Artist Statement

My ideas spring from many sources: a song, a film, literature, fashion, even a spice, or a color may spark my imagination. Other works are inspired by people I meet during my travels. While working on a piece, I immerse myself in its world through music related to its genre and the piece reveals its personality. Each face intrigues me with imagined stories.  

As a portrait and figurative artist, I portray my subjects at a moment in time, rendering the subject through light and texture to create a timeless image. I study my subjects, human or animal, to capture their essence through gesture or micro-expression. My latest work includes oil paintings and ceramic sculpture.

Artist Biography

Growing up in southern Ohio in the days of encyclopedias and rotary dial phones, Sherry was an avid reader and used her imagination to travel the world. She studied art, French and Spanish during high school. At Ohio University, she received a scholarship to live as an exchange student in Belgium and earned a BFA in Art History.

Interested in starting an art related business, she earned a MAFIS in Accounting and Financial Information Systems at Cleveland State University. After working for three years, she and her husband started a family and she became the full time caregiver for two ill family members. After the arrival of their second child, family remained her focus for the next 18 years.

During those years, Sherry continued her art education through a combination of self taught techniques and courses at art centers in Ohio, Florida and Minnesota. She gained experience in a variety of media including fiber arts, costume design, paper, mosaic, drawing, photography, bronze casting, jewelry design, sculpture and painting. Her work was selected for the juried student art show at Minnetonka Center for the Arts.

As she prepared for an 'empty nest', Sherry was selected to participate in the two year Mentor/Protegee Program at Women's Art Resources of Minnesota (WARM). Her work was exhibited at the Bethesda Hospital Gallery and the Grain Belt Bottling House Gallery. During this time, she developed methods of painting on silk mounted panels and ceramic sculpture.

As a portrait and figurative artist, Sherry continues to travel, seeking inspiration to feed her creativity. She served as an Advisory Board Member at the Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University. She currently lives and works in Coconut Grove - Miami, Florida.

Education:

BFA  Art History  -  Ohio University, Athens, Ohio

MAFIS Accounting and Financial Systems-  Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio

Additional Education:

French Creek Fiber Arts, Avon, OH

Dunedin Fine Arts Center, Dunedin, FL

Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Wayzata, MN

Edina Art Center, Edina, MN

Independent study with Sharra Frank, Minneapolis, MN

Ceramic League of Miami, Miami, FL

Paperclay Intensive Workshop with Rebecca Hutchinson and Graham Hay

Professional Development:

Mentor Program - Women's Art Resources of Minnesota (WARM)

Community Involvement:

Advisory Board Member Kennedy Museum of Art, Athens Ohio

Dramaturge, History Theatre, St. Paul, MN