Biography

Although I go by Sarah now, I was born Sharon Lynne Backus and grew up in the suburbs of Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. I knew from the time I could hold a crayon that art is what I wanted to do. Being an artist is a part of my identity - a large part.

I married one of my older brother’s best friends, Ken Hanson, right after high school, so I didn't get to go to East Carolina, where I had been accepted to study art. While my husband Ken was pursuing degrees at Virginia Tech, I got accepted as a special student and took all the art courses they had to offer. I never got a degree. Our family life took precedence over my studies.

We have raised three wonderful children to adulthood, and along the way I have used my creativity for everything possible…toys, quilts and costumes to bless our children, gifts for every occasion, Sunday school lessons, craft projects, etc. I was a Christian pre-school teacher for several years and those children got to enjoy lots of art projects. I’ve tutored students in art, and at one point was using tutoring as an opportunity to help troubled teens. They got art lessons and life lessons at the same time!

Most of what I’ve done has been given away over the years. It was a surprise to me when the Lord began to ask me to paint, and an even greater surprise when He told me to keep what I painted, as I was going to need to build up an inventory.

What you see on this website is a departure from my past works. I’m on a new adventure. I hate to pinpoint beginnings and put dates on things, as it seems to me we’re on this journey, and the markers and changes along the way are like chapter headings in our lives, not whole new things.

Sarah paints in her Portsmouth VA studio

But for this, there was a beginning. I began to paint in 1999 when God overcame my stubbornness. I kept telling Him that “I don’t paint” because I knew it to be a discipline, and felt it would keep me from doing the myriad other creative things I enjoy. In one sense that was right. Painting is a discipline, and I am currently focusing on it pretty much exclusively. But it’s not a restrictive thing. It’s because He has anointing to pour out, and I want that. I want to touch people with His love and His goodness. I want you to know how much the God Who created the whole universe loves you individually, and how amazing that is!

He has shown me how much He loves me, and He keeps speaking. He is the Ever-Speaking Word. He always has more to show us about His love for us. I hope that you are blessed by something He shows you here, and I pray you will keep on being blessed by Jesus every single day of your journey. He is incredible.


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	Biography Although I go by Sarah now, I was born Sharon Lynne Backus and grew up in the suburbs of Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. I knew from the time I could hold a crayon that art is what I wanted to do. Being an artist is a part of my identity - a large part. I married one of my older brother’s best friends, Ken Hanson, right after high school, so I didn't get to go to East Carolina, where I had been accepted to study art. While my husband Ken was pursuing degrees at Virginia Tech, I got accepted as a special student and took all the art courses they had to offer. I never got a degree. Our family life took precedence over my studies. We have raised three wonderful children to adulthood, and along the way I have used my creativity for everything possible…toys, quilts and costumes to bless our children, gifts for every occasion, Sunday school lessons, craft projects, etc. I was a Christian pre-school teacher for several years and those children got to enjoy lots of art projects. I’ve tutored students in art, and at one point was using tutoring as an opportunity to help troubled teens. They got art lessons and life lessons at the same time! Most of what I’ve done has been given away over the years. It was a surprise to me when the Lord began to ask me to paint, and an even greater surprise when He told me to keep what I painted, as I was going to need to build up an inventory. What you see on this website is a departure from my past works. I’m on a new adventure. I hate to pinpoint beginnings and put dates on things, as it seems to me we’re on this journey, and the markers and changes along the way are like chapter headings in our lives, not whole new things. But for this, there was a beginning. I began to paint in 1999 when God overcame my stubbornness. I kept telling Him that “I don’t paint” because I knew it to be a discipline, and felt it would keep me from doing the myriad other creative things I enjoy. In one sense that was right. Painting is a discipline, and I am currently focusing on it pretty much exclusively. But it’s not a restrictive thing. It’s because He has anointing to pour out, and I want that. I want to touch people with His love and His goodness. I want you to know how much the God Who created the whole universe loves you individually, and how amazing that is! He has shown me how much He loves me, and He keeps speaking. He is the Ever-Speaking Word. He always has more to show us about His love for us. I hope that you are blessed by something He shows you here, and I pray you will keep on being blessed by Jesus every single day of your journey. He is incredible.