Out of Our Hands Gallery - fine handcrafted creations

Sharon K. Merkel

Gallery

Artist Statement

After completing undergraduate studies at Kutztown University, I began working in the advertising and illustration field but never strayed far from fine art. With beginnings as a painter, I was accustomed to starting with a blank canvas and building the image from the empty canvas – art of addition. As my interest turned to photography, I found myself challenged with the art of subtraction – choosing what should be included and omitted in order to convey meaningful photographs.

I returned to college for a graduate degree in fine art photography. I have been working for the past year on a project I call “The Urban Landscape.” This landscape is the world around me – the fine details that at first glance, are mundane and ordinary. As we look closer we see the interconnection of man and the environment. This coexistence is the theme that runs through my work. I want to allow the viewer to create their own conclusion as they view each image.