Artist Statement

Artist Bio

I believe aging is an analogues to sprouting and branching.  Or perhaps a trailing vine exploring.

At the age of 58 my body and heart fell fully forward, full into the joy and play of painting.  But decidedly not the type of “painting” I perceived as the only form – where innate talent and years of art school to learn perspective and muscles and form – were a requirement to be called an artist.  In fact there were numerous times I attempted to be a sketcher, or gave a whirl at drawing my horse … ridiculous and the results assured me I had “not an artists bone in my body”. But I say the creative spirit in the body can be awoken.

Perhaps art came forward as I grew and morphed through my life. Once I grew through the business of surviving and rising myself through life maybe the harmony allowed the art muse to be found! Perfect timing, openness, release of expectations, and allowance of creative flow connection.

My personal harmony within life, I also believe, attributes to the energetic buzz that adds to flow of my art.  I discovered the dream of a vision in my mind can be recreated onto a piece of canvas. Permission flowing as the release and freedom of play is incorporated. I dance, I sing, and I flow a vision that I feel deeply onto the paint and out from my brushes… or silly string!

Self-taught and encouraged to explore my first ginormous canvas at a soul center retreat.   A space where a small group of women shared intimate stories and challenging place our life was at. A place where the canvas was where we poured our insights of the morning’s meditation and dance out on. ^{ref 1} We weren’t artist’s we were soul explorers in a safe space sharing our hearts, our truth’s, our meals. And, we explored it on canvas.

Intrepidly beginning I had an intention to paint an owl. A representation of seeing through dark places, quick instinct, and the durability of ancestral wisdom.  Putting intention to the brush/spray can/ and glitter.  A miraculous final form of a fiery rising owl (Titled “She Flew”) rose the fire in me to keep playing after I returned home.  Heaven in my house, where time does not exist, and my heart flows free. 

Just as in my meditations, I set an intention for each piece I paint. The feel of the animal I will be painting, the smell of the woods and the grasses where I walk, or the most loved memories of my grandmother … The multitude of words are placed on the blank canvas to live and breathe through the very images that become formed as I play.  The finished pieces breathe. They communicate a story of goodness, love, peace, and joy, even if the viewer does not know what the story is.

Commissioned pieces begin with an interview and some research. Personality and the intended owner are considered as I work on each canvas.  Not every person can embrace glitter and I accept that!

My mixed media originals are coats of spray metallics, layered with stencils and free form splatter colors, oil, elements of watercolor and some judicious amounts of glitter. Applied with the hand, brush, sponge, or palette the texture of each piece is as unique as the piece.

As for the writer, poet and speaker …. well let’s just say there have been many vines exploring artistic trails out of the being, Sherry, I am exploring.

Ref 1: MasterPeace Retreat with Steph Levine https://www.stephlevine.love/masterpeace-retreats/