We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cecilia Henle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cecilia below.
Hi Cecilia, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In 2005, I was asked to create a watercolor painting for the amazing screenwriter, Keir Pearson. Mr Pearson is an American Academy Award-nominated screenwriter notable for the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. The painting was commissioned by the President of the Itafari Foundation, Victoria Trabosh. It was presented to Mr. Pearson at the Itafari Foundation Fundraising Gala in Portland. I remember how thrilled and honored I was to be asked to create this piece, however, I had only a short time to complete it.
The research I had to do for this project was unsettling and heartbreaking, but rather than choosing one of the terrible images from the genocide, I decided to paint two surviving sisters, one with her hand across the others heart. It was touching and hopeful at the same time.
At the Gala, I met a group of young beautiful Rwandan women that had come over to the US to do a traditional Rwandan dance at the Gala. They each told heartbreaking stories of their struggles to survive and yet- what was so compelling was their grace, their joy, their hope and faith in a brighter future. They spoke about the creation story of their country, how when God was finished creating the world, he laid down to rest in Rwanda, because it was the most beautiful country. Their love and dedication to their country, people and homes was so surprising and revealing, given what happened there. I will never forget- it was one of the most impactful experiences of my life.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My sister taught me to draw when I was a curious 4 year old, and at 5 I won my first art contest…..and I have been drawing/painting creating ever since. However, this is not the story of a perfect person nor a perfect path to success. I was unsure of myself as a young person, so I went into architecture rather than trying to support myself with art.
However, the gods had other plans for my path. I won a school contest, to create a poster for the Historic Preservation League of Oregon, and my artwork was selected. Working with them to produce the piece with the printers was very rewarding, and I made the decision to switch into art school to study design, painting and drawing. I was still in school when I produced some drawings and pastels depicting the first marks of homo sapiens from cave and rock art in Europe. I was represented by a coastal gallery for my watercolors, but when I showed them the pastel works, they asked for more. Every piece that I sent the gallery sold.
Well, that launched a series of works that became very successful, and in a few years, I was selling my “contemporary primitive” pastels in galleries across the U.S., and earning royalties from prints and licensed products with my art. I will forever be grateful to Joan Cawley of the Joan Cawley Gallery for being my mentor, and getting my work out to a worldwide audience. Joan did something for me that she had never done before (or since) for any artist- she bought all of my paintings outright for the first two years. It was unbelievable, and helped me secure a living as an artist and established my career. My paintings were published as prints, and on licensed art gift products as tapestry throw blankets by Pure Country Weavers, wallpaper, trivets, outdoor art panels, towels, kitchen decor and much more. I learned that building multiple streams of income from original art was a solid way to make a sustainable career. I still did watercolor, it was my first love after all. But my pastel work carried me through over 20 years of wonderful shows, projects, commissions, and opportunities. I was grateful and happy to be able to do what I most loved.
But, sometimes Life can bring unforeseeable tragedy. After 9/11, I went through some horrific trauma, which turned my life upside down. Everything came crashing down- I was unable to paint or keep up with the demand from galleries. I was barely able to get through each day, and it basically ruined everything I had built. I moved back home to Minnesota for years, to recover and be around my family.
Out of all those dark years came a strange kind of silver lining, I guess. I had started to draw these strange pen & ink drawings after waking up from dreams and nightmares, which plagued me for years. I never showed anyone these drawings for over 5 years, and accumulated books of them. I finally showed a friend and gallery owner, who encouraged me to get the images “out there”, telling me how powerful he thought they were, and from a source that not many artists could access. He told me to “mine it for all it was worth”, and that some day, I would be happy again, and that my art would change yet again.
It took me another 5 years to begin transforming the drawings into full color paintings. I had to experiment with media, and size and technique, as I was unfamiliar with the strange and surreal characters that had poured out of my subconscious, what I call the “Inner Landscape”. My art had always been composed and planned carefully, drawn out and controlled in its design. Now, I was following an intuitive path, and letting the art tell me what to do! Honestly, I was anything but confident, at the idea and prospect of letting people see the weird stuff of my inner world. I have to say that this new work has sparked more conversation than any of my other work. I noticed that people were relating to the images as if they found personal meaning to illuminate some of their own inner turmoil. After all, we all have stories, don’t we? It sparked a passion inside me, the work was pushing to come out, and I wanted to use it to help others feel and see that they are not alone.
In 2021, I moved back to my chosen love-state, Oregon, and started from square 1 in rebuilding an art career based on the new and very different work. I am in that process now, and I am feeling hopeful that my work will be part of an honest dialogue about healing from trauma, and how we are all connected by our humanity and “inner landscapes”.
I’m not the artist that has found one “thing” to produce, and does it over & over. My work encompasses a huge divergent array of media, subject and styles, which shows the influence of life & changes, and hopefully, spiritual growth as an artist.
I now understand much more personally the story of the Phoenix rising from the ashes of his old self, to begin anew. I have a deeper compassion for what others go through, and their silent pain and strength. It’s really a beautiful thing, how we are refined like gold, through the process of life, challenges, and having to navigate this crazy world. I hope that everyone gets the chances they need in life to grow, and overcome and thrive.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Yes, absolutely. The biggest one is in not having access to the hundreds of collectors that have purchased my art over 20+ years! Back then, galleries just did not share that information with the artist, and I was not aware that I’d ever need it for myself. In hindsight, I wish I had asked for it, because after a hiatus of several years, starting over, well…I wish I had that list.
My main gallery connection has passed , and her gallery was sold.
So, starting from square one can be a challenge!
However, I still have collectors search for me, and they find my ebay store or website, and I am thankful for that.
I would recommend for any artist starting out, that the number one priceless thing is your collector and email list!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Well, in my early art career, I was unfortunately with a partner that only encouraged me to do art that was selling. Over many years, he would squash my desire to start in a new direction, telling me that I had nothing to say to the world with my art, and just to keep painting “pretty pictures.” I was so naive that I believed him, that was easier than realizing he did not have my best interest at heart. Eventually, I recovered my own voice, learning the hard way, with work that pushed on me -hard- to get out. I had to unlearn that I was stupid, I had to unlearn that I was small and powerless, I had to unlearn that I was here to serve him, I had to unlearn that I had no voice. I couldn’t imagine that a person that loved you could steer you so wrong. I had to unlearn that I needed someone else to “steer” my life.
It’s embarrassing, and humiliating at times, and I’ve also had to unlearn that.
I’m even brave enough now to be open about all this, and encourage others to treasure their own voices.
Ones critical thinking ability can be influenced by others, and it is something to be guarded and protected throughout life. Sadly, there are many partners out there who do not support or encourage artists to be brave and find their own voice.
So, Guard and protect yourself, and listen to your own voice! See yourself as worthy, creative, beautiful, capable, and strong. Create what you most love and feel good about- and then go out and share it with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.henlestudio.com
- Instagram: artist.cecilia.henle
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HenleStudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henlestudio/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrT4Hd0VRSZW86hvAzf–tw
- Other: Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/henlestudio/
Image Credits
Cover Me, When the Dreamer Awakens, Fertile Egg, Trinity, Thea, Pygmy Falcon, Gold Cave, Medicine Spirit.