Born in the scenic foothills of the Laurentian Mountains of Southwestern Quebec, Sharon Veldstra (nee. Hodge) began drawing and painting at a young age as an expression of her love of horses.  She studied her craft formally at St. Lawrence College in Cornwall, Ontario where she was enrolled in the Graphic Arts Program.  At the time her goal was to follow a career in the then newly developing field of computer graphics, but life, as it frequently does had other plans.  Career opportunities in Western Canada took her out to Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta where she quickly fell in love with the incredible vistas of the Rocky Mountains. Then it led her back to Ontario.  She spent twelve years working in a medical practice in London, where she had the opportunity to witness the human condition, developing a deep sense of empathy for people in all stages of life, health, and illness.  In 2006 she was blessed with the birth of twins, and suddenly had the freedom to paint once again without the distractions of a full time job.  She has since re-entered the art community, becoming involved with other artists through guilds and shows.

Her hope with her art is to communicate her love of the natural environment, particularly our amazing Canadian Wildlife.  To introduce to those who may never have had the chance to see these beautiful creatures outside of a zoo, the wonderful heritage we have been given, and to encourage us all to become more aware of the need for careful husbandry of this precious gift.

Societies and Guilds

Port Stanley Artists' Guild

St. Thomas-Elgin Artists' Guild

Brush and Pallet Club, London

The Arts Project, London