Your Time To Shine!
Actually, I draw my inspiration from almost anything visual. I read the Wall Street Journal weekend version to see what the current trends are in color and style and current books and bookcover illustration techniques, as well as advertisement techniques. I see inspiration in nature, buildings, an image of a mother giving their child an ice cream cone and I have rough sketches of ideas enough to keep me creating for months ahead. Sometime I get frustrated that I cannot finalize my ideas into art quickly enough!
2. Who is you artistic hero?
I would say that I’m an eclectic type of artist and appreciate good art, whether it is done by an ancient master, or a current day advertising designer or architect. I look for the central concept behind all types of art and that is what appeals to me. One current day artist that I enjoy is Charley Harper, an illustrator who could capture the essence of animals and plants with very expressive, yet minimal lines.
3. How did you start as an artist?
I’ve always enjoyed art – even as a child. I have a degree in Graphic Design and one in Art Education with and additional several years in the School of Architecture, so I have a varied background that has finally come together as I create my cards. I also had my own Calligraphy and Design business for approximately 15 years.
I am so excited about the creation of my cards that it is rare to have a day that I don’t do some work on my cards. They have become my means of creative expression and have given me a way to more fully enjoy life! I guess you could say they give me psychic income and I look forward to working on them each day.
5. How do you feel when you are creating your artwork?
Working on my cards gives me a sense of satisfaction. I believe the creation of my cards has actually become my passion.
6. Where do you do your work?
I have an office upstairs in front of a huge window that overlooks my backyard and I can see the birds and squirrels while I work on my computer.
I have always done some type of art since graduating from college. I worked in a number of Graphic Design positions and then opened my own business when I had children so I could be at home with them – my own business was largely doing Calligraphy.
8. Please explain your art in your own words.
Let’s see – I use my style to create a pleasing image with the fewest lines possible and the least detail possible, communicating the concept or idea the image represents as it relates to the event the card celebrates. That is to say – my houses are simple and clear, but cute with little detail so that they do not distract from the central idea or words the card is trying to communicate.
9. What technique/s do you use?
I usually roughly sketch my image by hand in ink on paper, then draw it into Illustrator attempting to match the lines with my mouse. I do have a Wacom board, but find that I rarely use it.
10. If any, what software do you use to aid in your artwork?
I use Adobe Illustrator which tends to have hard lines and more of a cartoon-type look, but is able to produce rich, vibrant colors. I then convert my artwork into digital pixels in Photoshop.
Yes, I’ve taken all types of Art classes, ceramics, jewelry design, commercial art, architectural rendering, etc. For awhile I didn’t see where all this training would come together and be of benefit to me – but I’m finding that some of these strands have been great background for some of the things I want to communicate through my cards.
12. Describe your style.
I like a simple, bright colored style that pops out at you with words that are simple, from the heart and to the point. These are the same type of images that have always drawn my attention and I enjoy creating this style myself.
13. Does your art have a deeper meaning?
I don’t think my art has a deeper meaning, although when writing the verse for my cards I sometimes use double meanings, which is fun.
14. Do you aspire to be like any other artist?
I only try to expand and improve my own artwork and clarify for myself what I enjoy creating.
Over time, I can see that my art is getting a little more detailed and I am able to combine a slightly more detailed art with a simple, to the point verse.
16. What is the place of you artwork in society?
I think my art appeals to people who like direct, unique and to the point communication.
I have a website at:
http://chebellanota.com
and website at:
http://terinelsonkuster.wordpress.com
A Shop on Greeting Card Universe at:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/chebellanota
A Shop on Zazzle at:
http://www.zazzle.com/chebellanota
And a Facebook page (largely unused!) at:
https://www.facebook.com/chebellanota
And a Pinterest Site at:
http://pinterest.com/chebellanota/che-bella-nota-cards-by-teri/
I’m a mother and grandmother with two grown daughters and three granddaughters – who really brighten my life! My husband and I are in business together, so I work another flexible job in addition to enjoying card creation. If honest, I would admit that cards are my central focus. Creating cards has been a life-time dream of mine and I am really enjoying the opportunity of expressing myself through my cards.
19. When did you start and how long have you been doing this?
I’ve been with Greeting Card Universe for two years and I began working on my current card designs about three years ago. I have played with various types of card design throughout my life, but not had the opportunity the Greeting Card Universe has created, prior to working with them.
20. How has your artwork developed over the years?
Actually, my artwork has always been and continues to be very graphic in nature. Simple lines, brilliant colors with attention getting design and words.
21. What is your favorite piece of art you have created?
One of my favorites is the Wedding Congratulations with the overlapping wedding rings – it has a graphic simplicity, with the concept of love through the use of a heart, the concept of wedding through the rings, while the Mr. and Mrs. in calligraphy inside the rings convey the idea of the new personal identity a marriage creates. <<< click on image of card below to purchase this card.
Click on the image to purchase this card.
Working on my art and seeing my finished pieces makes me feel creative satisfaction and fulfillment!
23. By what terms do you measure your success?
I measure my success by how good the act of creating makes me feel and the psychic income I derive from the finished product – I.e. the feeling of “I did that!” And the pride that it makes me feel. That far outshines the financial renumeration. (As I said, I work a second job – which is the job that actually pays the bills) However, I must say that it is always fun to see cards sell and see which ones the customers like
24. Does it matter to you if your artwork never makes you rich?
No – it doesn’t matter if I never get rich from my cards – because I enjoyed the process of making them so much. However, it would be nice if my cards were shared and used by a larger number of people – because I would feel as if I was making a bigger difference in their lives and perhaps speaking for them in situations that they couldn’t speak for themselves through my cards and that would make me feel good.
25. Who is your intended audience? (Do you make art for children, the ill, business, etc)
I think my largest audience is the baby-boomer generation and perhaps those over 40. I’m not convinced that the younger generation is used to using paper cards and is more committed to e-cards and doing things the quickest way possible. I think the boomers like the graphic style as that was a style that was popular as we grew up.
26. Do you have a niche? What is it?
Again, I think my niche, if there is one, is cards that retain a certain integrity of design through the illustration, the lettering and the verse – which all work together to be creative and easy to understand, yet well-stated, from the heart and to the point.
I think my unique talents that have enhanced my cards are my love of uniquely created handlettering and calligraphy, my use of one and two point perspective and my ability to use Illustrator to accomplish my goals.
28. Can you rmember your first piece of artwork or your first sale?
Actually, some of ideas in my cards have gone through an evolution and have been improved in the process, so that the first card I sold is no longer available.
29. Do you have your own blog, facebook page, etc.
Yes – please see #17 – they are listed there
The best place to reach me is at:
[email protected]
31. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about?
Thanks for the chance to say all this – I think I’ve said it all – think I wrote a book! Some of it is pretty repetitive.
Many thanks
Cheryl
Owner and creator of