October 2026 3-D Featured Artist Sharon Tondreau

Sharon Tondreau graduated from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Illustration.  While living in NYC, she illustrated children’s books, which appealed to her whimsical nature.  After moving to Pine Island, Florida, that playful and imaginative part of her mind turned to 3-dimensional works. 

It started because there was a tradition on the Pine Island of painting coconuts to look like fish.  Many residents had one or more of these local creations hanging in their house or lanai.  Wanting to participate in that tradition, Sharon painted a coconut, and loved smoothing the surface, and turning it into a fish - but she wanted to go further.  Using a durable, air-dry clay, she added fins, a tail, and a face to each coconut.  She uses bright colors and patterns to give her fish a tropical vibe, and THE FISH FACTORY came to be.  Each fish is hand made from start to finish and is one of a kind. They can hang or can stand on their own (clever creatures!)

Sharon has also morphed the traditional fish with other creatures – creating fish/pigs, fish/cats, fish/dogs, fish/parrots and even fish/bears.   These creatures appeal to fish and animal lovers alike.  The expressions on the faces are what Sharon loves the most.  Each coconut seems to want to tell its own story. 

Sharon also takes commissions.  Many have worked with her to incorporate their dog or cat onto a coconut as a pet portrait.  Sharon can also create un-fishy characters in her unique style and will work with a prospective "adopter" to choose favorite colors or patterns.