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Cheri Hiers
Meet Cheri of Cheri Hiers OOAK Art Dolls
The Artist, her work and inspiration
Cheri says she has been creating one of a kind faeries since 1995.
"I have two lines of faeries. The ones I have been sculpting since 1995 are younger
faeries, that have porcelain heads and polymer clay bodies.
The newer faeries that I sculpt are all polymer clay and have grown up a bit.
I have been sculpting my latest style for about 2 years".
She says she learnt to sculpt by using Lewis Goldstein tapes.
"I dont think we ever stop learning however, so I take any
tip or tutorial that I can find to help me learn new and different ways to
do anything as far as sculpting".
Cheri says that Diane Keeler is probably her favorite artist.
"Something about her work calls to me. She's a lovely person
to talk with and like her style of sculpting".
Cheri believes that when she has deadlines to meet, this
is when she works best, under pressure.
I asked Cheri how she gets her motivation, how she get's into the groove to sculpt each day, "Im not sure how I get in the groove. I guess I enjoy so much
getting up in the morning and getting into my workroom to start
something new or to work on a piece that is underway and it
makes me feel good to see it progress and in the process I imagine
what colors this faerie may want around her, and what kind of
wings she might want to wear. I guess the anticipation of how she
is going to turn out is what gets me in the groove"
Where can we find Cheri Hiers fairies?
"For years my work has been sold through shops and galleries throughout the US,
and through the antique show circuit via a company called The Main Event.
My newer line of the larger all polymer clay faeries are sold through ebay
as I am finding a new market for these gals.
Still as I work on completing my new website, my work can also be
purchased directly through me, and I do commsion pieces as well.
You can see my younger work on ImageEvent under CheriHiers.
Also on www.theartistdoll.com
My new site is in the process but should be up and running in the next few weeks.
This will be found under www.cherihiers.com"
Cheri says It is hard to say which piece is her favorite, as sometimes her favorite is the last
one that she completed.
Her inspiration comes from different places.
"Sometimes it comes from a vessel that might catch my
eye in an antique store, as in my minds eye I can see a faerie
perched on it, just waiting for me to bring it to life.
Other times it might be from a face I might see in a magazine.
Or it might come from a colorful piece of fabric.
Many times the inspiration come from music.
So again my inspiration comes from different places at different times".
She says that She often sculpts to music, "Sometimes I just have the T.V. on and the sound down as I listen
to music. I find music so soothing....even though sometimes I have to have
it turned up loud so it surrounds my room. Many times that is what it takes
to really enjoy creating a particular piece. When I am sculpting a sweet innocent
type of faerie I find something like Celtic Women, Norah Jones, Yanni, Anya, and this style
of music in in order.
If Im working on a bolder piece I might have Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, or Tchaikovsky in the background.
And then other times just call for a good Spanish guitar or maybe Justin Jozuka or Jason Mraz".
Cheri is both a day and a night time sculptor, she says, "I find I sculpt both night and day. I have to. Sometimes a piece consumes me and I find that it wont let
get out of my work room until sometime late at night".
She normally uses Pro sculpt for her pieces. But says she does like to experiment with mixing clays as well.
"My faeries are painted and blushed in Genesis heat set paints.
They are wigged in Mohair, Tibetan lamb or Viscose, and on occasion I will have a collector
send human hair to complete a commission piece.
Faeries are normally dressed in vintage fabrics and silk tulles, adorned with all sorts of tiny items and trims
a little faerie may enjoy wearing.
Wings are usually mylar or silk and always artist made".
Does Cheri have any tips for other artists she would like to share?
"Dont ever stop learning your craft .Seems no matter how well you know
how to do something there will always be a better or easier way that it can be done".
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Cheri, her family, and other interests
Cheri told me her mother was the most artistic person she ever knew.
"She painted, had a ceramic shop, made furniture, bred white toy poodles and
she would vegetable dye the pups in pastel colors and they sold immediately, heheheee,
She was also our electrician, plumber, and all around do it all in our home.
Besides this she also painted all of the backdrops for our local community theater.
My father was artistic in his craft of being a salesman, and worked 6 and sometimes 7 days a
week. That may have been by choice now that I think about it, as he had a wife and 4 daughters...hehehehee
My children are both very talented in their chosen fields".
Cheri's studio
Cheri tells me she doesn't work outside the home as her full time job has been creating her line of faeries since 1995.
"To me, being home for my kids when they got out of school was very important. I was fortunate to find
my path in sculpting that would allow me to be able to do just that".
Cheri says she enjoys gardening, and taking care of her 3 ponds. " I love to buy little gold fish and watch then
grow and thrive. They know when its time to eat and they come to the surface and wait.
I guess my other hobby would be shopping in antique and second hand stores. I think this is more an addiction than
a hobby though!".
One of Cheri's ponds
Cheri resides in Ormond Beach, Florida.
"I have called this my home for about 22 years now, but I know that one day I will live somewhere in the mountains, probably in the Carolinas.
They have been calling to me for a few years now".
Cheri's beloved pets
She says, "My family consists of my daughter, my son, myself, two dogs, a miniature spitz and a westie, two sweet kitties and 3 ponds of goldfish.
I have raised my children as a single parent for the most part and am so very proud of them both.
My daughter is an Architect living in Orlando She amazes me.
My son is in college pursuing a career in music. He is a very talenteed musician and
plays Piano, Cello, stand up Base, and Guitar. His preference in music is the the old masters, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, etc.
Its a thrill for me to hear him play their compositions on the piano. I think one day his dream is to compose this type of music".
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Interview by
Debbie McCain
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