Meet the Artist, Sherry Ackerson
Sherry Ackerson began painting as a young girl, drawing and painting on whatever she could get her hands on. She began experimenting with different styles and techniques, ultimately falling in love with oil paint for its richness and ability to blend.
Her career as an artist came naturally. She was teaching a "Paint Your Pet" class when the students began commissioning her paintings. It wasn't long until word-of-mouth spread and more clients came on board, allowing her to find a new purpose that combined the things she loved - painting and everyday beauty.
She sets herself apart by embracing the natural effects of color and light, creating realistic paintings that emphasize the subject's best qualities.
As a pet owner, traveler, and foodie herself, she understands how deep-rooted our love can go and intends to honor that sentiment with each project.
Sherry's work has been shown in the Monmouth Art Museum, Lincroft, NJ; the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, Atlantic Highlands, NJ; the South Avenue Arts Gallery, Garwood, NJ; and the Pastel Society, NY, NY.
Sherry received her BFA in Illustration at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She also did post-graduate studies in painting and drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
She is a mom and happily resides in Cranford, NJ, with her cat, Harry, but has also lived in Philadelphia, London, New York, and Hoboken.
“Seeing and creating beauty has always been my passion.”
The Process
Background colors are added and subject is isolated.
Subject is sketched in pencil on desired canvas size.
Tiny details are added to bring the painting to life.
Layers of color are built up from the bottom up.
An artist’s process can be so captivating and intriguing. It is truly their unique way of approaching their own creative process. For commissioned pieces that begin with a photograph, Sherry begins by scaling the image to the chosen canvas size and sketches it out in pencil.
This initial layout helps to determine the overall composition and placement of crucial elements of the piece moving forward. Background colors are added as a base and layers of paint are slowly built up adding depth and texture.
The subject truly comes to life as all of the tiny details are added at the final stages of the painting.