In this series, we get to know the Artists behind the work with ten questions about their practice, their space, and their ideas. These are their Stories.

Cherie Daly

Cherie Daly finds her artistic expression in creating abstract art, using mediums like acrylic paint, pastels, and collage. Seeking a deep connection with viewers, Cherie plays with paint and pastels, exploring the interplay of shapes, lines, colours, and textures intuitively. Studying at Central Technical in 2016, she developed her studio art practice, drawing inspiration from abstract expressionists, Painters Eleven, and the Bay Area Figurative Artists. Cherie enjoys experimenting in her Toronto industrial studio and her new Muskoka cottage studio.

What is the story of how you became an artist?  

I copied faces from magazines when I was young. I liked to draw pictures of a model named Verushka and some of my teen idols. I never studied art in high school or university, thinking it wasn’t a good route to a career.  I dabbled after university in painting and life drawing. 

In about 2008 or so I started taking an acrylic class with a teacher named Louise Andrews. We used student grade paint and brushes and painted on leftover wallpaper. She taught me to accept “happy accidents”, to add something unexpected to a painting, to work from ugly still lives and to find something good in every piece of work. She took away my need to make something pretty and just to enjoy the process.  From then on I tried to have a looser style and to paint more abstractly. 

I kept taking classes, then in 2016 I decided to go to art school.  I didn’t really decide, as I was prompted by a coach of mine to identify something in my life that I wanted to do more of and the first thought that came to me was to do more art. This prompt helped me to take advantage of an opportunity to take art at the Central Technical Adult Art Program full time.  In addition to painting and life drawing, ceramics and printmaking made up my program.  I enjoyed the creative environment and putting together a year end show.  Since then I have gradually built up a studio practice focused on abstract painting.

Tell us about your process when creating an artwork. 

I am an intuitive painter. I try to trust my instincts when beginning a painting, rather than have a clear direction from the outset.  Often work begins with gestural markmaking, also called expressive drawing, to “activate” the surface so it is no longer a blank canvas.  Music may provide an impetus. Sometimes I will start with collage. Intuitive painting involves putting on paint, stepping back, adding layers, subtracting layers, responding to what is already there. I often use tools other than brushes to make different marks. I find this helps remove “me” from the process and allows the intuition to work.  

I give myself limits, using few colours, or only one size of panel, or time limits or just using palette knives. All these “tricks” help to minimize my left brain from interfering with the creative process. I follow the work and teachings of artists such as Louise Fletcher and Nicholas Wilton who coach and teach online. And I have a favourite local teacher, Suzanne Metz.

How do your mediums of choice lend themselves to the subject matter of your work?

I work with acrylic paint primarily.  I add some collage, and use oil pastels, markers, pencil and charcoal.  Abstract work can be made with any medium.  Acrylic paint dries quite quickly and also mixes well, so you can create blended colours and you can draw into it with sharp tools or the pastels.  My style is to paint quickly and react, rather than to ponder what I am doing.  Sometimes, there is frustration when I haven’t mixed enough of a colour, but then I just do my best to colour match.  I don’t usually stop to get things perfect.  I also appreciate “happy accidents” along the way.  I have been working on wood panels mostly as they allow you to really press markers and pastels and to dig into the paint with energy and force.

Where do you find inspiration? 

I think most artists are observers. I am always looking around unless, I have my nose in my phone. I walk in natural spaces with my dogs, a nearby ravine, at the beach or in the woods in Muskoka. I like taking photos of plants, especially native plants. I have drawn inspiration for my palettes from nature – recently it was purple and gold, drawn from a photo of New England Asters and Goldenrod.  I don’t try to paint the plants, but I pay attention to the palette.  I also like to restrict myself to only two colours plus black and white.  By blending you can get an infinity of colours and they all work well together.  The simple approach works for me.  I am always trying to simplify what I see.  I get overwhelmed by details.  

Sometimes I respond to some thoughts I am having about people or situations.  I started out one day thinking I’d like to use the colour pink, even though that isn’t one I normally use. I asked a four-year old’s mom for some photos of her in pink to see what other colours went with pink. I also talked to a cousin who has had breast cancer about her thoughts on pink. I wanted to show strength, but also fun and joy in the pieces that developed. I just keep these thoughts in my head when I’m working.

