We were lucky to catch up with Cherrysh Anderson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cherrysh, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I grew up exposed to art, it was my first passion. I had amazing teachers and influences but never met artist who looked like me. This lack of representation was a major factor in why I quit sketching at 14. After a 15 year hiatus from art in any medium, couldn’t fight it anymore. I opened my own cake business in 2015 unexpectedly and realized people were buying my art even if in edible form, this pushed me to pick up my charcoals and pencils again, as a mother I knew it was important for my children, all phenomenal artist, to see a representation of themselves in the art world.
Cherrysh, 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?
I opened Cherry’s Cake Creations in March 2015, it was important to me to provide high end quality custom cakes to those not often afforded the luxury. As it took off my clientele garnered interest in my other projects of varying mediums. I began taking commissions and marketing apparel with my designs, which evolved into SheBakes ShePaints. While I loved edible artistry, graphite portraiture is where I find emotionally fulfillment. I often provided Memorial photos in times of bereavement. I had been with about 65% of my clientele from the beginning so to see my edible creations included in their celebrations of life (baby showers, weddings, graduations, birthdays, etc) while my canvases provided a sense of comfort in those darker moments of life is what I’m most proud of. People wanting my art in those intimate moments is a precious task to be given, and I don’t take the responsibility lightly.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Social media has opened me up to finding more artist I culturally connect with. I wish I had entered many of these forums much sooner, truthfully I wish they had existed when I was younger, but everything happens when it should.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
My art isn’t good enough. I often compared my work to others feeling like I didn’t measure up, Until I sold my first painting then realized people wanted what I could do, they chose me, and deserved the best from me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Sheissunshyne428
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCDr0qKHrGHtwxniHHbvMcDA