What started in a group painting class 20 years ago blossomed into a hobby that watercolor painter Sharon Farber has steadily perfected while capturing her two loves: waterscapes and familiar Connecticut landmarks.
The Collinsville Axe Factory is a landmark in the town of Canton. Built in the 1800s, the factory was one of America’s first producers of ready-to-use axes. Factory operations closed in 1966, but the building remains and is among the state’s well-known industrial landmarks. Sharon was enamored with the building and its dam along the Farmington River and took the opportunity to combine her two favorite things.
The painting was tedious to complete due to the structure’s many windows and the dam’s constant motion, but Sharon was determined to paint it in its fullest form. Many locals admired the Collinsville Axe Factory, and Sharon sold the original along with several copies.
As a former massage therapist who dedicated 10 years to painting, Sharon eventually chose to keep it as a side hobby after discovering Mediumship and growing deeply connected to it. “I was invited to a demonstration by a medium, and I thought it was just so healing to connect with the spirit people,” Sharon said. Although mediumship is her main focus, Sharon’s ultimate goal is to paint more when she retires.
To keep her artistic skills sharp, Sharon does commission work but says she doesn’t allow it to take away her joy of creating. “Do it for yourself,” she said. “Once you start doing it for other people, it turns into work. Paint what you want so that you can relax into your creativity without pressure or expectations from someone else. Do what you feel drawn to.”
To view more of Sharon’s work, get a piece commissioned or delve into Mediumship, visit SharonFarber.net or Painted Path Watercolors.