Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sheryl Benjy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sheryl, thanks for joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Kindness is one of my core values and I am currently collaborating with my dear friend, Christine Lane and her non profit Twice The Kindness. One of the kindest things anyone has ever done for me actually relates to my friend Christine.

When I was going through some difficult times, she was there for me every step of the way. She once made a promise that she would celebrate and dance with me when my father finally made it home after being gone and stuck in another country for many years.

The years went by and Christine kept making me that same promise. She never lost faith and it helped me to keep the faith as well. That day finally came and she did as she promised even though I know it was challenging for her at the time. She got on a plane and made the 5 hour flight to Los Angeles.

Christine showed up with flowers in hand for my father and danced the night away with me and my family. I will never forget the love and kindness I felt from her in that moment. It made the reunion so much more special.

You can learn more about her organization at www.twicethekindness.com which helps people going through cancer.

Sheryl, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I bring calm, peace, and healing through the magical power of art. I am an artist, art educator and creative coach. In 2016 I started something called Body Art for the Soul. I have always been intrigued by the Native American and Indian culture. It started with my love for henna tattoos. A ceremonial ritual that originated in India 5,000 years ago to express luck and happiness for weddings and births. In fact, the person who started me on my art journey was my henna tattoo artist. I had hired her for my daughter’s first birthday and she noticed the art on my walls and asked me if I sold my work. I laughed. I thought, she can’t be serious. I had a lightbulb moment on that day. It was the beginning of my healing and journey to becoming the artist I am today. Now I am best friends with my henna tattoo artist who is a talented fine artist herself.

Once I began to paint others and see how it transformed their emotions and state after a session with me, I realized how important and healing art truly is. I created my own ceremonial ritual. Lighting candles, saging and setting up a safe space before each session. Each brush stroke would relax my model more and more, they would go into a trance or meditative state. They would express their dreams, wishes, setbacks and victories with me. I became so deeply connected with them, with their very essence and soul.

Seeing my father suffer through depression and going through it myself, I learned that I was in need of the right tools in my life to heal and not go down the path my father did. I learned to meditate, do yoga, practice gratitude and paint almost everyday. I paint with vibrant colors because those colors heal my soul. They bring positive vibrations and light into my life. It’s color therapy. Each color has a different vibration and benefits us in different ways. When I am done painting someone and I see their reaction and how they feel afterwards, it’s just magical. Creating that world for them allowed me to break out of my own box that I was contained in for so long. It gave me the freedom to be myself and not be afraid of what others thought of me. It was a way for me to empower others to also be their authentic selves, especially women.

The benefits of painting on canvas and seeing how my students feel after a class with me is also so beneficial. It boosts self confidence, puts one in a relaxed state, brings about positive feelings and helps with focus. When someone takes home a painting and they tell me the peace and calm it brings them everyday, it lights me up. Being a Creative Coach has also allowed me to create a beautiful space for other creatives to shine their light and see their true potential.

“The pursuit of art on a regular basis may be the key to healing our minds and bodies.”- Kim Blair

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice

I did an podcast interview with my husband Bobby Benjy on NFT’s, Episode 6, The Creative Spirits Podcast that is available on Spotify, Apple or iHeart Radio. I personally don’t fully get the concept of NFT’s and I don’t have much interest in them. What I am most concerned with is the amount of NFT scams going on in Instagram. This is where people with fake accounts try to offer to buy the art at high prices, as long as the artist will mint them, or pay gas fees, or send them to some NFT exchange that no one has heard of. Artists need to be aware of them and not get taken advantage of. As an artist you need to do your due diligence and research before entering any agreement or giving out any personal information.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is seeing how people react when they see a commissioned piece I created for them for the first time in person. I also love it when one of my pieces finally finds its forever home. I never know where each piece I create will end up so it always brings me so much joy when a piece goes home with someone. It is also so satisfying when they tell me all the beautiful emotions they feel whenever they look at my painting. I also love hearing stories about how people love watching the videos I make and post online of me painting and how it relaxes them. I believe art has the ability to calm and soothe the soul. In an age where technology and the mainstream media can be so overstimulating and negative, it’s important for creatives to put things out there that will add more light and positive energy into the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sherylbenjy.com
• Instagram: @sherylbenjy_art
• Facebook: @sherylbenjyfineartist
• Linkedin: @sherylbenjy
• Youtube: @sherylbenjy
• TikTok: @sherylbenjy

Image Credits
Photography by Catherine Kang and Sheryl Benjy