Cheri Adkins loves capturing the essence and the excitement of the moment just before a storm comes across the ocean.  She stated.  “There is something in my soul that needs to paint these scenes”.

Ms. Adkins is originally from Northern Kentucky.  She lived in several cities in Kentucky.  Cheri co-owned a painting company where she did murals, but decided to go to school at Western Kentucky University’s Fine Arts Department to continue her art training.  Since her fiancé, Scott, is a native of Bowling Green, she said, “It was a natural to move to Bowling Green and to buy our home”.  She has two children and Scott has three, so together they now have five children.  So it’s a busy life.  She also has her studio at home and said that she prefers to start painting in the morning light.  Cheri enjoys sculpting.  She does portraiture commissions as well as still life, murals, trompe l’oeil and her favorite, pastoral scenes. 

 As a Junior at Western Kentucky University she has continued to be on the Dean’s and the President’s lists.  Cheri received rewards in Ceramics for developing two new techniques of applying glazes at the Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky Ceramic Show.  She is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. 

Cheri said, “I enjoy painting pastoral scenes because it gives me a thrill to capture the beauty in a simple painting of our beautiful country.  There is something mesmerizing for me in painting a tree or a pasture”.  In portraiture, Cheri feels that there is nothing more rewarding than capturing someone’s character, their soul as she sees it, in a painting.  She enjoys bringing out the nuances that make someone a unique individual.  “Faces are so wonderful”, Cheri stated. 

Ms. Adkins said,”There is art in everything.  I believe that we all have art inside us, whether we produce it or are great patrons.  Art is a part of life that we cannot loose from ourselves.  When I look at the splendor of God’s creation, be it a beautiful sunset, my personal favorite, a child’s smile, or the intricacies of a flower, I draw inspiration from it.”

Her drive is the idea, the continued learning and the discovery.  For Cheri this drive embraces her being.  “My family will tell you, it’s many a night that they have come into my studio to find me, in the wee hours, working on a piece because I did not want to lose my inspiration”, she remarked.

Cheri Adkins would love to continue her art after her graduation in whatever field she chooses.  Her dream is to be able to study in Paris and she hopes to make that a plan for the not too distant future.

Cheri leaves us with these words, “Love what you do, and if you don’t, then don’t do it.  If you aren’t in a place to do what you love, then find a way to get yourself there.  Never give up. Your dreams are only a tenacious heartbeat away.”

You can contact Cheri at cher4406@aol.com or view her work at:  www.wku.edu/~cheri.adkins147.

Ronnie Jaggers is a seasoned sculptor, fine artist and master crafter. Her work can be seen on ChiseledFeaturesStudio.com. She reminds other artists “Trust the beauty of your art, for if you see the beauty, others will too.” To be considered for the featured artist call Ronnie at 791-3505 or email ChiseledFeaturesStudio@yahoo.com