Folk Art International Artists and Artisans Folk Art

Folk Art
by
acclaimed American folk art painter and Award winning American folk artist specializing in Colonial life in Maryland and America's historical past Sharon Esther Ascherl

"The Harvest Moon Dance"

Web Site U.S.A.

Sharon Esther Ascherl: Folk Artist

Sharon is a self-taught artist. She has been drawing and painting as far back as her memories take her. She grew up and still lives near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Many of her inspirations for her work come from this land that is steeped in history and beauty. Sharon draws a lot of her ideas for her paintings from her rich German-French heritage.

Each one of Sharon's paintings tells a story. When you look at her work you will be transported back to a simpler time. A time when daily chores, family, church, and community wove the rich tapestry of everyday life. Perhaps when you see her work it will bring back some memories to you and some sunshine to light up your day!

Sharon has been selected and listed in the Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Crafts for 2009. Her painting, A Maryland Crabfeast, was chosen to be in the 2009 AARP calendar, and she was recognized as an emerging artist by the 2009 Ann Marie Garden Artfest in Solomons, Maryland. Sharon's paintings are now available in puzzle form from Bits and Pieces, www.bitsandpieces.com.

All of Sharon's giclee' prints are titled, signed, and numbered by her personally.

Sharon lives in Anne Arundel County Maryland with her husband and Siberian Husky, Kaiyah.

Nancy Malay: Folk Art

Nancy Malay is a self-taught artist who creates a unique variety of snowmen, santas, rabbits, and chicks! While she loves both the elaborate, Victorian look and the whimsical style of Folk Art, one of her favourite styles is the simple, time worn appearance of Primitives. All of her pieces are one of a kind.

Her Mother was an excellent seamstress and taught her how to sew at a young age. She started making cloth dolls about 25 years ago, and things progressed from there. Nancy's first website, "Christmas Lady", was created in 2003. The addition of her second website, "The Cottontail Collection", featuring her rabbits and chicks, was launched last year.

A wide variety of materials are used to make her items, including, paper mache, paperclay, vintage batting, clay & cloth. Adding mica & German glass glitter really gives her pieces an "old fashioned" look. She loves little children dressed in bunny costumes, whimsy & the look of old tinsel!

Inspiration comes from many places! She inherited an old postcard collection from her Grandmother, which is filled with wonderful old images, many with Easter & Christmas themes. One of her favourite pastimes is to scour antique shops, garage sales & flea markets to find fabrics & treasures to use for her work.

What started out as a hobby many years ago has turned into a real "labor of love" for Nancy. She lives in Faribault, MN with her husband of 26 years, Rick. They have three sons, Jordan, 24, Zach, 22 & Brett, 21.