Pro tips: Paint the Sharon Art Studio

Pro tip 1: Choose the focus first

Decide what you want the eye to notice first, then build around it.

  • Day light or evening light?

  • Entrance as the focus, or the whole building?

  • Trees framing the building, or kept quieter?

  • Strong contrast at the entrance, or softer overall?

Make one clear choice early and let everything support it.

Sharon Art Studio 1.png
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SA evening.png
Sa cloudy.png

Pro tip 2: Start with the big shapes

Block in the main building shape first, then add arches, rooflines, and trees.

  • Paint the building on drier paper so edges stay clear

  • Keep the trees looser so they don’t compete

  • Leave small light gaps around edges to separate shapes

  • Use a few soft edges near the base to ground the building

Keep the structure simple before adding detail.

Pro tip 3: Keep color simple and layered

Start light and build slowly.

  • Use sandstone as your base

  • Add raw umber and burnt sienna for depth and warmth

  • Use cool blue to soften shadows and distant areas

  • Keep greens slightly muted so the building stands out

  • Save darkest accents for windows, arches, and a few edges

Focus on light and structure, not exact color.

Fun facts

The Sharon Art Studio is housed in the Sharon Building, an 1888 sandstone landmark in Golden Gate Park originally built for children and mothers visiting the park. The studio began there in 1968, survived a major 1974 fire, and eventually returned to the restored building. Today it is still part of San Francisco Recreation & Parks, offering public art classes for beginners and experienced makers across painting, ceramics, jewelry, glass, and more.