California native Sharon Schwenk grew up in a creative family with a mother and three aunts who were oil painters and knew after first seeing the Impressionist works at the National Gallery of Art that she too, must learn to paint with oils.

Sharon began her studies in the studio of her friend and neighbor Connie Winters, a prominent North Carolina artist. In the atelier method, Winters taught Sharon to draw from life using still life arrangements. Drawing and then painting from life was a most important part of this training. Since 1999, Sharon has traveled with Winters to France for annual workshops, first as a student, then as the business manager for the events. She has also participated in workshops throughout the United States and studied with renowned artists CW Mundy, Scott Burdick, Geoffrey Johnson, Quang Ho and plein air artist, Kevin MacPherson.