SharonDGonzalez

I was born Sharon De Vore in Panama City, Republic of Panama and grew up in Balboa, Canal Zone. After graduating from Florida State University, I moved to Clearwater, Florida and raised 2 children, Dr. Tracy Glassburn-Slusarewicz of Austin, TX and Stephen Glassburn of Clearwater, Florida. I have been a volunteer at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater, Florida for over 33 years and over 17,500 hours. In 1997 I served the Auxiliary as 1st Vice President/President elect, and in 1998, I was President of the 1200 member Morton Plant Hospital Auxiliary. I have had a great appreciation for art all my life. Several times in my life I did dabble some in oils, and for many years sold hundreds of my black lacquer mola boxes. One of my oil paintings did win an award. Then in 1986 I took up photography and saw the world through my camera in a different way; an artistic way instead of strictly documentary. I’ve won several awards for my photography, and my first showing came in Clearwater, Florida on January, 31, 1996 at Morton Plant Hospital’s well known gallery. For the first time in the 20+ years of the art shows, CBS news came to interview me and film my photographs as they were being hung. I was featured on their weekly TV show “What’s Good for Tampa Bay”. I have sold many many of my photographs. Then in the summer of 2002 my husband, Frank Gonzalez, and I bought a home in Ozark. A few months later in November, Arkansas’s beauty inspired me to start painting with acrylics; thus most of my paintings are Arkansas scenes. Since then I have sold many acrylics and many have won awards. A couple awards being 2nd Place in the 56th Annual Ft. Smith Art Competition & 3rd Place in the 58th Annual Ft. Smith Art Competition, which are National competitions. The April, 2007, issue of Cat Fancy Magazine featured 4 of my cat paintings. Also one of my paintings was chosen for the first Panama Canal Museum Calendar (2007)that featured artists. The Panama Canal Museum, a National Museum, has several of my paintings in their permanent collection. “It is like a dam has opened, and I have found a way to express the beauty I see”....................... Sharon De Vore Gonzalez