SHINING BRIGHT: CHER PRUYS’ SKILL IN CAPTURING REFLECTIVE SURFACES

By Viviana Puello

Discover the captivating art of Cher Pruys, a master artist with a talent for capturing reflective surfaces in her vivid and hyperrealistic paintings. With her exceptional skill and meticulous attention to detail, Pruys transforms everyday objects, including crushed cans, plastic- wrapped apples, and gleaming cutlery, into stunning works of art that dazzle and captivate. In this issue of ICON magazine, we’ll delve into Cher Pruys’ unique abilities and explore how she uses reflective surfaces to create mesmerizing pieces of art.

Cher Pruys has been passionate about photorealism since she was young, spending countless hours sketching everything that caught her attention. Over time, she progressed into hyperrealism, which became her true passion. For Cher, being a skilled artist means being able to paint anything with excellent results, regardless of the style.

In addition to being an artist, Cher Pruys is a musician who has been teaching piano and guitar for 35 years. She believes that just like music, painting can evoke emotions through visual art. This is why she approaches her hyperrealistic paintings, intending to stir emotions in her viewers through a single line, swirl, or color.

Cher Pruys’ journey to developing her style shows that artistic passion can start at any age and progress into something extraordinary with dedication and hard work.

Cher Pruys’ paintings are more than just pretty pictures - they display her exceptional artistic abilities. Her compositions are expertly crafted, each element placed with careful consideration to create balance and harmony. The attention to detail in her work is remarkable, down to the tiniest highlights and shadows that bring her subjects to life.

Cher is an expert in using color, which is evident in her artwork. Her paintings showcase vibrant hues that bring the canvas to life, offering viewers a dynamic and engaging experience. In addition, Cher’s ability to capture the essence of her subject matter is impressive - from the warm glow of a setting sun to the serene blues of an ocean.

Cher is not just skilled in colors, but she is also an expert in painting reflective surfaces. She has a meticulous eye for detail and a thorough comprehension of light and shadow, which not every artist can master. Cher has perfected this skill, producing captivating paintings of shiny objects like cutlery or crushed cans.

Cher Pruys’s portraits are particularly noteworthy for their ability to capture the soul of her subjects. Through her brushstrokes, she conveys the essence of their personalitywhether it’s the mischievous grin of a child or the wise eyes of an older person. Her paintings of children are particularly heartwarming, as they joyfully capture their innocence and playfulness.

Overall, Cher Pruys is a fantastic artist with a great future ahead of her. Her art showcases her impressive skills, attention to detail, and ability to capture the beauty in the world around us. It’s no wonder her work has garnered so much attention and praise - she truly is a master of her craft.

As we delve into Cher Pruys’ world, we explore her journey to developing her unique style, her artistic inspirations, and the process she uses to create her stunning works of art.

So join us as we journey through the fascinating world of Cher Pruys’ art and discover the beauty in reflective surfaces and beyond.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR ARTISTIC STYLE?

“My style is hyperrealism. Unlike many contemporary artists who choose to repeat themselves in subject matter, I find a strong desire to change my subjects continuously. I try to find excitement, beauty, and interest in the everyday things in life, like crushed cans with their fantastic shine and reflective surface, to a bag of apples, ripe for tasting and glistening behind the plastic bag they are encased in, shiny new cutlery that captures fabulous reflections. Finding beauty in seemingly trivial objects that are part of our everyday lives is so rewarding”.

WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

“First, I prepare by choosing my subject and then thoroughly studying it. Then I let what I have learned to settle in so I can take my ideas and figure out how to bring them into being. The next step is to figure out how best to create the mood I want by interplaying with light and shadow, which is essential for a successful piece of art. Then I sketch accurately and prep my surface for the many layers of paint that will follow! Finally, I find great satisfaction in manipulating reality by creating illusionistic depth, filled with visual, spiritual, and cultural flavors as I see fit, all on a flattened surface with a three-dimensional look!”.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOU WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST?

“My path as an artist started with a fascination with photorealism as I can remember. When I was 4, I spent hours with a pencil and sketch pad, sketching anything in my world that caught my eye. Even at that young age, I was fascinated with producing exactly what my eyes were seeing with the pencil. Through the years, I progressed through photorealism into hyperrealism, where I found my true artistic passion. That said, if you can draw and paint well, you should be able to paint anything you choose to paint with good results. I am also a musician, playing the piano and guitar, and have taught for 35 years. With music, one can evoke emotion in their audience through sound…so translating that to painting seemed like a logical step allowing me to evoke emotion in my viewers, by sight, with a line, a swirl, or a color”.

WHAT MESSAGE DOES YOUR WORK TRANSMIT TO YOUR AUDIENCE?

“I hope my work transmits humanity, joy, and an appreciation for beauty in life. I love painting portraits of children that convey innocence. Also, portraits of older people whose faces are etched with their life experiences, whether good or bad. I aim to send the message out that one only needs to look around themselves to see all the incredible things this short life we live is filled with and to take the time to see, not just look!”.

HAS ANY PART OF YOUR STORY INFLUENCED WHAT YOU DO NOW?

“I think that my many travels from hitchhiking across the country as a kid to extensive travels as an adult as well as my many occupations, model, head swim coach, bodybuilder, fitness instructor, photographer, and music teacher, to name a few, has given me the gift of experiencing many different people and the various ways of living and views on life they possess. Armed with this knowledge, it has influenced my choice to spend my time producing works to share what I have discovered”.