Cheryl Alkemade
I’ve
always had a passion for art and a need to create.
I’ve drawn for as long as I can remember.
As the daughter of a carpenter I grew up with a pencil in one hand and a
hammer in the other. As the years
went by the hammer gave way to a wine glass, but the pencil has stayed (although
it has come in handy to know how to swing a hammer).
I
studied Art and Design at Dandenong TAFE and then, opting for a seachange (20
years before that was even a word) I headed to the Warnambool Institute of
Advanced Education where I undertook a diploma of Fine Art.
Like all very young and impatient students I dropped out half way through
the course and went traveling in Queensland.
I’ve
had many jobs over the years, some creative – painting murals, running the art
dept. for a sign company, computer graphics and teaching craft as an
occupational therapy assistant. Some were just a way to pay the bills – clerical, retail,
house keeping, waiting tables, but always there was some creative outlet,
sketching, photography or life drawing.
I
moved to Phillip Island around 1994 where I live with my two energetic sons and
my passion for drawing and painting has come to the fore.
I’ve been involved in many local group exhibitions and sold work through various local galleries and venues. In April 2006 I held my first solo exhibition at Coalfields Gallery in Wonthaggi.
Life
has now come full circle and again I find myself studying.
I’m currently undertaking a Diploma of Arts- Illustration and have been
involved in many student exhibitions in Dandenong, Frankston and Prahran where I
won the Chisholm award for excellence.
I
now work as a freelance illustrator and artist, part time student and mother.
I’m passionate about my work and my creativity.
Life is full, but never dull.
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