Silent Seasons: Sharon Berkan-Dent's Winter Narratives

June 12, 2024 Gavin Coates

Featured image: River's Winter Adornment, Sharon Berkan-Dent, 2022, graphite pencil on illustration board, 12 x 16 in. / 30.48 x 40.64 cm.

Sharon Berkan-Dent's evocative graphite pencil artworks capture the quiet majesty of winter landscapes and the creatures that inhabit them.

Sharon Berkan-Dent is an artist renowned for her detailed graphite pencil drawings that beautifully capture the essence and tranquility of wildlife and winter landscapes, often inspired by personal observations and experiences in nature.

Her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to convey both the stillness and the life of the wild through monochrome textures make her pieces compelling. The works "Winter's Kinship," "Cloaked in Silence," and "Huntress" demonstrate her skill in portraying the subtle interplay of light and shadow, bringing the cold beauty of nature into sharp relief.

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Winter's Kinship (2023)

Winter's Kinship, Sharon Berkan-Dent, 2023, graphite pencil on illustration board, 12 x 24 in. / 30.48 x 60.96 cm.

"Winter's Kinship" features a group of deer in a snowy landscape, beautifully capturing the serene and vigilant essence of these animals. Berkan-Dent's use of graphite pencil enhances the softness of the snow-covered environment, while the detailed rendering of the deer’s fur and the surrounding bare trees emphasizes a harmonious survival in harsh conditions. This piece beautifully conveys the silent communication and alertness inherent in these majestic creatures.

Cloaked in Silence (2022)

Cloaked in Silence, Sharon Berkan-Dent, 2022, graphite pencil on illustration board, 12 x 18 in. / 30.48 x 45.72 cm.

Inspired by a winter's trip to Yellowstone National Park, "Cloaked in Silence" depicts a bison braving the frosty landscape. The artwork stunningly captures the texture of the bison’s thick coat and the icy mists surrounding it. Berkan-Dent's ability to translate the quiet and magical atmosphere of the park during winter into her artwork is remarkable, offering a window into the undisturbed and frost-laden life of Yellowstone’s wildlife.

Huntress (2022)

Huntress, Sharon Berkan-Dent, 2022, graphite pencil on illustration board, 14 x 11 in. / 35.56 x 27.94 cm.

"Huntress" shows a solitary fox in a detailed wintry setting, illustrating the animal’s keen alertness and adaptability. The softness of the fox's fur against the intricate frost patterns on the trees and snow demonstrates Berkan-Dent's proficiency in using graphite to delineate texture and depth. This piece not only captures the physical characteristics of the fox but also reflects its cunning and grace, characteristic of a predator in its natural habitat.

Sharon Berkan-Dent's graphite works are more than just drawings; they are profound observations of the natural world, presented with a deep sensitivity to the nuances of wildlife behavior and environment. Through her detailed and contemplative art, she invites viewers to pause and appreciate the quieter, often overlooked moments in nature.

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