The Artist and the Style...
Based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada, I work within a small home studio space producing images in a traditional style with coloured pencil and graphite, on various weights of both drawing and watercolour papers.
Utilizing various accompanying tools and the old school method of drawing, I find a certain artistic peacefulness at the drawing table.
My traditional style simply comes from my combined background in graphic arts and fine art, while learning under the tutelage of traditional artists. For me, it describes the act of creating with one's own hands along with the individual tools and materials that we choose.
I work with various types of coloured pencil, graphite pencil, easers, stomps and other tools like sponges, placing colour and working it like paint in some cases. Layering and removing becomes that dance that creates the desired effect. No two pieces are ever alike and the evolution of manual techniques always continues. Discovering new ways to achieve a certain outcome is an exciting journey.
I've always been an admirer of craftsmanship of any kind. The ability and desire to create something with one's own hands and a few chosen tools is something I have always valued.
It brings a very personal feel to each piece knowing that someone physically created it with a deep desire to pull out their particular creative skill and vision.
Drawing to me, is more than just sketching something on the page. It involves hours of being very close to the image and forming its story through each colour and pencil line placed. It seals it in time on paper.
Nurturing manual craftsmanship from visual art, to wood working, sculpture, music and so much more, is something I feel strongly about and it is my hope that we continue to share these elements of who we are with those around us. This is the way we have lived for centuries and although I believe in following a healthy path of progress, it is my hope that we never lose our natural manual skills. A creative society and one that holds onto these elements, is a kinder, calmer and more productive one.
The act of creating is innate within every artist and it is an element of society that brings positivity, joy, colour and an empathy for our surroundings. Creativity of any kind is one of the most valuable attributes to us as people. It involves opening up the mind to possibilities, releasing thoughtfulness, intellectual motion and an appreciation for our environment.
In a fast paced world of AI and technology, I endeavor to hold onto a style from which I find a warmth of tradition within.
Simply put: Human hand, inspiration...ART.
- Cheryl
