Meet Cheryl Oz of Lincoln Park, MI, a talented illustrator with a youthful spirit. Cheryl has loved art her whole life and feels lucky to have made a career out of her passion. During the 10 years she spent as an advertising Art Director, she began designing wedding invitations, which led her to pursue her illustrations full time. For Cheryl, happiness is found in creating, and if her art makes someone else happy, that's truly the ultimate reward!
What do you remember wanting to be when you grew up?
From as far as I can remember back, I have always wanted to be an artist.
What do you most love about the creative process?
I love drawing and painting. Once I have an idea worked out in my sketchbook that I know I want to make into a painting I cannot wait to get started. It really is pure joy.
What makes your artwork unique or distinctive?
I think what makes my art unique is the youthful spirit which I think is represented in the bright colors and the many details that are included in my work. I tend to focus on subjects such as retro-themed, pop culture ideas, or child-inspired illustrations. I'm pretty much a kid at heart.
What inspired you to start creating your artwork & how did you turn it into a business?
I had been dedicating my free time to my artwork a lot over the past few years -- and always in the back of my mind hoping that one day my dream of being a full-time artist would come true. Previously, I had been an Art Director in advertising for over 10 years, then we were hit with the news that my dad had cancer, and soon after that I got laid off from my job, that I had been unhappy doing for a long time anyway.
During that time I had a lot going on and a lot of time to think about my family, myself, and what I really wanted and what I didn't. During this period, it hit me... this is what I have to do. It's time to start pursuing my dream. So, with the support of my husband, family, and friends, I decided to put my whole heart into being an artist and that's where I am today. I've never been happier!
What do you enjoy doing besides making art?
I love to cook and have people over for a nice dinner or party. I enjoy spending time in the Summer with my husband, working on the garden and yard to make our outside a nice place to hang out and relax. Summer is my favorite season of the year, so I try to do as much as I can outdoors from sun up to sun down -- I even will work on my paintings on the patio table. I enjoy swimming, bike riding, walking the dogs, picnicking, barbecuing, etc. I like to walk outside even in the Winter and I enjoy working out as well.
You can find lots of Cheryl's gorgeous illustrations at Yellow Door as well as on etsy & facebook. Stay tuned for more fun and interesting info about Cheryl all this week!
Like learning about creative people in your community? Be sure to stay in the loop by signing up for our emails in the upper right hand corner of this site.
Great post, I am interesting in it! Have a look at my latest painting: http://www.oilpaintingsstore.com/
Posted by: Christen Stwewart | 01/21/2013 at 10:56 PM
Great interview with a wonderful artist! I'm especially drawn to Cheryl's work for the nostalgia factor. She has a good eye and I love the bright colors she uses. Nice work!
Posted by: Donna B. | 01/22/2013 at 12:00 PM