About | Sheryl Brake Art

Meet the Artist

A Colorado native, Sheryl Brake grew up on the western slope of Colorado where her love for drawing and painting was fueled by the majestic mountains and the splendor of nature. Her creative spirit showed itself throughout her young life in the form of textile arts in 4-H and various arts and crafts in Girl Scouts. However, it was in high school that she discovered the medium watercolor that fuels her passion to paint today.

Creativity extends throughout Sheryl’s family. Her heritage includes a great-grandmother who was a watercolorist and china painter, her father who is an established artist, her mother who quilts and her two sisters who quilt, paint and make jewelry. Art class was Sheryl’s favorite class throughout her school years; however, when it came time to go to college, she discounted a degree in art and instead pursued a BS in Accounting because it was the "practical thing to do."

Artist's Statement

My work is rooted in a deep fascination with remembrance, nostalgia, and the wonder of everyday objects. I am drawn to the overlooked and the ordinary—found objects, vintage neon signage, and fragments of the past that carry emotional weight and cultural significance. These elements serve as my inspiration for storytelling, evoking personal and collective histories.

I work primarily in watercolor, a medium I value for its immediacy, transparency, and sensitivity to light. Watercolor allows me to capture subtle textures and tonal shifts while preserving a sense of spontaneity and intimacy. My process is slow and intentional, beginning with reference studies and color palette determination, then building through layered washes and fine detail work. The process is meditative and intentional, allowing me to slow down and engage deeply with the subject matter.

Through careful composition and attention to detail, I aim to elevate the mundane into something meaningful, creating visual narratives that invite reflection and emotional connection.

Ultimately, my goal is to create work that feels familiar yet surprising — art that captures the essence of a moment, a memory, or a feeling, and preserves it in a way that resonates with others. By combining technical precision with emotional depth, I hope to offer viewers a space to pause, remember, and rediscover beauty in everyday life.