After receiving BFA and MA degrees in Visual Communications Design from Ohio State University I worked as a graphic designer in St. Louis and Los Angeles for many years. Since returning to Ohio I turned my artistic aspirations to fine art.
Light is the main source of inspiration for my art. Through the still life genre I love to explore how light can transform simple objects into works of art. I often employ back lighting to enhance the transparent qualities of objects such as grapes, oranges or flowers that most people never notice. Using a realistic style, strong composition and dramatic values I turn simple still life arrangements into dynamic art pieces. I want the viewer of my work to share my sense of wonder and joy in the ordinary objects of everyday life.
Colored Pencil is my medium of choice. I started working in oils but discovered Colored Pencils about 25 years ago. I found that I could get the look of oils with colored pencils which fit perfectly with my love of drawing. I, along with other contemporary colored pencil artists, am taking colored pencil to new heights. It is no longer merely a sketching tool but a legitimate fine art tool as my work shows. I am proud to be one of the leaders in the forefront of this movement.
I am a signature and 15 year merit award member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and have been fortunate to have received numerous regional, national and international awards. My work has been published in The Artist’s Magazine, American Artist, International Artist, Southwest Art and Art Renewal Center’s Arc Salon publication. I was very honored to be on the cover of the summer 2015 issue of Drawing Magazine. In 2005 I authored the book Painting Light with Colored Pencil published by North Light Books and taught colored pencil workshops around the country for many years. Eventually I made the decision to give up the teaching to devote full time to my own paintings.
Cecile has won numerous awards in regional, national and international shows including the 2008 CPSA International Show. Her latest award was 1st place in Southwest Art Magazine's Emerging Artists 21 over 31 2010. Since the publication of her book, Cecile taught colored pencil workshops around the country until family duties required her to give up teaching at least for a while.
Light is the main source of inspiration for my art. Through the still life genre, I love to explore how light can transform simple objects into works of art. I often employ back lighting to enhance the transparent qualities of objects such as grapes, oranges or flowers that most people never notice. Using a realistic style, strong composition and dramatic values I turn simple still life arrangements into dynamic art pieces. I want the viewer of my work to share my sense of wonder and joy in the ordinary objects of everyday life.
Oil and colored pencil are my mediums of choice. I started working in oils which I still love and use today but discovered colored pencils about 15 years ago. I found that I could get the look of oils with colored pencils which fit perfectly with my love of drawing. I, along with other contemporary colored pencil artists, am taking colored pencil to new heights. It is no longer merely a sketching tool but a legitimate fine art tool as my work shows. I am proud to be one of the leaders in the forefront of this movement.