Enumclaw painter Sharman Owings opens the city of Enumclaw’s Gallery 2009 today, Wednesday, with work titled “The Color: Mystery and Reward.”

“Her work is very original and painterly, demonstrating her skillful use of subject and media,” said city of Enumclaw Cultural Programs Manager Gary LaTurner. “Sharman’s new work will please and surprise you.”

In her artist’s statement, Owings tells the story of her progress.

“I didn’t always draw and paint,” she said. “It began around the fourth grade. My best friend had an older sister. She was planning to be a fashion designer. We would sit as she sketched wonderful, lanky well-dressed figures twisted in strangely unnatural poses. Everyone would ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh.’ It was the praise that got me. I began to draw and paint that year. The subjects were almost exclusively figure. 

“Art became the focus of my education. I spent as many hours as allowed in art class. I began to realize that color, not subject was what fascinated me most. Over the years I’ve developed relationships with watercolor, pastels, gouache, oil pastels and oil paint. Color remains the mystery and the reward.”

Owings said about two years ago, she became involved with an art trend known as A Painting A Day.

“For the first six months, I religiously executed to completion, one small painting every single day,” she explained. “However, there are compromises that come with that, so I have since backed off and returned to a more controllable tempo.

“At this juncture, my work is heavily weighted to portraiture. I guess in some ways it has come full-circle. The human face and figure holds more intrigue than almost any other subject.”

Owings will be available to meet the public at an artist reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at City Hall, 1339 Griffin Ave. The exhibit will continue through May 5 at the gallery, also located at City Hall. Hours for the exhibition space are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Enumclaw City Hall is closed on national holidays. The gallery is closed to the public on Tuesday of each week for municipal court proceedings. For information, contact the Enumclaw Cultural Programs office at 360-802-0239.

Owings is one of a number of artists who have been selected by the city’s arts commission to exhibit at Gallery 2009. The schedule includes Mike Dilbeck, May; Helena Portvliet, June; Lea Bishop, July; Lori Twiggs, August; Peter Chafouleas, September; Jean Stanley, November; equestrian exhibit, November; and Ken and Lydia Strange, December.