Join us as Cheri Jorgenson talks about her discovery of wildlife and her realistic depiction of them in her art. “My recent artwork began during our initial Covid isolation, when I finally noticed the wildlife around our acreage in South Knoxville. The animals have always been there, but I had not been aware of them. I became an observer of our animal residents. To honor them, I wanted to depict them as O’Keeffe did the flowers, so the viewer would truly see them and would appreciate their tender beauty. Since then I’ve been doing drawings and paintings of animals in a variety of media: mostly color pencil with mixed media pieces, on a variety of surfaces: toned or black paper, or painted canvas. “Blessed Are the Meek” is my title for this evolving series of works honoring our local wildlife.”

Cheri has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alabama and a Masters of Science in Art Education from the University of Tennessee. Originally she was a graphic designer, working for the International Energy Exposition (The 1982 World’s Fair), Tennessee Valley Authority, and in her own design firm, among others. After earning her graduate degree, she was an art teacher for Knox County Schools for 20 years, and retired from the L&N STEM Academy in 2020. She was the 2012 Tennessee Art Educator of the Year, the 2020 Tennessee National Art Honor Society Sponsor of the Year, and the 2021 National Sponsor. Cheri co-founded COMMA, a plein air group that meets weekly at UT Gardens since 2004 and exhibits together regularly. She lives in South Knoxville with her husband in their 100+ year-old farmhouse.

Email: cherjorg@bellsouth.net