Shirley Novak is an American artist who specializes in oil painting. Growing up in Southern California, Shirley always had the desire to paint. She loves painting poppies, although her subjects include other flower types as well. Shirley’s desire to share the beauty of flowers with the world is what inspired her to paint. She took painting workshops in the 1990s as a result of which her love for painting grew even stronger. She has developed her own painting style that allows her to express herself the best way she can. In 1996 in particular, she left California and went to Denver, Colorado, to study painting with one of her workshop teachers, Len Chmiel. While still following Chmiel’s lessons, she also registered at the Art Students League where she honed her art skills further. The league provided a great environment where she could interact with people who share in her aspirations. Her teacher Mark Daily always encouraged her, telling her to paint what she loved and she would be known for it.
She loved the old type and wild flowers; she loved those country gardens; and so she decided to transform them into beautiful paintings. Later that year, she got to meet the love of her life, Ralf Oberg, in a workshop in Aspen, Colorado. Their relationship became fulfilling since both of them are painters, although Ralf specializes in landscapes and wildlife. The two got married in 1997, bought property in Colorado, and opened their own studio. Her works have been exhibited and sold by Smith-Klein Gallery in Colorado, Simpson Gallery in Wyoming, and Simpson Gallery in Colorado. Her works are in permanent collection of Grand Junction Colorado, Western Colorado Center for the Arts and more.
