Gale Sherman
Art has always been a part of my life. With three grandparents as artists—a designer, a painter, and a sculptor—and a mother who shared her love of art, I grew up immersed in a creative world. From childhood trips to museums to my career, this passion has continued to shape my path.
I started teaching when many artists were finding financial success in children's book illustration. During this boom, I fostered a love for picture books in both my students and my children. My 23 years as an early childhood librarian, along with my role as a university instructor in children’s literature, deepened my connection to the world of illustration. I co-authored Worth a Thousand Words: An Annotated Guide to Picture Books for Older Readers, contributed to library journals, and served on the 2001 Caldecott Award Committee to select that year’s most distinguished illustrated picture book.
Starting in the 1990s, I turned my attention to my own artistic growth, studying drawing and later earning a Nature Art Certificate from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute. Fascinated by the pen and ink Zentangle Method, I became a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) and now teach both at the Art Institute and virtually from my studio.
Artist Statement
My art is inspired by the people I meet, my travels, and chance observations. The ideas behind each piece guide my choice of medium, whether it's pen and ink, watercolors, colored pencils, pastel pencils, photography, scratchboard, or collage. I enjoy combining different materials and techniques, whether on a single surface or in the books I create. I look forward to the future and new versions of myself as an artist that I’ll discover along the way.
