Whether in oil, pastel or watercolor, which I love in equal measure, my creativity is not defined by any particular subject matter. If I feel an emotion about a subject, I am compelled to paint it. Whether children and family portraits, animals and wildlife, still life and environments, I embellish on each painting until the compostion takes life. Then, my impressionistic tendencies take over as I capture the luminous effect of light as it falls on the value of each hue. Layer by layer, and employing an array of color, I express what I see and feel in my mind's eye.
"Art is my evolving gift, gracing every aspect of my life. I am privileged to share it with you and invite you into my joy-filled world." - Cherry Hanna
When she isn’t traveling, Cherry Hanna is in her art studio, near Lake Superior’s south shore, in Wisconsin. She married and raised two children in this place. She delights in her grandchildren here.
After a fine art major in college, she devoted creative talent to her interior design practice. She was drawing in earliest memories and receiving art awards in high school. Yet, life preempted art.
In 2007, an abrupt diagnosis threatened her dream of an eventual art and travel-filled retirement. Jeremiah 29:11 gave promise of hope and a future, as she appraised every activity and goal against time. She held fast to her promise.
Abandoning her fear of flying she flew to Europe, South Africa, and the Caribbean. She road-tripped the entirety of North America. She made a part-time home of Arizona, where desert landscapes and western legends motivated painting thoughts. In 2018, second health crisis motivated painting action. She picked up art like never leaving it. Today, she paints from studios in Wisconsin and Arizona. She paints in western Michigan and anywhere that beckons along her way.
Life is sweetened by expressing her gift in a precious lease on life. Cherry’s mission is to lighten hearts with artistic encouragement, affirmation and love.
