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Arts & Entertainment

Mixed Media Artist Fuses Techniques to Create Art

Co-director of the Loft Art Center and artist Sherry Smith uses mutiple art techniques in her creative pieces.

Sherry Smith, co-director and artist at the in Occoquan, exudes creativity in everything she does. 

Her artist’s eye is seen in not only her art, but everything she touches, such as the walls of the Loft Art Center, which are decorated with a border of artistic and inspiring quotations stenciled by Smith. She assists in running the art studio, teaching classes and also rents studio space within the establishment for her own creations. 

Although colored pencil drawings have become her staple medium, Smith also dabbles in most of the other mediums.  Back in her hometown of Akron, Ohio, Smith majored in ceramics in college, which she still enjoys with the use of a kiln in her home. 

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Even before that, art ran in the family. Her mother taught her painting, such as Chinese brush art and oil portraits, while her grandmother taught her how to knit, crochet and embroider.  She uses these techniques to create a fusion of her art skills within her current creations.

Smith describes her art as mixed media pieces.  It is common to see embroidery and hand-stitching mixed into her projects.  She also makes jewelry using crochet with beading or wire wrap techniques. 

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Smith was first introduced to drawing as a child when her mother gave her crayons built-in sharpeners to occupy her on a trip to Florida.  Later in life, as Smith got into oil painting, she realized how messy it was as her cats would get their tails and fur covered in paint as they played with her art setup.  Out of necessity, she realized colored pencils would be a cleaner option, so she got back to her drawing roots.

In regards to her drawing, Smith said, “It’s a passion.  I can’t imagine never drawing again. Even though I branch out, I always go back.”

The first step to a drawing is to take a picture of her subject matter to capture the perfect composition as lighting can change and fruits or flowers can die during the month it takes to complete a piece.  She spends about five days a week, seven hours a day during this time for a large piece.

“My artwork is not about subject matter as much as patterns and reflections, light and dark shadows.  All are part of the composition,” explained Smith.

To put a contemporary spin on a traditional subject, Smith enjoys composing her works in the aerial perspective (shot from above, looking down upon the set up). Brightly colored fabrics are usually the initial inspiration.

Smith said colored pencils are like layers of paint and the more layers, the richer the piece.  Although she had no formal pencil training, she quickly learned that adding a blue layer after a green layer makes for a more interesting piece. 

She went to school for teaching, thinking it would be a good way to pay for her art, but eventually realized she wanted to do art full-time.  Smith explained that she had a drive to do art like an athlete has a drive for sports. She realized that in art, “You are never going to succeed working in your laundry room if you don’t put yourself out there and let someone see it.”

Smith currently resides in Dale City with her husband of 28 years. They have three children.  When she first moved to the area over 25 years ago, Smith began showing her work through the outdoor art shows in Woodbridge. The shows were judged and provided prize money as well as good sales. Eventually, she displayed her art at Workhouse Arts where she became an associate artist. 

Sherry is now a member of the Art League of Alexandria, Va., the Prince William Art Society, The Greater Reston Arts Center, the Colored Pencil Society of America and the Loft Gallery.

Currently, you will find Smith working diligently in her studio in Lorton on one of her mixed media pieces.  She is always learning and applying new
techniques.  In the future, she plans to get into polymer clay and resin beads. She also teaches one-on-one and group art classes in painting, drawing and mixed media at the Loft Art Center.

For further information on Smith or to view her artwork, visit www.sherrysmithart.com or www.loftgallery.org.  For information on art classes or to commission a piece of artwork by Smith, contact her at crazeeclay@gmail.com or call 703-402-0896.

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