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Sirens, 12x12”, Acryla Gouache and Gouache on 100% Cotton Hot Pressed 300gsm Paper, by Sherilynn Ray

By Sherilynn Ray

Art supplies on my messy desk.

Portrait study, by Sherilynn Ray

Sold to a private collection.

My very first oil pastel painting. What a delightful experience.

My very first plein air.

I love creating ethereal, atmospheric paintings. I’ve mostly been doing nature studies with soft pastel, though I hope to try portraits again with it soon (in my own style, of course), working up to combining the two. 💖 In my brain, I’ve already done it, and it’s beautiful. 😂 Now to bring it to life!

Composition, value, color; recent plein air painting has influenced me greatly when it comes to these 3 qualities for any painting. Outside, armed with a camera + seeking references, these 3 traits have me saying “wow” at the sky, the horizon, tree lines, and mountains. I’ve never been much of a landscape or background painter, preferring beauty portraits, but my appreciation for our beautiful earth has completely changed.

Lately, I’m really attracted to nature and scale, the idea that we are either so, so small in this giant, beautiful painting of earth, or we are huge and imposing to the tiniest and most beautiful things. Landscapes and the texture within it excites me, and the idea of escaping the office into tree-filled forests has me constantly daydreaming.

https://instagram.com/sherilynnray

Sea Breeze, 3x6, Oil Pastel on Paper, by Sherilynn Ray

Process.

I couldn’t be happier.

How do you start your day? Mine almost always begins with a cup of coffee, sitting down to plan out all the most important things (I forget stuff easily, and writing it down keeps it top of mind), and digesting a few chapters of whatever book I’m currently reading.