Article by Houston Chronicle

Sheryl & Sandy at Art Crawl Houston

Sheryl at Hidden Glen Art Festival

Mandy

Sheryl E. McDonald is a native born Texan. Houston has been her home since the late 50’s and she now lives in a country home with her husband Jimmy, in Magnolia, Texas just about 50 miles north west of Houston. Art has always come naturally for Sheryl, but it was just a few years ago while shopping in Round Top, TX, Sheryl found an armless mannequin. Sheryl brought the sitting female figure home and named her “Mandy.” Mandy sat in the McDonald household for a year, almost as a part of the family. It was in the spring, 2007 when Sheryl woke up with a wonderful idea. Mandy became Sheryl’s canvas as she used a very detailed technique using hundreds of photographs that transformed Mandy into a unique art form. Since completing Mandy, Sheryl has completed several other mannequins, both male and female, each with a unique shape and theme. “Life, and the people all around me are my inspiration,” says Sheryl. “I want to share something wonderful with others and the joy of the reaction to my artwork is awesome. The human form is beautiful, and I have found a way to help others. I have known a few women with breast cancer, and each time I sell one of my pieces, I donate a portion back to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research and other charities like The Red Cross. This is my way of giving back.

The process is very detailed and takes weeks to complete one figure. Each figure has a theme. I collaborate with my husband/partner, artist Jimmy McDonald using photographic images of his paintings and some photography to complete the theme. The images are printed on archival acid free paper with UV Ultra chrome archival inks. The printed images are carefully trimmed with different edge details & fitted & applied to the surface of the mannequin. Once everything dries the surfaces are sealed with a UV clear coat finish which seals and protects the artwork. The figures can be placed outside but it is best to keep them inside out of direct sun light and dry. They will do fine under a covered porch or patio.

"Listen to the sounds that life sings and the messages that you hear when you open your heart to the song." TM