Painter Sheryl Stalnaker finds joy in depicting saltwater life and the beauty of her Lowcountry surroundings. “I love being outside and studying the scenes around me,” she says. “Looking at the moving, reflective water or changing skies and light is mesmerizing.”
Stalnaker often begins a painting on location, studying her subject live rather than simply working from photographs, which brings her works to life. With brushes and a palette knife, she builds layers of paint, adding depth and interesting textures. “My landscapes show a perspective that draws the viewer into the painting,” she explains. “I want to transport the viewers away from their hectic lives and into the scene, where they can hear the waves crash, feel the rippling current, smell the pluff mud or hear the blue crab scurrying away on the dock.”
Stalnaker also specializes in commissioned pet portraits. She says, “I love to capture the unique personality and expres- sion of each animal, taking the time to paint the individual animal’s special character.”
