Artist Kerri J. Reinhold fell in love with the undersea world of St. Croix on vacation in 2003 after making a “discover scuba” dive. She became a certified diver, moved here and added fish and anemones to her series of original oils and water colors.
Reinhold takes a subject that she loves and does a series of them on canvases of all sizes. She has a series of watercolor fish, mushrooms and flowers. Reinhold, who is part Cherokee, has dug back into her heritage and painted a bovine skull series.
One can also see her heritage in her striking facial features.
She also paints abstract butterfly wings in oils, one side at a time, painting them as a mirror image.
“It is a challenge to get it synchronized to tell they belong together,” Reinhold says.
The full-bodied oils in vibrant colors are what she prefers as a medium while the water colors are a bit pale she says.
She was influenced by Annemie Feldmaier, a silk painter, while she was student studying art in Germany.
“I love all kinds of art and I love to create things,” Reinhold says.
Her artistic talent doesn’t stop with painting she says. She plays guitar, dances, acts and writes poetry and music. Those pastimes seem to meld right in with her outgoing personality. She seems to love conversation and is always ready to offer a smile. She has a youthful happiness that feels almost contagious,
Reinhold said her next painting series will be of mocko jumbies.
“Actually I wouldn’t mind trying a mural,” Reinhold said. “I live in the moment and hope something great comes out of it.”
She sells only originals and does commissioned work.
Reinhold’s art can be purchased at Cultural Creations in Frederiksted.
Further information can be obtained by sending e-mail to Reinhold at kerri.reinhold@yahoo.com.
