Sharon Stone's Art: Unleashing The Mesmerizing Power Within

Sharon Stone fully immerses herself in her artistic endeavors. While she has previously focused on performing, the renowned actor discovered her love for painting during the initial stages of the Covid-19 pandemic and has been captivated ever since.

In an interview with CNN, Stone described how she becomes entranced by her daily painting practice. This week, her dedication and efforts were showcased at her inaugural East Coast exhibition, titled "Welcome to My Garden," which will be open for public viewing at the C. Parker Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut until December 3rd.

The exhibition shares its name with one of the 19 paintings showcased – a towering canvas measuring 6 feet in height. This particular artwork depicts an ethereal, sinuous shape coiled around a meticulously detailed pair of blossoms. Explaining the symbolism behind the piece, Stone stated, "The planet serves as our garden. Unfortunately, many individuals choose to disregard this fact and deny the presence of both climate change and the environmental crisis. They believe that by simply ignoring these issues, they will eventually disappear."

Sharon Stone's "A State of Affairs," one of almost 20 of the actor's paintings on show at her new exhibition.

Courtesy C. Parker Gallery

Several artworks in the exhibition touch upon social issues and personal experiences. In a statement accompanying the show, Stone expressed their intention to delve into the genuine essence of creativity that arises from authentic emotions. The artist aimed to detach from the distractions, criticisms, and detrimental influences of society.

Among the pieces, "A State of Affairs" portrays a nest of venomous snakes, symbolizing Stone's analogy to a patriarchal society that relentlessly exploits and seizes resources or political dominance without regard.

"Jerusalem," by Sharon Stone.

"Jerusalem," a reflective piece, was born from Stone's visit to the Western Wall in the city years ago, where she earnestly prayed for peace. In light of recent unforeseen attacks by Hamas on Israel, Stone emphasized the significance of including this artwork in the exhibition. She passionately believed that "every loss in war is some mother's child."

Stone, known for her memorable roles in films like "Casino" and "Basic Instinct," has found solace and expression through painting. One of her striking works, titled "Its My Garden, Asshole," holds a deeper significance. This particular piece was created for a close friend who had endured the heartache of a miscarriage before finally giving birth in her forties.

When the woman's father-in-law made an insensitive comment about her lingering baby weight months later, Stone vividly remembers being "just devastated." In a moment of artistic fury, she channeled her emotions onto the canvas, using raw, jagged brushstrokes to convey her response. Reflecting on this intense process, Stone likened herself to a fiery cartoon character, with tears practically shooting from her eyes.

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The profound passion conveyed in Stone's artworks captured the attention of gallery owner Tiffany Benincasa. In Greenwich, where she has managed a storefront gallery for a decade following a previous occupation on Wall Street, Benincasa remarked, "You can genuinely sense the energy within Stone's paintings." Additionally, the artist's unwavering dedication to her craft is apparent, as affirmed by the gallerist, who stated, "She is fully committed."

Stone first started painting as a child, learning the craft from her artistic aunt Vonne, who adorned the family's home with captivating murals. She briefly pursued art education at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania before departing to embark on a career in modeling and acting during the late 1970s. However, the unexpected circumstances of the Covid lockdowns led to a pivotal moment when a friend gifted her a paint-by-numbers kit. This gesture ignited a surge of creativity within Stone, prompting her to transform her bedroom into an art-filled sanctuary. Eventually, she converted a guesthouse on her Los Angeles property into a dedicated home studio, where she now spends several hours each day immersed in the world of painting. Earlier this year, a significant milestone marked Stone's artistic journey as she showcased her work in her inaugural exhibition at the prestigious Allouche Gallery in Los Angeles.

Stone poses with her work "Bayou."

ChiChi Ubina/Courtesy C. Parker Gallery

Stone now dedicates a substantial amount of time in the studio, attempting to capture her unique perspective of the world on canvas. "Ever since my stroke, I have been able to perceive colorful patterns on walls," she revealed. As a result of a severe brain hemorrhage, Stone not only experienced professional setbacks in Hollywood but also underwent a significant shift in her visual perception. "Although I had to rely on medication to suppress it, the vivid array of colors continues to be a constant presence in my surroundings." In a recent interview with CNN's Chris Wallace, Stone lamented the loss of her film industry connections following the stroke she suffered in 2001.

She also explores various techniques and materials, ranging from paint rollers to pickleball court tape, in order to achieve the desired effects. "I frequently utilize metallic paint as I am truly enamored by its reflective quality," she expressed. "Incorporating spray paint into my artworks became essential as it was the only way to achieve the desired hyper-reflectiveness."

An "obsession" with Modernist painters such as Wassily Kandinsky and Joan Miró greatly influenced Stones' more abstract paintings, such as the diptych titled "Amelia," named after the legendary pilot Amelia Earhart. "I often pondered upon what it must have been like for her to endure such prolonged solitude in the plane, day after day, hour after hour," Stone revealed. "I contemplated her thoughts, her destination, and the experience of those never-ending days and nights."

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"Giverny" resulted from a trip Stone made to the French village Claude Monet lived and worked in.

The 8-foot-wide painting titled "Giverny" was created after a visit to the gardens of Claude Monet in the village of Giverny, located in northern France. Stone, the artist, approached the young son of the caretakers and requested him to guide her to the spots that the Impressionist painter had captured in his artworks. Together, they maneuvered through the thick vegetation on their hands and knees. With the son's guidance, Stone gained access to the bridge and cleared away the plants obstructing her view. "I wanted to portray my own interpretation of Giverny, capturing how it appeared to me," she expressed.

Stone, regardless of the initial stage, is fully engrossed in the process. She openly acknowledges her obsession with ensuring that the artwork perfectly aligns with her envisioned outcome, even jokingly referring to herself as "a little bit of a psycho." According to her, it's an inherent compulsion.