Cheryl St. John
Cheryl St. John
Cheryl St. John is a fourth generation Colorado Native; it’s in her blood to appreciate the nature and environment. She says she is a preserver of both. Cheryl draws inspiration to paint from her vast travels from the wide-open spaces of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the high deserts of New Mexico, the colorful hillsides of Tuscany, to the charm of San Miguel de Allende.
She is a member of the American Impressionist Society and member of the Plein Air Artists of Colorado. She says of plein air painting, …”it’s always a challenge, never-ever routine. The changing light and weather conditions create a sense of urgency that translates to a spontaneous and loose interpretation of the scene.” Transporting structured chaos into the studio for the much larger pieces proves an undertaking Cheryl is well equipped to handle.
She is deeply connected to her environment. Her paintings reflect harmony and tranquility. They reflect the soul and spirit of the land to the viewer
Cheryl is known for her "plein-air" landscapes as well her breathtaking large landscape paintings created from the plein air studies. "It's a bit difficult to paint on a 36X48 canvas on location so working from small studies, created in the field is the perfect solution!" Now, she can enjoy being outdoors, which is where she wants to be most of the time, and enjoy the comfort of the studio when she wants to work large. The nice thing about creating a small study on location is it takes me right back to that "special place" so I can create a large work with the same feeling and emotion.
Cheryl's inspiration comes from the wide open spaces of the rocky mountains of Colorado, the high desserts of New Mexico, the colorful hillsides of Tuscany and the many other landscapes she is yet to discover. Painting en plein-air is always a challenge, never-ever routine. The changing light and weather conditions create a sense of urgency that translates to a spontaneous and loose interpretation of the scene, which is something she retains in working much larger in the studio. "Besides, it's a great excuse to be outdoors and what better way to take the viewer to all of the wonderful places I get to visit! My hope is that the viewer can actually feel the breeze, smell the fresh air and soak in the warmth of the sun in each and every one of my works of art. I want my paintings to let you escape to a very special place and enjoy."
Cheryl studied fine art and design at The Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design and The Colorado Institute of Art, as well as with well known artists: Kim English, Melinda Morrison, Michael Workman, Robert Spooner and many others. She is a current member of The Art Students League of Denver, Signature member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society. Associate member of American Impressionists Society and Oil Painters of America. She has won numerous awards and is currently in Corporate as well as Private collections around the world.
Recent Exhibitions, Invitationals and Awards:
2014 Saks Galleries Les Femmes du Galerie
2014 Saks Galleries Cherry Creek Artist of the Month
2013 Art & Soul Invitational to benefit the Art Students League of Denver
2013 Oil Painters of America 22nd Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Fredericksburg, TX
2012 Capitol Christmas Tree Art Competition Grand Prize winner and awarded "Official Image" of The Capitol Christmas Tree, Permanent display in the Art Collection of the U.S. Capitol
2012 August 11, 2012 Plein Air Painting featured on front page of the Denver Post
2012 Richard Schmid Fine 2012 Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction to benefit Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Dept.
2012 Oil Painters of America, Western Regional, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2012 Windows to the Divine Invitational, Denver, Colorado
2011 Colorado Governor's Invitational, Loveland Art Museum
2010 Chosen for 2010 poster "Art for Life" Project Angel Heart
2009-10 American Impressionist Society's AnnualJuried Exhibit
2008 Plein Air Artists of Colorado Member Show, Third Place
2007 Paint America Top 100 Exhibition traveling the U.S.
Collections: Almerica Financial, Denver, CO • Exempla Good Samaritan Hospital, Lafayette, CO Leisy Brewing Company, Peoria, IL • City of Westminster, CO • Atlanticare Regional Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, Center for Childbirth, New Jersey • City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California
Cheryl St. John is a fourth generation Colorado Native; it’s in her blood to appreciate the nature and environment. She says she is a preserver of both. Cheryl draws inspiration to paint from her vast travels from the wide-open spaces of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the high deserts of New Mexico, the colorful hillsides of Tuscany, to the charm of San Miguel de Allende.
She is a member of the American Impressionist Society and member of the Plein Air Artists of Colorado. She says of plein air painting, …”it’s always a challenge, never-ever routine. The changing light and weather conditions create a sense of urgency that translates to a spontaneous and loose interpretation of the scene.” Transporting structured chaos into the studio for the much larger pieces proves an undertaking Cheryl is well equipped to handle.
She is deeply connected to her environment. Her paintings reflect harmony and tranquility. They reflect the soul and spirit of the land to the viewer
Cheryl is known for her "plein-air" landscapes as well her breathtaking large landscape paintings created from the plein air studies. "It's a bit difficult to paint on a 36X48 canvas on location so working from small studies, created in the field is the perfect solution!" Now, she can enjoy being outdoors, which is where she wants to be most of the time, and enjoy the comfort of the studio when she wants to work large. The nice thing about creating a small study on location is it takes me right back to that "special place" so I can create a large work with the same feeling and emotion.
Cheryl's inspiration comes from the wide open spaces of the rocky mountains of Colorado, the high desserts of New Mexico, the colorful hillsides of Tuscany and the many other landscapes she is yet to discover. Painting en plein-air is always a challenge, never-ever routine. The changing light and weather conditions create a sense of urgency that translates to a spontaneous and loose interpretation of the scene, which is something she retains in working much larger in the studio. "Besides, it's a great excuse to be outdoors and what better way to take the viewer to all of the wonderful places I get to visit! My hope is that the viewer can actually feel the breeze, smell the fresh air and soak in the warmth of the sun in each and every one of my works of art. I want my paintings to let you escape to a very special place and enjoy."
Cheryl studied fine art and design at The Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design and The Colorado Institute of Art, as well as with well known artists: Kim English, Melinda Morrison, Michael Workman, Robert Spooner and many others. She is a current member of The Art Students League of Denver, Signature member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society. Associate member of American Impressionists Society and Oil Painters of America. She has won numerous awards and is currently in Corporate as well as Private collections around the world.
Recent Exhibitions, Invitationals and Awards:
2014 Saks Galleries Les Femmes du Galerie
2014 Saks Galleries Cherry Creek Artist of the Month
2013 Art & Soul Invitational to benefit the Art Students League of Denver
2013 Oil Painters of America 22nd Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Fredericksburg, TX
2012 Capitol Christmas Tree Art Competition Grand Prize winner and awarded "Official Image" of The Capitol Christmas Tree, Permanent display in the Art Collection of the U.S. Capitol
2012 August 11, 2012 Plein Air Painting featured on front page of the Denver Post
2012 Richard Schmid Fine 2012 Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction to benefit Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Dept.
2012 Oil Painters of America, Western Regional, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2012 Windows to the Divine Invitational, Denver, Colorado
2011 Colorado Governor's Invitational, Loveland Art Museum
2010 Chosen for 2010 poster "Art for Life" Project Angel Heart
2009-10 American Impressionist Society's AnnualJuried Exhibit
2008 Plein Air Artists of Colorado Member Show, Third Place
2007 Paint America Top 100 Exhibition traveling the U.S.
Collections: Almerica Financial, Denver, CO • Exempla Good Samaritan Hospital, Lafayette, CO Leisy Brewing Company, Peoria, IL • City of Westminster, CO • Atlanticare Regional Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, Center for Childbirth, New Jersey • City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California
