December 2025 - Cheryl Graham

Cheryl and her husband Jerry have lived in Oregon for thirty years. Growing up in California, her love for art led her to study at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, and soon after she became an elementary school teacher who used her talent, making puppets, posters, and other artwork to further engage with her students.

Now retired, Cheryl often works in landscapes. “While painting my favorite ‘get away spots,’ I reimagine and honor my encounters with creation.” She hopes her art recalls to viewers the awe and delight they first felt as they viewed certain locations. Last year she made 100 paintings for the 20-Dollar Art Show at the High Desert Art Museum. This year she created an on-site, here-and-now art experience for visitors where she painted South Sister, Mount Bachelor, or Broken Top in the colors people requested. As someone who loves to volunteer and build community, part of the joy of painting for Cheryl is seeing people’s faces as they react to her work.

This fall, Cheryl rose to the challenge when invited to participate in a show in Portland that featured birds of the Pacific Northwest. “I love looking at birds in my yard or in nature, but I always allow myself creative license to give these paintings more character and surprising color combinations.”

Other recent shows include the monthly First Friday Art Walks. Cheryl shares her love of teaching and painting with various “Sip and Paint” classes. She also volunteers by hosting art classes for homeless women. “I am really surprised at how much untapped talent there is out there. I love sharing with people who, for a variety of reasons, haven’t had a chance to try their hand at painting or collage. It’s such a deep
way of communicating without words.”

You can find more of her art here: https://www.cherylgrahamfineart.com