We recently connected with Cheryl Cote and have shared our conversation below.

Cheryl, appreciate you joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

I am a vision impaired artist, who lost an eye to cancer at 6 months old., but it never hindered me in my desire to create. I attended a 2 yr commercial art college but never really used my talent due to the “New Age” of computers. Though I kept creating and trying different medium
until I settled on acrylics.
I started having vision issues, floaters, flashes and blurred vision. I was diagnosed with Retinal Edema. My new journey began and my art was set aside….for years. I was used to doing detailed pen and inks along with smaller paintings also detailed oriented….I had lost that ability,
We found a Retinal oncology Dr in Miami who did a surgery that no other Dr would do to remove the scare tissue causing the issues I was experiencing. For the next number of years We would make the 5 hour drive to Miami every 3 weeks to receive an injection to save my vision. After 8 years we decided to move closer to Miami. I found my Dream home on line, little did I know it would make my dreams come to fruition. One of the guest rooms spoke to me, invited me in and whispered..”Here is where you began your art”. I actually cried…but went out a stocked up on paints, brushes an large canvas. I had no idea how this was going to go. For the 1st year I painted every single day. My goal is to encourage others to follow their calling. When people ask what I paint…I say..EMOTIONS.

Cheryl, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a vision impaired Artist it is important to me to encourage others to dive into their fear with passion. After years of feeling I could no longer create my detailed art, I dove into my fear with a wild passion. I set up my studio and got my large canvas and every single day I taught myself techniques. Learned the brushes and the strokes they created, the blending tricks and color blending. I flew through a canvas a day posting my trials on my FB and received so much encouragement from my home town in North Dakota. After my 1st year I was starting to finally seeing improvement and talent. I got my 1st show in a little off the wall gallery and was discovered by the President of the Martin Artisans Guild and welcomed to the group. I have enjoyed my success with my friends back home buying up my art, then friends of friends. I started an LLC , ICthings, won some awards an had my 1st real professional show.
My art is pure emotion, my titles are carefully decided upon by the emotion I am trying to convey. I want to touch the souls of those “who know”. And to remind people to carry on with conviction and hope.
Art is important for so many reasons.
My vision has remained stable but has also changed. Right now it has been a year since my last painting..and I hope my desire will return.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

As a vision impaired Artist I wish to encourage all who have a disability to work with it, to use it as your leaning post. I want to reach out and touch your fears or frustrations with my art. We all have our difficulties, but they should not define us but encourage us.
I have created art for a number of Self help businesses and Non Profits in hopes of reaching someone who knows we are out there, and we understand.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The rewards of creating my art is when someone understands. I had a gallery owner tell me how one of my paintings made a young girl cry. It was a black and white acrylic of a young girl facing the ocean with her arms hugging herself, her back facing the canvas. The title was simply STILL…she began to cry and told the story of how she was recently divorced and this painting touched her but she could not afford it. The Curator called me to ask if I would consider lowering the price…I asked what she could afford….and that is the price I sold it at. And I cried also and I think of her often in hopes she is well healed.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: martinihour14
• Facebook: Charlie Cote
• Other: With my vision I have too much difficulty with too many sights.

Image Credits

None