Photographer Sheryl Ball shares an artistic view of our natural environment through her virtual garden. See more of her work on her website.
![floral photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-And-Still-I-Rise-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“And Still I Rise” photography, various sizes
I’ve always loved gardening and flowers, regularly visiting Southern California public gardens while attempting to grow various plants and flowers on my patio. For many years I traveled the world shooting with either a point-and-shoot or cell phone camera.
I did not know the difference between a bus stop and an f-stop.
![floral photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-Blushing-Rose-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“Blushing Rose” photography, various sizes
I began to actually learn photography following a career-ending medical emergency. My occupational therapist recommended that I write, so I started a blog. Of course, every blog must have photos, so I bought my first DSLR camera.
![floral photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-Monets-Muse-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“Monet’s Muse” photography, various sizes
As I learned about the exposure triangle and precisely what an f-stop was, I joined several local Meetup groups to practice shooting various subjects. I shot everything from street photography to portraits and nature. I quickly learned that nature was my photographic passion.
![floral photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-My-Alibi-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“My Alibi” photography, various sizes
I love photographing out in nature and sharing the emotions I feel through my photography and digital artistry skills. My followers and art buyers enjoy living vicariously through my camera lens. My initial focus was on florals shot with a shallow depth of field to create a dreamy blur. I also began to explore landscape photography through workshops and independent travel experiences.
![floral photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-Untitled-Blue-Poppy-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
Untitled (Blue Poppy) photography, various sizes
As my skills grew, I became interested in creating more abstract work with my camera and multiple exposures and using textures and other digital tools for more creative expression and interpretation of what I saw and felt in the field.
![floral photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-Lotus-Rising-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“Lotus Rising” photography, various sizes
Sheryl’s Virtual Garden began as a business based on a chance encounter. A neighbor saw some of the floral images I shot in the neighborhood. She suggested I turn them into notecards, and Sheryl’s Virtual Garden was born.
![landscape photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-Bald-Cypress-Sextet-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“Bald Cypress Sextet” photography, various sizes
I quickly expanded to include fine art prints and began to share more scenic landscapes and even a few birds in my portfolio.
![landscape photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-Cypress-Dreams-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“Cypress Dreams” photography, various sizes
Attendees always think I am a painter when they visit my booth at art festivals and shows. Although my images often have a “painterly” look, every image begins as a photograph. In post-processing, I decide whether to continue down the straight photo path or go down the fork in the road for that painterly look.
![landscape photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-Sunset-Thinker-at-Ruby-Beach-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“Sunset Thinker at Ruby Beach” photography, various sizes
My formal art education comes from an interior architecture and design perspective. As a result, I offer clients the ability to custom order my prints in the size and on the media that is right for their space via my Sheryl’s Virtual Garden website.
![floral photography by Sheryl Ball](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sheryl-Ball-Calla-Ablaze-photography-various-sizes.jpg)
“Calla Ablaze” photography, various sizes
All prints are available on paper, canvas, metal, or acrylic. I still offer a limited-edition collection of note cards that were born from that neighborhood chat in addition to my fine-art prints.
Artist Sheryl Ball invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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