Charlen Satrom: A profile of a Wasilla artist

Charlen’s name is pronounced Char-len. Her family shortens it to “Char” but “Charlen” gets a gamut of mispronunciations. She moved to Wasilla in 2006 after living and painting in Anchorage since 1976. Charlen Satrom was named Charlen Floy Shockey at birth on February 19, 1939, in Corvallis, Oregon. She knew she wanted to be an artist very early in her life, at age five.

Her father was a professor at Seattle Pacific College. He brought home damaged goods from the Art Department. This encouragement got Charlen painting before she was five years old. At five, she painted her first oil painting that she found acceptable to herself and her family agreed. Charlen’s formal training in art and painting consists of a few college courses. She learned too from experience working in art shops. While doing a self evaluation on what drives her art and her life she discovered that her driving priorities are first art; then comes research and evaluation, then service to others.

Research for her art has taken her and camera throughout Alaska and world wide, taking pictures and making notes that becomes finished pieces of art. In Alaska, in search of polar bears she traveled to Deering, just east of the Bering Land Bridge National Reserve, and Little Diomede Island. Charlen found the polar bears as interested in her as she was them. A sow and cub stalk her a bit as she pictured them in her camera. An adventure during brown bear research was more exciting. Watching a brown bear, it stood up. It was around eight feet tall. Soon peering around each side of the bear two cubs appeared and seemed puzzled at the invasion by a human. Charlen took a submissive pose and role and slowly moved down the hill toward the stream. The sow followed to within five or six feet. Charlen stood very still and talked to the bear in a low voice. After a few minutes the bear turned and headed downstream with the cubs following. Another adventure took her to “beautiful Lake George,” landing on the ice. The melting ice “looked like diamonds” she said.

Other experiences have guided her art too. A friend dying from aids was an encouragement. Charlen visualized him walking away with a group in robes; he turned and smiled. Charlen prayed a lot about the vision, then painted it. The painting was well accepted by the client. Portraits include Alaska’s first Governor, William Egan and wife Desdia and Don Young whose portrait is displayed in the US House Office Building.

Teaching also took her on adventures throughout the USA, including Hawaii. She has offered classes in her home here in Wasilla.

Charlen’s philosophy is “be thankful for all things, turn even evil into good; enjoy freedom in Christ; trust the light of Jesus.” Charlen will tell you she is a happy artist, not one who is dissatisfied with a finished painting.

She feels blessed by God with the gift to paint; a successful market, and other specifics of art, the conversations, thoughts, ideas and discoveries. Charlen’s life and work is born of sunshine, sincerity and joy available to her, and all of us, from God the Father and the beauty of His Creation. She sees her “cup half full, not half empty.”