Tree Frogs and Lilies

 

I'm having fun combining some of my old photos with new elements. And for some reason I want everything bright and saturated these days. That's probably been mostly true forever but especially now. I broke out of my foreboding raven stage and decided to use all the colors in my crayon box!

Prints and prints on a variety of surfaces are available on Fine Art America.

Garden at the Pond at Twilight

Garden at the Pond at Twilight, © 2017 Sheryl Karas

In this piece I've returned to my first love — pastels! But I do it differently than most because I wanted a way to present my work without glass and a frame. That meant a lot of of research and multiple experiments to come up with a solution. I'm not going to give away all of my secrets at the moment but several top coats of fixative and acrylic varnish are involved.

The scene is a garden featuring lavender in the foreground at the edge of a pond at twilight when the light comes in low to the ground from the side. It's what photographers call the "Golden Hour"—everything seems washed in shiny gold as the sun is just about to dip below the horizon. I snapped a reference photo to remind me of what the scene looked like and added fantasy details at home.

The original is available. It's 12" x 12" on cradled panel mounted on a second 16" x 16" cradled panel painted black. Prints and prints on canvas are available on Fine Art America.

Fantasy Queen Proteas and Orange Tulips, Painting in Acrylic

Fantasy Queen Proteas and Orange Roses, © Copyright 2017 by Sheryl Karas

Hot off the easel!!! The flowers in this are larger than life. . . because these flowers are for BIG healing! Giant Proteas, also known as King or Queen Proteas, are thought to impart healing throughout the chakra system (think: profound spiritual transformation). Roses always represent love but orange roses also represent optimism and creativity.  And isn't that what the world needs now? I know it makes me feel lifted up just looking at this. I hope it does the same for you. The original is available — contact me for details on price. It is 24" x 36," acrylic on canvas with 1 1/2" painted sides, ready to hang. Prints and prints on canvas are available on Fine Art America.

Cymbidium Carnival in Acrylic and Pastel

Cymbidium Carnival, © 2017 Sheryl Karas

I posted a digital photography version of this before but I decided to recreate it in pastel and acrylic (mostly acrylic at this point) on acid-free matboard mounted on cradled panel painted black. I like it but, wow, was it challenging to do! I call it modern day cubism but I've added experiments in color use and transparency. The original is currently available. It is 18" x 24" including the black border. Prints and prints on canvas are available on Fine Art America.

Cymbidium Carnival

Cymbidium Carnival © 2017 Sheryl Karas

My latest. I started a much more mundane painting of Cymbidium Orchids but found myself frustrated and bored. So I took myself back to the computer to try my hand at composing another piece and one thing led to another. This was made by combining multiple photographs and digital painting techniques to evoke the movement of tropical breezes through the flowers and foliage. Framed and unframed prints and prints on canvas, etc. are available on Fine Art America.

When a Vase of Flowers is a Willful Act of Resistance

"A Willful Act of Resistance", © 2017 Sheryl Karas

SOLD !! When times are hard or scary, painting a vase of flowers is "A Willful Act of Resistance." So that's what this is called. Acrylic on stretched canvas, 24" x 36" with 2" painted edges. Prints and prints on canvas are available on Fine Art America.

Lover's Nest, Acrylic Painting by Sheryl Karas

Lovers Nest, © 2017 by Sheryl Karas

I'm getting ready to varnish this painting, something fun to take my mind off of politics and other distressing things. It's 40" x 30", acrylic on canvas. A return (or at least a revisiting) of an earlier more illustrative style of mine. My last three paintings have been in this style. I'm jockeying between 2-3 different styles of work right now, against all advice from the art gallery and art school critics in my head. Gotta do what I want to do these days. Bright and colorful, happy subject matter, an antidote to the troubles of the world.

This is one I'm keeping for my private collection, but prints and prints on canvas are available on Fine Art America.

Bottlebrush and Wild Grass Abstract

Bottlebrush and Wild Grass Abstract, © 2016 Sheryl Karas

I'm continuing with creating art with a lighter, more uplifting palette. This piece started with one of my macro photos of a Bottlebrush flower. Then I overlaid one of my photos of wild grass blowing in the wind to create an abstract photo-painting.

Prints and prints on canvas, etc. are available on Fine Art America.

Orchids, Cheerful Photo-Painting for a Gloomy Day

Orchids, © 2016 Sheryl Karas

I've been working too dark lately. Maybe it's a reflection of the mood I've been in, the election perhaps, and feelings about work. So I revisited an old photo and used a variety of techniques to make it more cheerful and uplifting. I'm pretty happy with it. Need to do more "pretty" things!

This piece is available as a framed or unframed print or print on canvas or metal on Fine Art America.

Zinnia, Graphic Art

Zinnia, © 2011 Sheryl Karas

I've been an artist all my life but I've more often made my living as a graphic artist. Honestly, given what Andy Warhol was able to do, I believe that the distinction between art and graphic art is pretty much a construction and, maybe, it might be time to deconstruct it.  What I like best about this Zinnia is its Pop Art qualities. Bold and upright, like the Zinnia itself.

Framed and unframed prints and prints on canvas, metal and other items are available multiple places. Fine Art America (Pixels.com) is one option. Some pretty wild clothing designs and other products can be found on Red Bubble. And Society 6 offers other options like a really great looking comforter or duvet cover.