reyahawk

Sherrie Spencer has been producing many different works of art nearly her entire life. Transforming thoughts and images into tangible creations has been a passion for her since the beginning, and it was borne of necessity.

At the age of five, Sherrie suffered a major stroke. With the entire right side of her body disabled and her right arm completely paralyzed, her life had changed dramatically in an instant.

Since her speech was severely impaired, Sherrie began to draw in an effort to communicate her thoughts and needs to those around her. Her first artistic effort was a drawing of a horse (what little girl’s life would be complete without one?).

Because her mother could not at first identify what she was trying to draw, Sherrie knew she had to sharpen her skills in an effort to perfect her craft. The level of detail and the lifelike imagery evident in her work is testimony to this goal having been accomplished.

With intensive therapy and the passage of time, Sherrie regained her mobility in part and her speech entirely. At that point, however, she had already developed an insatiable passion for art. She began drawing in earnest, and took advantage of inspiration whenever it presented itself.

This outward expression of inward feelings served as something of a coping device when Sherrie was an adolescent, attempting to cope with all that comes at that point in life.

Exposure to the world of art and artists themselves inspired Sherrie to embark on a career of her own. She discovered immediately that it suited her perfectly; her deep devotion to creating and her strong ambition have proven to be indispensable assets. Even now, doing what she loves for a living is proving to be more than its own reward.

In the time since finding her calling, Sherrie has displayed her works all over the country at comic book conventions, SCA events, Renaissance festivals and world wide on the internet. Her art has been published several times in small press books over the years, including “The Little House of Music” (a children’s book), “26 Tears” (compiled as a tribute to Joseph Michael Linsner, creator of the “Dawn” comic series), the “Dawn 2006 Convention Sketchbook” which features similar art, as well as her own self published art books “Atomic Abyss” volumes 1 and 2, and "Dreams and Desires" vol. 1.

Sherrie continues to work on her own graphic novel, to be completed sometime in 2009. She also has begun producing a line of New Age products under the name of “Avalon Enterprises” which features many of her hand-made and hand-painted creations.

Although Sherrie feels there’s much more she’s yet to learn, and that she has far to go, she is intent on enjoying the journey.

Current Residence: Easton,PA
Favourite genre of music: Industral, Goth and New Age
Favourite photographer: Brain Kirk of www.littlebitsofpaper.com
Favourite style of art: Fantasy, and Surrealism
Shell of choice: The one that I always seem to be hiding in