My name is Nathan Sharp.  I spent the majority of my childhood outdoors.  I grew up in Jensen, UT, a small farming community outside of Vernal, UT where I came to love the country life.  In my world I was surrounded by wildlife and nature as I played along the banks of Brush Creek with my brothers.  I have been interested in art, especially wildlife art, from a young age.  When I was fifteen my family moved to Evanston, WY, where I live today, which only strengthened my love for the outdoors.  I studied art at Brigham Young University before deciding that I wanted my work to go in a different direction than the typical commercial art and, more importantly, I wanted to maintain creative control over my work.  The art that you see now began almost eight years ago when I fell in love with the powerful simplicity of pencil drawings.  The attention to detail and depth in a drawing along with the emotionally compelling subject matter have become my trademark.

     I believe that each moment in our lives has a story behind it that makes that moment special.  Everyone's story is different and because of that, the moments that touch each of us are different also.  It is an incredible thing to realize that one, single event can be experienced by a number of different people and each of those individuals will walk away having had a completely different "moment" than everybody else.  My goal is to capture those moments that define each of us in our own lives and to give the story behind those moments a chance to be told and shared.

Acknowledgements     

     I have come to appreciate the fact that to chase a dream definitely requires a team effort.  One person alone lacks the strength to make the journey.  I consider myself only a short distance along that path but I would be terribly ungrateful if I didn't publicly thank those individuals who have brought me this far and continue to carry me even today.  First and foremost, I dedicate everything I do to my father.  He taught me how to dream as a child and never used the destructive word "impossible."  He has always refused to let me give up on my dream even when money, and sometimes hope, were in short supply.  The "useless information" that he's always been "chuck full of" has helped me with many problems along the way.  Words cannot express the debt I owe my dad and how blessed I feel to have him as my father.  Also, I need to thank my mother who, as most mothers do, always thought my artwork was beautiful even when it wasn't.  She created an environment where it was safe to fail and by doing so she taught me how to succeed.  Thank you, Mom. 

     My own personal motto has become "God watches out for fools" and that is sometimes the only reason I'm not a complete failure.  As undeserving as I feel of the incredible parents I have, I feel that I was definitely being watched over and given a gift when I got my other set of parents.  Breaking all stereotypical molds, my wife's parents have been an unending and inexhaustible source of confidence, love, and support.  There have been numerous occasions when they have kept me and my family going when the burden seemed too great to bear.  Thank you so much Dale and Barbara.  The whole Peterson family have been my greatest clients and supporters and have definitely provided the momentum and the grease to get this machine moving.  I thank all of you.

     A couple years back my father introduced me to a retired dentist-turned artist who used to treat my family when I was a boy.  This meeting would forever alter the path towards my dream.  Lew "Doc" Jensen ( www.doctorlew.com ) became my mentor, my coach, and my friend and opened doors I never knew existed.  I never cease to be amazed, and overwhelmed, by his belief in me and my work after seeing the incredible masters he comes into contact with everyday.  Thanks, Doc, for taking the time to help a kid from Jensen with his pencils.

     Finally, I must thank

my family.  My kids have opened my eyes to those tender moments that have come to define me and give me direction in my work.  More importantly, I must thank my wife, Dayna.  You are the most patient woman on the face of the Earth which makes you the only woman that could ever put up with me.  Thank you for kicking me when I needed to be kicked and for comforting me when I needed to be comforted.  And, I guess, for kicking me when I would rather be comforted.  You are my life and my best friend, I love you.

     Again, I thank everyone who has touched my life and left their mark.  All of you have had a hand in this.