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"My
artistic style is characterized by its calm, serene lines, simple
shapes and freshly created patinas which are combined to create a
peaceful balance. Edited of unnecessary detail, there is a depth and
lushness to the finished surface which is generated from its rich
layering. Descriptive elements are simultaneously present and
invisible, resulting in a feeling which is both fresh and weathered."
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glories, climbing vines and an eclectic cottage welcome visitors to
Cheri Blum’s studio. Her cat lazes in the sunshine among flowers
that grow from worn-out shoes or assorted cans, wash basins, and crab
pots.
"My
studio has become my sanctuary," says the 30-year-old artist. Nestled
on the banks of the Sassafras River in Georgetown, Maryland, the
historic tenant farmer’s house is filled with items that have
been shared by generations of owners. Here Cheri surrounds herself with
an ever-changing array of items collected in antique shops, flea
markets or on walks along the beach. An old loom is used to display her
paintbrushes. A broken lamp now serves as a candleholder. Even the sign
outside the door is unconventional: it was made from a racing sail.
I’m
drawn to things that are old, have character and a sense of nostalgia,"
Blum says. "To me, the older an object gets, the better it looks. It
doesn’t wear out, it wears in."
Clearly,
Blum’s paintings take on the character of the antiques she loves.
She has perfected a method of painting on cracked linen that conjures
up images of Italian villas, or the pattern in an heirloom quilt. "My
goal is to take the fine art aspect of the Old Masters and combine it
with a worn handcrafted look that suits today’s styles. I love to
find unusual painting surfaces and create something from nothing."
To
create the effects of time and weather, Blum has gone so far as to put
a completed painting in the washing machine. Even if she buys something
new, she paints it to look old. She continues to experiment so that
each piece of artwork pays homage to the beauty of time passing by.
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Click here to view our entire collection of Cheri Blum prints.
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