Sherill Ann Gross is participating in her 5th ArtoMatic!  You can find her on the 11th floor, space 253 very close to the elevators.  “Look at the grid wall and find the Hula girl – she’ll point you in the right direction!”

This year, Sherill will be showing some newer works.  “I wanted to work with a theme and based it around one work (Banana, to the left here).  From there I decided to go with a tropical or tiki theme when choosing work to exhibit.

“All the work I have on exhibit are things I am very proud of.  I love the work and I hope others do too.  I think I use interesting techniques and tend to surprise people when they learn it is all made of paper.”  Sherill invites you to her space with a tease:  “As an added bonus, in my space there is a clue which will take you to see a brand new artwork – not shared on my facebook, my blog or anywhere!  Plus I made 3 new postcards just for ArtOMatic.  Collect all 3!)”

When asked how to make one’s exhibit stand out, Sherill commented that what you get out of it is proportional to what you put into it.  “Spend the time to think your space out – whether you go traditional white walls or crazy collaged walls, do it with purpose.  See how it relates to your work.  Make your whole space a reflection of you, not just what is inside the frames on the wall.”

Sherill has a degree in studio art and has been making art for as long as she can remember.  For the past 12 years, however, she has been working exclusively in cut paper.  Her work has evolved over the years, as, she says, “it took me a few years to find my place with my material.”

Tell us a bit about your materials and techniques.

I am a cut paper artist.  Everything I create is made solely using paper – even the signature!  I say my work is created using only paper, glue, and patience.  The challenge of taking a finite color palette of flat square papers and transforming them into realistic final images is an exciting concept each time I work on a new piece.   Each work provides a new puzzle that needs to be solved and I approach each work with a new method of working the paper to see how it will add to the finished art.

I am exploring much different themes and subjects than I have in the past.  I am also experimenting with different ways to use paper for each and every new piece.  I can’t say I know where my art is going – but I’m always trying new things and I don’t know where that will lead me.  I do know I have created more abstract works in the past 2 years than I have in my entire art career.  I am finding it a nice release after working on precise works for long periods of time.  I am also experimenting more with scale, so I think there may be larger works in my future.

What is the role of the artist in society?

I think the main role for an artist in society is to take someone somewhere – whether it be an emotion or a memory.  Art does not always need to make you contemplate your existence – it can just as easily just make you smile.

What is the place of your work in society?

I want to make work that makes people smile and be happy.  I try and only make art which makes me smile and I hope it will do the same for others.  I feel art should be for everyone, so I also want to make work which can be enjoyed by everyone.

I asked Sherill about what happens when she hits a slump.  She said, “Generally I pout for a bit.”  I love this response as that’s usually my first slump strategy too! Of course after the pout, it’s onward!  “I try a lot of things to get out of slumps.  I try and work in a different creative medium- which is sewing – and see if that lights the creative fire again.  Sometimes I just need to cut up paper and see what happens, no plan, just see if I can make something come together.  This is how I first started doing abstract work.  I have found that creating something abstract is a great releaseand gets my mind working again.”

Sherill draws inspiration from Shag, Tim Biskup, Derek Yaniger and Gary Baseman.  She is drawn to the way all of these artists seem to create fun works.  She notes they all use big color and follow subject matter that appeals to her and makes her happy.  While they are very different from what she creates, she takes from them the way she feels about their work and puts that into her own work.

While she hasn’t yet had time to go around ArtOMatic and collect cards for the works she loves, Sherril has done an initial speed tour and was struck by several exhibits.  “As always I’m impressed with the work Michael Janis has on exhibit.  I also really adore the work Erin Antognoli has on exhibit, a big departure from her previous works – which makes me love it even more!  Of course I can’t forget Rebecca Gordon’s room of bacon (really, what is there not to love).  Also, one artist right near my space, whose name I can’t remember, has tool paintings which really stick out in my mind (though no painting of a pair of scissors).” [ed note:  Sherril’s tag line:  Runs with Scissors.]

Sherril explains that she has had a heavy exhibition schedule the past few years and is now taking a bit of a break from that to concentrate on creating. She invites you to visit her in person in her studio in the Greenbelt Community Centerm, Greenbelt MD.  You

can also find her on her website:  http://www.sagworks.com and her FaceBook page:  https://www.facebook.com/sagworks.art.  At http://www.sagworks.wordpress.com-artblog, she displays new works as well as status photos of works in progress which you can watch as she moves toward completion.

In addition to making art, Sherril works at curating artshows and installing shows in local galleries.

To read more interviews and see more photographs from ArtOMatic 2012 and earlier ArtOMatics, go here.