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 Dawn Of Creation, Photo-painting

"The Dawn of Creation", © 2015 Sheryl Karas

Sagebrush and wild grass was the inspiration for this photographically created digital painting. Sagebrush is symbolic of the power to recreate oneself. It is the first significantly-sized plant to regrow in environmentally devastated parts of the Arizona high desert ripped up by ranchers hoping to find their cattle easier. They drag chains across the landscape and pull all the Juniper trees out by the roots, destroying animal and bird habitats and leaving the carcasses behind. When the Sagebrush comes back, it creates new homes for small animals who live under the thick branches.

There is no specific "original" or size for this piece as it was created digitally. You can find it as a framed or unframed print or print on canvas or metal on Fine Art America (and Pixels.com).