I keep little fragments of painting starts, gelli prints and colour mixing palettes around me in the studio for inspiration.  I look at my old palette papers.  Sometimes bits of collage are inspiring. Old drawings sometimes start me off.  And sometimes I just try to move to music and use big sweeping gestures.

Although I don’t start off with trying to convey a specific message, I feel my work is imbued with the thoughts and feelings that I am having while I am painting.  Or, even when I am sad, I can find joy or solace in the routine of painting, the movement itself and in the making of the colours and the smoothness of the paint..

Have you ever experienced a time when it was hard to create?

Yes, I experience this all the time. I find starting to be the hardest. I’ve always been a slow starter, full of doubts, not sure where to begin. Sometimes I just paint the edges of finished work, or gesso a new board, as a warm up, or I just play with markers on little pieces of paper or I use an exercise I have learned that will loosen me up until I can paint without too much judgement. 

Self-criticism and judgement create tightness and doubt. They can stop you from just getting on with it. I preach the Nike brand statement – Just Do It. I also was introduced to Austin Kleon’s work by a teacher, Grethe Jensen. He has written the books, “Steal Like an Artist”, “Show Your Work” and “Keep Going”.  I find them very motivating. I also set out in the beginning of my art career to follow another author’s advice. Malcolm Gladwell learned from his research that most successful people weren’t born with talent, so much as they spent time practicing their craft. The number of hours required was 10,000. So, I have felt that just showing up and putting in the time is the most important thing.  

How has your work evolved throughout the years? 

I have become bolder, less fussy.  I try to take more risks, to stop before I overdo a painting. I try to show the energy in my body and to have more fun.  I think the work is therefore more immediate and raw.  I have always enjoyed the original marks more than really finished paintings, so I try to retain that energy.  Also, I used to do some landscapes and figurative work.  Now, I mostly paint non objective abstracts.

If given the opportunity, what is your dream project?

I have just about finished building a studio at my cottage.  That has been a dream project.  I originally envisioned a small 10 x 10 art shed to work in, but now have a beautiful 17’ x 23’ modern light filled space to call my own.  Investing in my own life as an artist has been a big step.  I am going to see where that takes me.  I am a member of Artrails Muskoka, so when I can I will spend more time there and open the studio to visitors.

As far as my work, I just want to continue learning, developing my style and painting what I want to.  In some ways, I want to maintain control of my production and my own selling as I feel I may be constrained if tied to a particular gallery or style.  I’d like to continue to experiment and feel free in my work. However, I would like to get my work into more public spaces. 

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

Looking at my work, without meeting me, they might picture me as a young, confident and brash painter.  I find my work appeals to young people and to men.  But, I’ve actually been pretty introverted, preferring to work in the background, not to step into the limelight.  I had a career as a civil servant and have been more of a left brain thinker and planner, very organized and linear.  My artwork is the opposite of this conservative picture.

On the other hand, most people who know me as a mom, dog owner, environmentalist, and Beacher might be surprised to learn that I am also an artist.

Taking a break from art, how do you spend your free time?

Well, see what I said above, I walk my dogs, look after my garden, do some yoga, pilates, and pickleball, look after the cottage and keep in touch with my three boys.  My husband is the better cook in the family so we like to gather at the cottage for his gourmet meals and to play cards.  I did manage to vist Ireland this year with one of my sons who lives in the U.K.  It is where my family originated and we enjoyed taking a walking tour.  I also volunteer with the Friends of Glen Stewart Ravine, helping to preserve native plants and the old oak forest.

What do you have coming up that you’d like to share with us? 

Here’s some of my current and upcoming exhibitions:

Current:

Jan 10 – April 2: Here and Now, The Canada Summit Centre, Huntsville Art Society, Huntsville

March: Small Framed work, Supernova Coffee, 897 Broadview Ave., Toronto

Feb 10 – April 13: Dream, Annual Members’ Salon Exhibition, Rails End Gallery, Haliburton

Upcoming:

April 11 – 14: Artist Project, Better Living Centre, Toronto

April 12 – May 5: Members Spring Show, MAC on Main, Bracebridge

June 1 -2: Riverdale Artwalk, Jimmie Simpson Park, Toronto

July: Art Annex, Bracebridge

Aug 15 – Sep 7: MELT Studio & Gallery, Picton