TL;DR
- Sharay Lawson is a self-taught artist based in Saline, Michigan, and the founder of Shez Sharay Art.
- She works primarily in acrylic and oil pastel, using bold color and expressive marks across abstract, contemporary, and impressionistic subjects.
- Sunshine Breakfast turned a bright final morning of a rainy trip into her first published artwork.
- Professional Giclée printing gives her customers more choices in size and presentation while preserving the character of the originals.
Introduction
Sharay Lawson is a self-taught artist based in Saline, Michigan. Since beginning her practice in 2006, she has followed curiosity rather than a single genre. Her portfolio moves between abstract, contemporary, impressionistic, realistic, and character-driven work, held together by bold color and expressive mark-making.
Acrylic and oil pastel are her primary media, but markers, molding paste, and other materials enter the studio as each idea requires. The subjects often begin with an everyday moment: flowers, backyard birds, a memorable meal, or a color combination that carries an emotional charge.
Choosing an Artistic Life
Sharay has been making art for as long as she can remember. As a quiet child, she drew characters and illustrated her own stories as a way to express what she did not always say aloud. In college, paintings around campus inspired her to begin working on canvas, and she sold her first piece.
She then spent 15 years building a corporate career, but art remained part of her life. The turning point came in 2024, after she stepped away from that work without yet knowing what the next chapter would be. Her eight-year-old encouraged her to sell artwork at a neighborhood lemonade stand. The small invitation gave Sharay the confidence to pursue art full time.
Her ideal studio day begins with a walk or a little fresh air. Sunshine, favorite music, and a good breakfast help set the creative pace.
Sunshine Breakfast
Sunshine Breakfast marks an important milestone in Sharay's practice. The painting was selected for the Arts to Hearts Project's 101 Art Book: Food Edition, making it her first published artwork.
The image came from Sharay's first solo trip without her family. Most of the trip was gray and rainy, but breakfast on the final morning arrived full of color. The contrast changed the mood of the day and stayed with her. In paint, the meal became a reminder that beauty can still appear when the larger landscape feels overcast.
Selected Work
Community and New Formats
Sharay's 2026 plans included preparing for her second art market at Saline Summerfest, with original paintings, fine art prints, hand-painted bookmarks, postcards, notebooks, and vinyl stickers. She also planned to transform a wooden beehive for a charity exhibition supporting Food Gatherers. Both projects extended the work beyond the studio and into her local community.
Printing with The Stackhouse
Professional printing has helped Sharay reach a wider range of customers and allowed the work to continue beyond each original. Collectors can choose among sizes and print formats, while consistent production quality gives those options a shared standard.
Her go-to product is a Giclée print on cold press paper. The surface helps preserve the character of her originals, especially the color and expressive texture that drive the work.
Artists planning a print release can explore Giclée fine art prints or compare paper options with a free media sample set.
Advice for Emerging Artists
Sharay encourages artists to give themselves a real chance because someone is looking for the work only they can make. She also recommends continuing to learn through workshops, free classes, and new materials, and building relationships with other artists through local communities and online forums.
Find Sharay Lawson
Explore Shez Sharay Art at shezsharayart.subscribepage.io and follow Sharay on Instagram.
Print Your Work with The Stackhouse
Ready to turn your artwork into a finished edition? Start a print order with The Stackhouse.
