From my heart to yours
“We are all a little broken, but the last time I checked, broken crayons still color the same.”
I’m Sheri Callahan
Texas-based intuitive abstract painter
Thirty-five Years of Color
Before I picked up a paintbrush, I spent thirty-five years as a hairdresser and colorist. People trusted me with more than their hair — I heard their stories, their stress, their big news, all behind that chair. I got very good at color, and at listening.
A Quiet Retirement
When I retired in 2014, I thought I'd feel free. Instead, I felt a little invisible — like I had to figure out who I was without a chair full of loyal clients who knew my name. So I started researching the female abstract painters I'd always admired, and something clicked.
Learning on Purpose
Since 2018 I've studied with painters I deeply respect — Nicholas Wilton, Louise Fletcher, Pamela Caughey, Jodie King, Nancy Hillis, and more. I still travel every year for a workshop, because I'm not interested in standing still. It's good for my soul to be around other artists.
Inspiration
Daily walks. Mother nature, mostly. Past travels — blue water, white sand. Patterned, textured fabric. A whole lot of conversation in my own head.
In the Studio
I start with color — swatches in my sketchbook until something feels right. Then charcoal or a Stabilo stick to activate the canvas, mark-making, sometimes even words that disappear under the next layer. Acrylic, oil, wax, whatever the piece is asking for.
It's exciting until it isn't — and then I walk away. When I come back, I can usually see exactly where the painting was trying to take me the whole time.
“Beyond being captivated by your artwork, I chose to work with you because of your professionalism and genuine commitment to creating something personal.”
Come Take a Closer Look
