Urban Inspiration: The Art of Perspective
Born from years of experimentation with landscapes and cityscapes, Art Sherwyn’s latest works draw inspiration from the towns of Bakersfield and Cambria.
For months, Art took to the streets with his sketchpad and pencil, exploring unique perspectives hidden within everyday architecture. His keen artistic eye discovered abstract shapes, intricate patterns, and dynamic designs formed by windows, rooflines, staircases, doorways, and signage—elements often overlooked by the ordinary passerby.
Through bold and intense color schemes, detailed line work, and rich implied textures, Art celebrates these unseen perspectives, transforming cityscapes into vivid artistic expressions.
Cambria Center for the Arts (Art Sherwyn Exhibition, 2021)
An Uncommon Path: Art Sherwyn’s Latest Works
Art Sherwyn’s most recent body of work blends vibrant color with his deep-rooted passion for storytelling. His use of calligraphic mark-making breathes life into the characters and narratives of the communities he paints, transforming each piece into a commemorative anecdote of the places he calls home.
Beginning this series in 2018, Sherwyn embraced new scales and materials, pushing the boundaries of his forty-year artistic practice. Yet, his signature gestural lines remain, weaving in and out of his subjects, adding movement, depth, and emotion—a testament to his lifelong dedication to the arts and its ability to document the complexities of humanity.
Urban Inspiration & The Creative Process
Inspired by Bakersfield’s urban revitalization, Sherwyn spent half a year walking the streets with pencil and sketchpad, searching for compelling compositions hidden in everyday life. These initial sketches evolved into small, colored studies, which later transformed into the dynamic, large-scale paintings featured in this exhibition.
Sherwyn’s intuitive approach challenges traditional perspectives—distorting scale and manipulating space to infuse his work with energy and movement. As he builds each painting’s structure, intuition takes over, guiding color, mark-making, and patterns in a spontaneous negotiation between artist and canvas.
The “Uncommon Path” of Creativity
As an educator and lecturer, Sherwyn often speaks of the “Uncommon Path”—an essential mindset for creativity to flourish. Whether through strategic decision-making or pure intuition, his artistic process is one of constant discovery. Within this journey, a symbiotic collaboration emerges between artist and artwork, resulting in pieces that not only capture the essence of place but also reflect the dynamic, ever-evolving nature of creativity itself.
Bakersfield Museum of Art (https://www.bmoa.org/exhibition/uncommon-perspective)
Follow Art Sherwyn on Instagram (@ArtSherwyn) to see works in progress and more!