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ORIGINALS
By
Sherry Steele
Seldom on public display, Sherry
Steele’s Originals are highly sought by discerning collectors. From
the walls of her studio they surround Sherry as she works, lending
their inspiration to the next creature evolving on her drawing
table. Each original patiently awaits the special person who will
be touched by it and claim it for their collection.
Rendered in her unique technique of
full color pen and ink, an original takes 3-4 months to complete.
Observed and sketched in the wild, each creature has revealed itself
to her in moments of unspoiled beauty. She has watched how they
move, and how their bodies are perfectly suited to their
environment. Her ability to store minute details brings those
encounters to life with an intensity impossible to capture with the
click of a camera shutter. Their unguarded behavior and expressions
are preserved as she saw it happening, remaining stored in her mind
until choosing their own turn for revelation.
Sherry’s job is to distill those
encounters into fine art through composition and mastery of her
medium. Beginning with a series of thumbnail sketches based on her
life studies, various arrangements are tested for presentation and
flaws. Settling on a final composition, she knows that keeping it
Spartan allows the viewer to appreciate the exquisite detail without
overwhelming the eye. As Sherry draws her subject directly onto
the archival Bristol Board paper, she can already see the finished
piece in her mind.
After mixing a palette of lightfast
colors from a limited array of permanent transparent inks, the
time-intensive process of applying layers of colors starts. One by
one, the tens of thousands of strokes become almost sculptural in
their depth. Using the finest of pen points, Sherry achieves a
delicacy and richness that make you want to reach out and touch the
fur of the animal. Any background of dust or mist is applied one
dot at a time.
The final phase, adding the eyes, is
fraught with apprehension and anticipation. The medium is
unforgiving if she makes a mistake. Closing the doors to her
studio, Sherry seeks to convey the spirit she felt as she watched
this exquisite creature. A secret shared between the two of
them. After the months spent reliving their encounter on a daily
basis the connection is complete. It is a time to celebrate.
Why
buy an original?
Aside from the inherent value of owning an original piece of art,
there are many reasons for choosing to make the investment. The
limited number of originals produced annually by Sherry has
naturally created an elevated level of demand. While new giclée
printing processes have advanced the quality of prints to a high
degree of excellence, there is still a visible difference from the
original work of art. The biggest distinction comes from the effect
of the pen points as they make actual cuts in the paper, creating
even greater depth impossible to capture in a print. Accompanying
each original is the history, or Provenance, of the piece. This is
usually comprised of copies of the pages from Sherry’s journal,
drawings and thumbnail sketches, the story of the encounter and even
the swatches of colors on the borders of the paper where she tests
her inks. And to complete the package, the collector also receives
an Artists Proof from the printed edition of the artwork.
Interested in becoming a collector
and proud owner of one of these Sherry Steele originals? Please
contact us directly at (512) 892-3553 or via email at
ssteele@texas.net.
Faultless, Flawless Connection
| "Show Me A
little Leg" |
21 X 13½ |
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"Bison
Portrait" |
7" x
17" |
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"Are We There Yet?" |
12 ¾" x 28 ¾" |
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"Talk Of The Town" |
15" x 12" |
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