Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherry Mason.
Sherry, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Art has been part of my creative life since I was a little girl. I began by sketching Charlie Brown and the Peanuts characters and painting copies of works my mother, aunt, and grandmother found in Top Value Green Stamp books decades ago. In high school, I studied painting more seriously, earning the Talent Award among my peers while continuing to paint as a hobby.
At my father’s encouragement, I earned a degree from the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy rather than pursuing a fine art degree. I practiced pharmacy until 2016, when I began painting at home with the quiet hope of one day building a business and selling my work.
I had no experience in the business of art, and looking back, I now realize that many of my early decisions profoundly shaped the trajectory of my career. I did not follow the traditional path I often see artists take. Instead, I chose a road that felt true to who I am. Entering local competitions and winning my first award in 2019 affirmed, in my mind, that I had a marketable skill. From there, I set a goal to be juried into respected organizations such as Oil Painters of America, the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society, the American Artists Professional League, and the International Guild of Realism. I also began entering national and international competitions, including the PleinAir Salon, to measure my work against a broader field.
I became a Top 100 Finalist in the PleinAir Salon in 2022 and have remained a Top 100 Finalist each year since. In 2023, I placed in the Top 25, receiving my first Honorable Mention. That recognition encouraged me to enter the Almenara Art Prize in 2024 and 2025, where every painting I submitted was selected as a semi-finalist. In 2025, I also entered the Art Renewal Center’s International Salon and learned that two of my paintings were selected as semi-finalists, with one advancing to Finalist. I was genuinely surprised and deeply honored.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? That depends on the perspective. I am an intense and curious person by nature. If I do not know something, I immerse myself in books, online resources, and videos until I find answers. Often, I discover new ideas that shape the next painting. I do not paint simply to produce work; I paint to grow. I study artists whose work I admire and look for ways to learn from their approach and incorporate those lessons into my own process. Each painting improves in some respect over the one before it. That is how I stay inspired and continue to advance.
As a self-taught artist, I am very aware that I do not have decades of formal art training behind me. At times, that can make the journey feel less than smooth, as though I am constantly catching up. At the same time, my husband’s unwavering support has made an enormous difference. He has invested not only financially but emotionally in my career, often telling me that if he had known the level I would reach, he would have encouraged me to leave pharmacy much earlier. His belief in me has been invaluable.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is predominantly oil landscapes, though I also explore still life and figurative subjects because they teach me so much. A significant turning point in my development came when I began painting en plein air. Painting from life—whether outdoors or from a studio setup—transformed my understanding of light, atmosphere, and color. While I use photo references when necessary, my work is rooted in direct observation and lived experience.
I am a representational artist, and my paintings are closely tied to the sensation of being on location. Collectors often comment on the softness in my work, which reflects my admiration for the Hudson River School painters and earlier artists such as Michelangelo, who described the effect of “sfumato,” or “like smoke.” I strive to paint the air and light in a painterly way, using color to convey both atmosphere and emotion.
One of the moments I am most proud of occurred when I received a phone call asking whether I had ever considered applying for membership in the Salmagundi Club of New York. I replied that I might someday, when I felt good enough. I was told that I was already there and encouraged to apply. Being accepted into the Salmagundi Club and achieving Finalist status in the Art Renewal Center Salon are among my proudest accomplishments.
What sets me apart from others is difficult for me to answer. I admire the work of many artists and enjoy watching them grow. Most have decades of experience or formal art degrees. I am self-taught through books, workshops, and online resources. While I have learned from many sources, I have also discovered techniques through my own experimentation—approaches I hope to share in a book someday.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
As for luck, I do not think of my journey in those terms. I believe my progress is the result of intentional decisions and persistent effort toward a clear goal. I may not have always made perfect choices, but I remained focused. To me, luck is random. My path has been purposeful.
Pricing:
- My pricing reflects the time and intention behind each piece. Plein air studies are priced more affordably because they are studies rather than highly refined studio works. Larger, more developed paintings that involve significant time and emotional investment are priced accordingly. My work currently ranges from $250 to just under $15,000, depending on size and complexity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sherrymasonart.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sherrymasonart
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sherrymasonart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SherryMasonArt
