Meadow Plantscape in Blue and Brown

 

This mixed media piece is another progression of the piece I did in my last blog post. It combines a drawing I did in oil pastel combined with digital effects to mimic conte crayon, in this case with a wider variety of colors but still a conte crayon like result. This is possibly my favorite rendition of this image. Again, for people new to my blog, I've been working on and off on a long-time series based on close-up views of low to the ground plant life. Instead of simplifying my images I increase the complexity to emphasize the diverse abundance of nature allowed to run wild.

Buy prints of this piece on various surfaces on Fine Art America.

Meadow Plants in Conte

 

This mixed media piece combines a drawing I did in multiple colors of oil pastel combined with digital effects to mimic conte crayon. I keep revisiting my long-time series based on close-up views of low to the ground plant life. This is a subject I can remember fascinating me since I was a toddler plopped on the grass and allowed to entertain myself. There's a whole world going on down there! But I don't really depict it realistically. My reference photo is actually multiple photos I took layered together. Instead of simplifying my images, I increase the complexity to emphasize the diverse abundance of nature allowed to run wild.

Find prints on various media on Fine Art America.

Springtime Emerging

I finished this one a few months ago but I'm just getting around to framing it now. It's probably my favorite of all the ones in this series yet! These are magnolia flowers just coming into bloom from more than one angle combined. I'm enjoying exploring a contemporary version of cubism. It allows me to show motion and the concept of portraying the multiple things we as humans notice in an environment that a single snapshot could never express. I'm not sure if I plan to sell this one except as prints. For the time being I'm keeping it for my private collection. It's mixed media but mostly oil pastel.

Experimental Printmaking

"Don Quixote", Linocut over Monoprint, © 2015 Sheryl Karas

I took a printmaking class a year or so ago. It was SO much fun! My favorite technique was linocut but then I tried combining it with more freeform techniques like monoprinting. I went from being obsessed about perfection to being delighted by unexpected surprises. The image depicts Don Quixote, the Man of La Mancha dreaming the impossible dream. Prints on canvas are available in my Etsy shop. I also have this print on pillows and tote bags.

Sidewalk and River Rocks, Landscape in Oil Pastel and China Marker

"Sidewalk and River Rocks", © 2017 Copyright by Sheryl Karas

This is the second in a series I'm working on right now based on an assignment I gave myself to try to find something interesting in or make something interesting out of whatever I could see walking around my apartment complex. Mostly I found myself staring at the ground beneath my feet. This is the sidewalk and drought tolerant California "landscaping" done in oil pastel and China Marker. A real challenge, actually, because I'm using a brand new box of expensive professional oil pastels and I didn't realize what a difference that quality would make! It's like using a completely new medium compared to the inexpensive ones I liked as a kid. But once I got over the shock of using something so creamy and blendable I really got excited about it. These are Caran D'Ache Neopastels.

I have a few more experiments left on this piece because I want to display this without framing it behind glass and I really do not know how this is going to work with the acrylic gel medium I plan to use. I figured I better photograph it before I take the next step so the original isn't available yet (and might get ruined!). But prints and prints on canvas are available on Fine Art America.

And, oh! It did not get ruined—it looks great! Contact me if you're interested in the original. It's 12" x 12" on cradled panel mounted on 16" x 16" cradled panel painted black. It's ready to hang without framing.

River Rocks and Sidewalk, Landscape in Nupastel and Pastel Pencil

"Sidewalk and River Rock", © 2017 Copyright by Sheryl Karas 

So is this a drawing or a painting? I thought I was drawing, but when the entire piece is covered in pastel it's called a painting. So I guess that's what this is. I really enjoyed doing it. It's been years since I just sat and drew. It came out of an assignment I gave myself to break out of a creative block. I was to walk around my uninspiring apartment complex and find something interesting to paint or make something interesting out of what I saw. This is drought tolerant California landscaping. Contact me if you're interested in the original: 12" x 12" on cradled panel mounted on 16" x 16" cradled panel painted black, ready to hang without framing. Prints and prints on canvas are available on Fine Art America.

African Violet Dreams, Silk Painting

African Violet Dreams of Life in the Serengetti, © 2001 Sheryl Karas

Yes, Serengetti, not Serengeti! Because it's a dream -- that's not what African masks actually look like there. It's all a fantasy and that's the point. When I did this painting on silk I played in an African marimba ensemble, took African dance classes, and felt like a potted plant in my life. I had lots of fantasies about what was great about tribal cultures (in lots of places in the world) and no actual experience of the reality of those lifestyles. But I sure liked the positive parts I had learned about (and still do). Nothing wrong with being inspired by other cultures. And nothing wrong with having fun which is really what this piece is all about.

The original is not for sale but framed and unframed prints and other products are available.

Sheryl's Cat, Painting on Silk

Super Cat, Sheryl's Cat, © Sheryl Karas

At one point I was experimenting with painting on silk. I really love watching the richly colored ink soak into the silk until it is stopped by the gutta lines. It's also a nice cross between drawing and painting which appealed to me as well. I had two very fluffy cats at the time I painted this. One, Peeps, was especially full of personality so she was my special inspiration.

The original is not for sale. Prints, framed and unframed, as well as other items are available through Fine Art America and Pixels.com.

Rebirth (Red Sand, Green Sage), Mixed Media, Acrylic and Pastel

Rebirth, © 2012 Sheryl Karas

This is inspired by Sagebrush at sunset in the red sand desert, blowing this way and that in the wind. I call it "Rebirth" for two reasons. One, Sagebrush is the first plant to reclaim the desert after it has been devastated by ranchers ripping out all the Juniper trees to graze cattle. But also, I think that rebirth can often be a chaotic process as you determine (or discover) what from your old life does not apply anymore and which way you might want to go next.

In this piece I was innovating a way to mix drawing with pastel and painting with acrylic and present it without glass. I used multiple layers of spray casein fixative and then several layers of acrylic medium and varnish. It is painted on canvas that was applied to cradled panel painted black.

SOLD!!!   Prints and prints on canvas are available on Fine Art America.

The Disquieting Nest, Pastel Drawing

"The Disquieting Nest", © 2014 Sheryl Karas

SOLD

This piece was inspired by a dream I had where I was being fed by a benevolent bird. I was very upset about being in her nest despite her great intentions. And in waking life this was true as well. Sometimes what we need and even feel thankful for is less than we wish for in our lives. For me, this piece represents the inner conflict that can often entail.

The original was a pastel on paper. Prints are available on Fine Art America and Pixels.com.