Sheila Simpson Studio

About Sheila

From textile art including weaving and printing on fabric, to painting, paper making, ceramics, and printmaking, my ideas are seldom quiet.  Each of these media feeds the inspiration for my work, and sometimes are combined for a new approach.

I love to paint on textured surfaces. Perhaps, it comes from my mother sending me outside to paint water on the side of the house in order to occupy me when I was very young. I would spend hours putting water down, and watching it slowly fade as it dried. The change in hue as the water faded fascinated me. Perhaps, it was as I watched the colors blending in with each other, as I made playdough in the kitchen for my younger brother.

At any rate, I continue to love to paint on textured surfaces, whether it is on textured-gessoed ground, papyrus, or clay. Constructing a surface on which to paint, seems to be important to my process, and I literally create from the ground up.

I can't imagine a world without art, or making something to express the times, and my response to it as events occur, whether personal or in the larger collective and natural world.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

1991     M.F.A., Painting/Drawing          University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.

1983     3-Year Certificate, Weaving      Pacific Basin School of Textile Art, Berkeley, California.

1979     B.A. French                         University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2022          3-person Show, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.

2021          Solo Show, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.

2020-2023           Ongoing Solo Show, The Gathering Place, Lopez Island, Washington.

2017          Solo Show, Lopez Island Library, Lopez Island, Washington.

2009-2020     Annual two-person, and group shows, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.

2012          Juried Group Show – Pressing Matters, Pacific Arts League, Palo Alto, California

2008          Two-person show, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.

2007          Group Show, Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, Washington.

2007          Lopez Island Artists' Studio Tour, Lopez Island, Washington.

2007          San Juan Island Art Fair, Friday Harbor, Washington.

2006          Lopez Artists' Studio Tour, Lopez Island, Washington.

2006          Two-person show, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington.

2005          Wild Arts Festival, Portland, Oregon.

2005          Bellevue Art Festival, Bellevue, Washington

2005          Chimera Gallery, Two-person show, Lopez Island, Washington.

2004          Northwest Women's Art & Craft Show, Karma Place, Bow, Washington.

2003          Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington

2002          Kings Mountain Art Fair, Juried, Woodside, California.

2002          Lopez Art Festival, Lopez Island, Washington.

2002          Portland Arts Festival, Juried, Portland, Oregon.

2002          Expressions West, Juried, Coos Bay Art Museum, Coos Bay, Oregon

2002          Manifestations des œufs, Jardin des Oiseaux, Spay, Sarthe, France.

2001          Solo Exhibit, Fish Bay Mercantile, Lopez Island, Washington.

2001          Anacortes Arts Festival, Juried, Anacortes, Washington.

2001          Portland Arts Festival, Juried, Portland, Oregon.

2001          Solo Exhibit, Giustina Gallery, LaSells Stewart Center, OSU, Corvallis, Oregon.

2000          Yager Museum Holiday Show, Yager Museum, Oneonta, New York.

1999          Willamette Valley Art Show, Juried, Corvallis Arts Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

1999          Pacific Northwest Arts Fair, Juried, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, Washington.

1998          Solo Exhibit, Due Fine Art Gallery, Eugene, Oregon.

1998          Woodinville Art Walk, Juried, Woodinville, Washington.

1998          Anacortes Arts Festival, Juried, Anacortes, Washington.

1996/1997     Winter lights Show, Corvallis Art Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

1994          Springfield City Hall Gallery, Drawing Invitational, Springfield, Oregon.

1993          La Petite Miniature Show, Juried, Alder Gallery, Eugene, Oregon.

1992          Solo Exhibit, Lopez Library, Lopez Island, Washington.

1991          M.F.A. Graduate Exhibit, Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.

1987     Woven & Printed Scarves, Holiday Fair, Lane County Fair Grounds, Eugene, Oregon

1986          Woven Rugs Exhibit, Opus 5 Gallery, Eugene, Oregon.

1983          Graduate Exhibit, Pacific Basin Textile Art, Berkeley, CA


PUBLICATIONS

2002          Wildlife Art Magazine, Cover, Light in Wildlife Art article, July/August issue.

2001          Lane Arts Council 2001 Art Source back cover art display.

1995          The Bag Lady, Artists Book, Published in July 1995 issue of CALYX Journal.

1990     Drawings and Cover Art for Timberline Art and Literary Magazine, University of Oregon.

1990          Cartoon published in the Northwest Comic News.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2003-2007     Board Member, Chimera Gallery, Lopez Island, Washington

1999          Instructor, Basic Bookbinding Workshop, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon.  

1998          Japanese Papermaking Lecture to the Eugene Fiber Arts Guild.

1996/1997     Founding Member of the Book & Paper Arts Guild of Eugene.

1994     Demonstrated Alkyd Paints & Oil Bars to Emerald Empire Art Association, Springfield, Oregon.

1994     Stretching Canvas Instruction, South Eugene High School Art Class, Eugene, Oregon.

1993/1994     Instructor, Beginning Drawing at Oregon Art Supply, Winter Terms, Eugene, Oregon.

1993/1994     Program Director of Art Education Program at Oregon Art Supply, Eugene, Oregon.

1983     Teaching Assistant, Beginning Weaving: Summer, Pacific Basin School of Textile Art, Berkeley, California.