SHARON AUGUSTIN

Sharon Augustin is a Texas artist who never knew she could draw until she encouraged herself to try. Her pop art series of airy, brightly colored ladies is in many ways a reflection of her 25-plus years in corporate life, where she had always been an encourager — applauding, consoling and energizing others. Inspired by a gift of art supplies Augustin began her “Can I do this?” journey. For fun, she tried copying a series of female portrait illustrations that spoke to her. What started as a doodle session for amusement soon became routine sketching and drawing. Augustin worked on paper for months before discovering a drawing app on her tablet while on a business trip. What followed was a steady stream of ladies, evolving and changing, and dealing with the joys and challenges of everyday life in The Art of Encouragement. As a self-help literature fan since her teen years — she devoured Peale, Ziglar and Nightingale the way other girls read Judy Blume — Augustin began to include inspirational words of encouragement in her art. She admits that her motivational art is part therapy, part creative outlet, and very much a way of giving back to the universe. Upon realizing how much she liked the media, Augustin soon found herself drawing every day, creating her digital pop art using apps on an MS Surface. In 2016, the “ladies” became a commitment, and she does not stop working on a drawing until the first swirls of head and neck finally turn into something that feels just right. The ladies have their own Facebook page, @sharonaugustinART, where Augustin posts daily Art of Encouragement digital creations. Prints of her whimsical and uplifting art can be found on pixels.com, and on products ranging from coffee mugs to calendars at zazzle.com. Augustin was born in Orlando, Florida, into an Air Force family that moved around a bit. A Dallas area resident since 19