| they should be respected and preserved in life and in image." |
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Cher was born in Kingston, New York where she spent only a few young years before being moved to Mexico City, where her mother was born. Shaped by the amazing Latin culture, she lived there for 12 years. At age 15, she moved once again, this time to El Paso, Texas to begin High School and where she would spend the next 14 years.
During high school years, she realized she had a passion for art. She discovered an intuitive ability to draw faces and animals. Having grown up around horses all her life, she had a passion for their beauty and strength. There it all began.
Self-teaching to use pastels and watercolors she began her journey. "I believe there is a deep connection between the human and the animal spirit," says Cher. "I believe the spirit shows- through the eyes".
From her first paintings she combined women`s faces with animals working in mixed media of pastels, pencils and watercolors.
Her first show took place in 1985, a juried show called Kermezzar in El Paso, Texas. To everyone`s amazement, it sold completely out. Gallery West published her in the Artists of Texas catalog. She proceeded to print a limited edition of her painting called Deja Vú. In 1986, she had a one woman showing sponsored by the Texas Commerce Bank and another at Artworks Gallery. During this show, she met a wonderful couple that presented her with an invitation from the government of Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico. This one woman showing took place at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Shortly after, she moved once again to Arizona where she has resided for the last 18 years. At this time she decided to go to school at the Collins School of Design where she graduated with honors and a degree in Communication Art and Advertising. For the next 16 years she worked as a graphic designer and continued to paint and experiment in pastels, watercolors and pencils working on subjects of women`s faces and animals.
During high school years, she realized she had a passion for art. She discovered an intuitive ability to draw faces and animals. Having grown up around horses all her life, she had a passion for their beauty and strength. There it all began.
Self-teaching to use pastels and watercolors she began her journey. "I believe there is a deep connection between the human and the animal spirit," says Cher. "I believe the spirit shows- through the eyes".
From her first paintings she combined women`s faces with animals working in mixed media of pastels, pencils and watercolors.
Her first show took place in 1985, a juried show called Kermezzar in El Paso, Texas. To everyone`s amazement, it sold completely out. Gallery West published her in the Artists of Texas catalog. She proceeded to print a limited edition of her painting called Deja Vú. In 1986, she had a one woman showing sponsored by the Texas Commerce Bank and another at Artworks Gallery. During this show, she met a wonderful couple that presented her with an invitation from the government of Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico. This one woman showing took place at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Shortly after, she moved once again to Arizona where she has resided for the last 18 years. At this time she decided to go to school at the Collins School of Design where she graduated with honors and a degree in Communication Art and Advertising. For the next 16 years she worked as a graphic designer and continued to paint and experiment in pastels, watercolors and pencils working on subjects of women`s faces and animals.
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| "Deja Vu" |
During this time she met John Anderson and was hired full time to work for his Private Label vitamin manufacturing company. She continued to work in this field for the next 10 years during which time they fell in love and later married.
Her life with him has offered her many opportunities of travel to exotic places such as India and Nepal. That is when she found her passion for wild life photography. Trekking through the Chetwan National Park in Nepal on an elephant in search for black rhinos, tigers and the elusive black-faced white Langurs.
In the year 2000, she entered the juried show Art-A-Fair in Laguna Beach, California and was accepted. John, now retired, and Cher moved there and spent a year.
John was restless and decided they should travel and research the world for new raw materials to incorporate into his nutritional formulas. Having found several in India they returned and started a new company. Back to working full time, her career as an artist was once again on hold.
For the next 6 years they would work 17-hour days and sleep very little and in 2002, John, along with two other Co-Founders, started the company that would change the way the world looks at personal health. Isagenix International became a household name in the world of multi-level marketing. Cher, working as Creative Director and Designer, spent her time as the sole creative source for all literature and labels for the company. Due to John requiring a kidney transplant they went into retirement in 2005.
Her life with him has offered her many opportunities of travel to exotic places such as India and Nepal. That is when she found her passion for wild life photography. Trekking through the Chetwan National Park in Nepal on an elephant in search for black rhinos, tigers and the elusive black-faced white Langurs.
In the year 2000, she entered the juried show Art-A-Fair in Laguna Beach, California and was accepted. John, now retired, and Cher moved there and spent a year.
John was restless and decided they should travel and research the world for new raw materials to incorporate into his nutritional formulas. Having found several in India they returned and started a new company. Back to working full time, her career as an artist was once again on hold.
For the next 6 years they would work 17-hour days and sleep very little and in 2002, John, along with two other Co-Founders, started the company that would change the way the world looks at personal health. Isagenix International became a household name in the world of multi-level marketing. Cher, working as Creative Director and Designer, spent her time as the sole creative source for all literature and labels for the company. Due to John requiring a kidney transplant they went into retirement in 2005.
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Trying to once again find her niche in the art world, they traveled extensively, going to Alaska, Italy, Spain, France, and many other places. Her camera being her best friend, she sought out all nature and wildlife to photograph.
Cher spent some time trying to find the type of art she would like to pursue. Not satisfied with painting the subjects she did in the past, she researched and found the incredible talent of many artists who paint Wildlife art. Having decided that was it, she taught herself to paint with acrylics. In June of 2007, she attended the Complete Wildlife Workshop taught by Terry Issac and Susan Labouri. This was the turning point for her.
Being able to do photography sessions at the Triple D Ranch in Kalispell, Montana and learning from these masters, she returned to Arizona fully loaded with ideas and excitement to start again. This dramatic change in direction has inspired her to join wildlife preservation organizations and to take every opportunity to observe nature in every way.
John and Cher and in the process of building a beautiful ranch in Chandler, Arizona where their menagerie of animals include a pair of giraffes, a pair of grant zebras, a pair of dromedary camels, four imported Spanish Horses, a couple of quarter horses and miniature donkeys. Under advisement and working in conjunction with the Phoenix Zoo, they are preparing to build an environment for the wild animals that will be ideal for them to live their lives out.
Cher spent some time trying to find the type of art she would like to pursue. Not satisfied with painting the subjects she did in the past, she researched and found the incredible talent of many artists who paint Wildlife art. Having decided that was it, she taught herself to paint with acrylics. In June of 2007, she attended the Complete Wildlife Workshop taught by Terry Issac and Susan Labouri. This was the turning point for her.
Being able to do photography sessions at the Triple D Ranch in Kalispell, Montana and learning from these masters, she returned to Arizona fully loaded with ideas and excitement to start again. This dramatic change in direction has inspired her to join wildlife preservation organizations and to take every opportunity to observe nature in every way.
John and Cher and in the process of building a beautiful ranch in Chandler, Arizona where their menagerie of animals include a pair of giraffes, a pair of grant zebras, a pair of dromedary camels, four imported Spanish Horses, a couple of quarter horses and miniature donkeys. Under advisement and working in conjunction with the Phoenix Zoo, they are preparing to build an environment for the wild animals that will be ideal for them to live their lives out.