Meet Caroline Sherrer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Sherrer.

Hi Caroline, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My maternal grandmother and one of my uncles are both artists, so creativity has been part of my life from a very young age. I was always making something as a child—friendship bracelets, playhouses out of cardboard boxes, drawings, paintings, and all kinds of crafts. Every summer, my grandmother hosted a weeklong art camp for my cousins and me, and it was easily my favorite week of the year.

As I got older and went to college, art became less present in my day-to-day life. Then, in 2023, I picked up my brushes again and began experimenting with oil paint for the first time. As I continued painting, I started to develop the style I now describe as “nostalgic realism”: detailed paintings of familiar objects and moments that carry memory and personal meaning.

Eventually, I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue art full time. Over the past year and a half, I have traveled throughout the Southeast and Midwest to exhibit my work at art shows and in galleries. Meeting collectors, fellow artists, and other people who connect with the work has shaped both my paintings and the career I am building. I still feel as though I am at the beginning of the journey, and I am excited to see where it leads next.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While I still see myself as being at the beginning of my journey, and the road thus far has been fairly smooth, it has definitely presented its fair share of interesting challenges. At one of my first outdoor shows, in Nashville, severe weather rolled in unexpectedly and nearly carried away my tent and artwork. It was stressful in the moment, but it makes for a good story now! The other artists on the show circuit have been incredibly generous about sharing what they have learned, from securing a tent during unpredictable spring weather in the Southeast to critiquing my work and giving me advice on how to improve my booth display.

Another challenge is balancing the quiet, focused time that painting requires with everything involved in creating a sustainable art business. I want to continue strengthening my skills and artistic voice, make increasingly ambitious work, and bring that work to more people without losing the joy and curiosity that led me back to painting in the first place. I am still learning how to make room for both sides, but I try to keep the art at the center.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an oil painter, and I describe my work as nostalgic realism. I am drawn to familiar subjects from the home and from nature—an old rotary phone, a set of silverware, brass trinkets, flowers, fruit, and other objects that carry a story. I paint them with close attention to texture, light, and detail, and I often bring in bright color and layered pattern to bring a fresh take on those familiar subjects. That balance between detailed realism and playful color and pattern is central to my work.

My grandmother’s home has always been an important source of inspiration. Her walls are covered with her own art, as well as work by family members and artists she admires. She has also spent a lifetime collecting objects with character and history, and I often include those objects in my paintings. That makes the work personally meaningful to me, even when the subjects feel familiar to many other people.

One of the most rewarding parts of showing my work is hearing the memories it brings back for other people. Someone will recognize a rotary phone, a dish, a piece of fabric, or another household object and begin telling me about the version they remember from their life. I love watching that moment of recognition—and often a smile—when a painting connects with part of someone’s own story. That emotional connection is at the heart of what I hope sets the work apart.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
One of my favorite Atlanta discoveries has been Scott Antique Market. I grew up only a few hours from Atlanta and could not believe I had never experienced it before. It brings together so many things I love—art, antiques, interiors, and people who enjoy collecting.

Showing my work there has introduced me to collectors, fellow artists, and people who have become friends. One of those artists, Alison Duncan, was even kind enough to recommend me to VoyageATL, so this interview grew directly out of the community I found there. I love that Atlanta has places where artists, collectors, designers, and antique enthusiasts can meet and share ideas.

If I had to choose a least favorite part, it would probably be the traffic—especially when I am driving through the city with a car full of artwork! The people I have met and the creative energy I have experienced have made every trip worthwhile.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carolinesherrer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinesherrer_art/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/carolinesherrerart

Image Credits
Eleanor LaFoy Photography