After finding her passion and moving forward into the world of art, the talented wildlife and nature artist Cindy Sorley-Keichinger has developed her very own style of creating nature and landscapes paintings. Cindy resides near Kitscoty, Alberta, Canada and finds inspiration for her work in her surroundings. With a skillful eye, Cindy creates an array of extraordinary pieces depicting wildlife in its natural environment.
It’s my pleasure to share Cindy’s thoughts and ideas about her work with my readers. Cindy, thank you so much for taking the time to share your view of nature through your words and unique approach to your painting. It was a pleasure getting to know you and about your creative process. You are a remarkable artist and someone who is definitely worth following.
If you’d like to learn more about Cindy and her work, please visit her website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Can you please tell the readers a bit about yourself?
I come from a family with strong artistic ability, but I’m the only one who has taken it out of the hobby realm. My family is from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. However, my Father joined the Armed Forces and finally settled in Alberta. I trained as a medical laboratory technician, and have not been formally trained in art. As a teenager, and with my Father’s input, I worked on drawings at home. These efforts, I entered in junior competitions and often won a placement. While at university, I tried my hand at murals and learned how to scale things up and down in size. I really did not view myself as a painter because I did not think I knew how to use colour. I was frustrated that my pictures would not match what was in my head; so, I did not pursue art as a career choice.
Where is home?
After my marriage, I settled in as a grain farmer’s wife by Kitscoty Alberta; and my husband encouraged me to take a painting class being offered. I was interested this time because I had since seen work by Robert Bateman. His style was along the lines of what I had always seen in my head and admired. Anyway, after being told to mute my colours; what I came up with surprised both my husband and myself. I have continued, with my husband’s support, ever since. I have since taken workshops with John Seerey-Lester, Carl Brenders, Allan Hunt, Robert Bateman, Daniel Smith, and Terry Isaac; all of whom are both great painters and great teachers.
What inspires you?
I have now been painting seriously since 1990; fitting it around our Family Grain farm. I like to work in oil, acrylic, and gouache, which have the strong colors I prefer to use. I find they work well for painting Nature and Landscapes, my favorite subjects to paint. I get inspired by everything around me, but especially by wildlife in their natural habitats.
What drives you to create; does it satisfy a need or passion?
I do not know what drives me to paint or to view things and think, “how would I do this or that”. It has always been a part of how I view the world. It does not matter if it is in sewing, cooking, gardening, or painting, it is just how I view the world around me. If I am not actually making a creation, I am thinking about how to do one. Or puzzling out how to resolve an issue.
How did you develop your style?
As to my style, it has evolved over time. The various workshops I have taken over the years have all added bits and pieces to my basic way of doing things. But, overall I like bright happy feeling paintings. This because it is how I feel when I am out in nature and I try and convey that to whoever is looking at my art. So, whatever helps convey that I incorporate into how I go about painting.
What drives you to create; does it satisfy a need or passion?
I do not know what drives me to paint or to view things and think, “how would I do this or that”. It has always been a part of how I view the world. It does not matter if it is in sewing, cooking, gardening, or painting, it is just how I view the world around me. If I am not actually making a creation, I am thinking about how to do one. Or puzzling out how to resolve an issue.
What is your favorite piece and why?
My favorite piece is usually the one I have just finished. This is because I have not got enough space between it and myself. So any mistakes or problems in the piece are not jumping out at me. After a couple of weeks, then I start to see issues I would likely change in the next piece I am working on. You are never done learning until you turn toes up.
What types of mediums do you work with?
I generally work in acrylic, but I also use oil and gouache. It depends on the look of the piece I am after. My oil work is on hold at the moment due to grandkids. They tend to invade my studio and I do not want hours of work messed with. I had one incident where I was doing dishes and I noticed my grandson “pretend” painting. I went over to encourage him, only to find he really was painting….all over my current project with bright green paint! Thank heavens I had my dishwater still and dunked the painting into the water to wash off the green paint! A few touch-ups and it was good to go again. LOL.
What is the process you go through when creating a piece?
My creation process is basically an idea or something I have seen sparks an idea. I pencil it out or map it out using photos, then I set about finding the reference I need from my photos or go hunting for details with my camera. Once I have all I need in that department, I trace it out onto my painting board. I do not do that with a lot of detail, I paint in the detail and see no point to penciling the detail in, only to cover it up in paint. Then I set up my palette and trial and error which brushes I will use, and then I dive in. I usually start from the top and work down. I also like to start with the eyes. That way I know everything will line up or not. Some tweaking happens, because the painting does not always translate well from the pencil layout. Usually, because I notice issues and then fix them as I paint. Once the painting does not make me “twitch” I consider it done. I run it past my hubby who is my objective eye and tweak it some more if needed after that. Then I call it good. When I say a painting makes me twitch, I mean I am “seeing” an issue and it is bugging me, but I am not sure what that issue is yet.
How do you go about pricing your work?
Pricing is a tough one. There are lots of considerations. Time, material costs, framing costs, shipping costs, not to mention what art will sell for in your area generally. Best advice; keep the emotion out of it. Even if you love it, others may not. So, I use a formula that is basically a per square inch price, but I include the frame in the area amount. That generally covers that cost. You have to keep in mind that it is easy to go up, but a disaster to go down for your already sold work. So, do not go crazy on pricing, especially if you are starting out. My gallery owner is also helpful. She has a good feel for what a piece will make, so that is another source of help to price.
Where do you currently display your art? How can people purchase one or more of your pieces?
My work is currently in the “Picture This Gallery” in Sherwood Park Alberta. As well as in my home studio.
I have a website goldenkstudio.com and enter both online and physical shows all around North America.
If someone wants to purchase my work, they can contact Picture This Gallery or they can contact me, at [email protected].
Are there other mediums of art that you would like to explore and experiment with?
The future… Well, I might do more work in oils as well as my gouache. I have thought about sculpture, but I am not the most mechanically inclined person on the planet, so will probably stick with my painting. I might mess with how I use the paint though, but not sure how at the moment.
What do you think the future holds for you? Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
What the future holds for me…Well in some of the guilds, I am part of there are levels, so I guess honing my craft to a degree that I am promoted to the top levels would be what I will focus on. The next few years are a blank page at the moment. I just want to paint and keep on enjoying the process. I would hate that to become a chore. It would not be nearly as fun to do as it is now.
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