Meet Therese Cipiti Herron

Today we’d like to introduce you to Therese Cipiti Herron.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Four decades of nursing and parochial school upbringing eventually lead to my ‘Uniformed’ series. My work is based on autobiographical references. Looking a little longer at things I’m familiar with and presenting them in a non-sequential relationship so that thoughts and ideas are experienced rather than a narrative structural framework.

The vanishing image of the nurse prompted 27 works for a solo show. Some got published in books and on front covers of journals. An invitation by the Columbus Museum of Art followed. Interestingly it was while in nursing school I started painting and wanted to become an artist. Who knew the nurse would be hanging in a room with Mary Cassatt and Rembrandt.

I continue to investigate everyday experiences and work in a series. Abstracts entered this equation as I get satisfaction from pushing the expressionistic view of subjects we encounter through line, form, and color. Rebellious and yet honest.

Please tell us about your art.
Whether it’s travel, politics, commentary or dogs ( I have two German Shorthair Pointer one-year-olds) there’s no shortage of material to launch from.

I loosely sketch the basic idea and work from memory with dialogue in the combination of images that present themselves intuitively. A longtime love for drawing spring boards these compositions. Ruthless editing is employed to arrive at a seemingly simple exposition.

The works usually begin in charcoal, carbon pencil, or graphite sticks but not limited to these tools as a loaded paintbrush might just be the perfect grand gesture. The same goes with finishing a work. Whether it’s mark making or paint each statement should be made with conviction.

Drawing skills are the handwriting of our ideas. Cultivate these skills and depart from them when necessary. Your idea will still be there. Living in Jamul with plenty of land has allowed an objective viewing of my work. The work should be readable Stepping back 50 feet.

The reason I make art is mainly the satisfaction of seeing in a new way and a work well done. If the viewer looks at my commentary, dogs, nurses, landscapes, etc. and walks away seeing differently or seeing ‘more’ then I’ve done my job.
Simply put, I paint because I just can’t help it. Time is irrelevant, and I am closer to my creator.

Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Hone your drawing skills. Draw from life. Look at drawings. Draw on top of catalog images. It’s free paper. Your hand, eye, and brain get used to the shapes. Mass images with the side of your pencil or tool. This is how paintings are made. Shapes!

Don’t worry about the perfection. If it doesn’t grab the viewer emotionally no amount of skill will. Go for the gesture. There lies communication.

Basic skills allow for freedom of departure to make what and how you want it made.

Color mixing is imperative — Paramount to expression. Nothing’s more frustrating than not being able to make and reproduce a color.

Put your fears aside. Full speed ahead. Art is a lesson in resilience.

Earlier lessons? They seem to come at just the right time. I’m still learning. That’s life!

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Current exhibitions:
– Paisanos/ USA at The Consul of Mexico in San Bernardino, 298 N. D street. The exhibit runs until July 2019.
– CREART Tecate current
– Blue Azul, San Diego
– L’ATELIER in San Diego
– ASHTON GALLERY

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ThereseFineArt.com
• Phone: 6198893201
• Email: tmcherron@aol.com
• Instagram: CipitiHerron
• Facebook: Therese Cipiti Herron

  Image Credit:
Therese Cipiti Herron

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