SHAR COULSON | QUIET ABUNDANCE

Embracing the essence of Organic Abstraction, Shar Coulson’s work reflects her love of nature and the human figure. Working intuitively, Coulson explores the idea of perception vs. reality within the allusive figuration, gestural line work and organic forms found in her paintings. Nature is by far her greatest inspiration because of its diversity and complex beauty. Her heightened ability to see recognizable objects in otherwise unrelated patterns guides her process and animals, plant-like forms or figures often appear. She was formally trained in classical figurative realism, yet finds her passion runs deepest in the world of abstraction.

The title itself holds the tension I'm exploring. How can something be both quiet and abundant? Through this series, I've learned that abundance doesn't announce itself with noise or excess. The deepest richness grows from what we hold back.

Generally, I start with bold, abstracted marks that seem overly aggressive, reflecting the energy I pour into those first hours of painting. But then I spend the rest of the time pulling back. This body of work emerged from wanting to create paintings that captured nature's compelling moments, but were calmer. The added restraint and soothing dawn-to-dusk palettes helped me find my way.

Like the darkness between stars that makes light visible, these quiet intervals become the very source of abundance. In seeking this balance, I've discovered that abundance lives not in accumulation but in the rhythm of give and take, the stillness and movement. Each canvas becomes a meditation on finding fullness through selection, and success happens when both energy and restraint dance together.

2025 Quiet Abundance Artist Talk

2022 Exhibition Catalog Rhythmic Reflections: Pursuit of Nature's Pulsing Heart

2021 InterviewMay

2020 Exhibition Tour Introducing: Shar Coulson