I'M SHERRY Born and raised in the small, sea-splashed town of Belmar, New Jersey, Sherry’s earliest memories belong to the rhythm of waves, the salty air, and the feeling of sand always clinging to her feet. With both her lineage and her surroundings infused with creativity, she was destined to become an artist, drawing inspiration from the vast expanse of the the ocean . Sherry’s beginnings as an artist were organic, almost inevitable—she can’t recall a time when she wasn’t creating, first making old furniture sing with new color and life before launching into expansive murals. Eventually, her love for the ocean and surfing gave her favorite surface: the surfboard. Each palm-flecked board or wall she touches is layered with stories drawn from those formative years under the sun, an homage to salt and soul. Sherry’s path has been distinctly her own, forged through tireless self-experimentation and trial rather than academia. As a self-taught painter, she has charted an unconventional, vibrant course, fusing her intuitions with bold techniques—her signature style lies in the way she layers her imagery, the expressive, searching eyes of her subjects, and the evocative stories nestled within each piece, every titled artwork conceived with its narrative in mind. Her journey led her south to Palm Coast, Florida, where she now stands as both artist and educator. Sherry’s 4,000-square-foot art studio buzzes with creativity, hosting over 12,000 students both in person and online. For her, teaching is as vital as painting, the highlight being the “aha” spark in her students’ eyes, and the pride they get. The heart of Sherry’s oeuvre is the ocean—a subject matter as intrinsic as breath, tied to her earliest joys and lifelong sense of freedom. To her, being “born with salt water in my veins” is no metaphor but a living truth, shaping not only her aesthetic but her philosophy: that art, at its best, is about connection and liberation of the spirit. Her surfboard art, house “place-lifts,” and bespoke commissions have garnered recognition, including features in Paint World Magazine and on Fox 35 News. Collectors and casual observers alike have been moved to say Sherry’s paintings possess an ineffable feeling—something soulful and deeply alive. Off the canvas, Sherry’s love of travel, thrifting, and constant learning keeps her curiosity kindled. These interests, she insists, feed the wanderlust and wonder that infuse her work. Whether in the studio, on the shore, or in a student’s first creative discovery, Sherry remains committed to her journey of “painting, growing, and sharing,” believing unshakably that art should liberate, inspire, and bring out the hidden colors—whether they are already present or waiting just beneath the surface.
