in the eyes of the public. It is a risk you put yourself in every day as an artist working with a niche genre and medium.
One thing is for sure: we can expect much more from Sharon Kow, Malaysia’s very own coloured pencil photo realist.
A man of many talents, Kelvyn Yeang is a content creator, musician, and more. Nothing inspires him more than the city, people of George Town, and a good cup of coffee.