Cheryl Bartley American Folk Artist

Contact Me

Cheryl Bartley Designs
100 Whiting Street, Winsted, CT. 06098
Telephone 18608061931
Web site http://www.cherylbartleydesigns.com/
Email cherylbartleydesigns@yahoo.com







Monday, April 12, 2010

OLD TYME AMERICANA GENERAL STORE GICLEE PRINT


Measures 11x14 Giclee Print

Eat Drink and Be Merry


Measures 12 x 16 giclee print

LIVE while You live


Original Acrylic Painting measures 20" x 20" x 2.5"

Monday, April 5, 2010

Old Tyme General Store Folk Art Sampler

16 x 20" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Litchfield County Times

Artist @ Whiting Mills Gallery and Artist by Litchfield County Times Neewspaper

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

NEW Cornicopia Thanksgiving Alphabet Sampler Folk Art Painting

Measures 18 h x 24 w
Created on linen gallery wrapped canvas with the finest acrylic paints.







From this original painting I created the image below. Both images are available for licensing.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

NEW PAINTING " American Spirit Life Liberty Pursuit Happiness"


Titled = "Life Liberty Pursuit Happiness American Folk Art"


Just finished this yesterday. Measures 25 x 15 and is acrylic paint on antique wooden barn board.



Titled = "Our Flag Old Glory"


I created this image from the painting. It is available for licensing or as a giclee print.




Titled = "Spirit of America"


This was also created from the painting. It is available for licensing and or as a giclee print.

Monday, March 1, 2010

HAPPY SPRING Easter Bunny Egg Wagon in Tulips

New painting finished today! Original watercolor painting measures 9 x 12. Cute little bunny rabbit sitting in a wagon full of colored eggs sniffing a tulip.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Art As if the Earth Matters

The Artists, Artisans and Craftspeople at Whiting Mills (AWM Gallery) invite you to the event “Art As if the Earth Matters!”


The show features an eclectic mix of fine art, woodworking, pewter smith work, hand-made; one-of-a kind jewelry, knitting, weaving, fiber art, new and restored furniture from locally to nationally known artists.
Exquisite retail shops will be open.
April 23rd to May 23rd, 2010
Opening Reception Friday April 23rd, 7-9 pm
Artists Open Studios April 24th, 1-5 pm
Whiting Mills
100 Whiting Street
Winsted, CT 06098


My studio will be open during this event and I will be at the opening reception as well!

These are pictures of the AWM Gallery Showing at the last event in conjunction with Friends of Main Street "Bubbles and Truffles"








HOPE IS A THING THAT TAKES FLIGHT IN YOUR SOUL- NEW painting

New Sampler Painting
Titled = "HOPE IS A THING THAT TAKES FLIGHT IN YOUR SOUL" by Cheryl Bartley
Click Here to purchase at my web site




The inspiration for this painting comes from a poem by Emily Dickinson

"Hope is the thing with feathers"

That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

NEW! AMERICAN QUILT FOLK ART SAMPLER ACRYLIC PAINTING

AMERICAN QUILT FOLK ART SAMPLER ACRYLIC PAINTING
Click Here to purchase at my web site

NEW! Tulips and Hearts Folk Art Sampler Painting

TULIPS and HEARTS FOLK ART SAMPLER WATERCOLOR PAINTING
Click here to purchase it at my web site

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

2010 Color Trends

The color trends for 2010 reflect hope, happiness, and family values through happy vibrant "spring time" color.

In these tough economic times many people are longing for simpler times of days gone by, or looking towards a future that is built on the hope and a fulfillment of their dreams. When the first vibrant colored flowers bloom in spring after a long winter of netural color we often feel a renewed sense of life and hope for the future.


This years lively "spring time" Pantone color palette is a mix of vibrant hues: golden glow, living coral, lipstick red, purple orchid and neutrals: endive, woodbine, oyster gray and rose dust. This bold, uninhibited approach to combining happy colors with neturals reflects a sense of hope and renewal that is unique to one’s own experiences and personality.


Pantone -fall 2010 Colors www.pantone.com

This year’s color palette to me reflects the type of family values that supports and nourishes its members by creating a safe, positive and supportive place for all members to thrive. If you think about what plants in springtime look like before they burst forth with colorful blooms you will envision the “neutral colors” of its leaves, stems and earth. These “neutral colors” can be likened to the leaders/ parents or elders of the family unit. The vibrant colorful blossoms that burst forth from these neutral plant units are representative of each child or family member that has been nourished by the leader plant. The nourishment by the parent plant has provided a supportive place for the bud to blossom and thrive into a unique and colorful flower. Likewise, it is with other family units. In order for the virtues of each of its members to be cultivated they must feel a freedom within the group to express themselves freely. Thus the “vibrant colors” of this year’s palette and the nourishment of the “neutral colors” provide us with as sense of cohesion and feelings of being loved, of belonging to the group and being nurtured by it. The “neutral colors” provide us with the ability to experience balance and the “vibrant colors provide us with the opportunity to express our originality and uniqueness.



Turquoise has been declared the 2010 Color of the Year by Pantone. A mixture of blue and green makes it both calming and invigorating. I love to surround myself with this color because it makes me feel as if I am escaping to someplace tropical and beautiful. Turquoise is also a nurturing color in that it is reflective of the color of the ocean and water. Water is an important element in every family unit as it supports and nourishes its members to live happy healthy lives.


Although color trends can point us in a direction that is trendy, you will be happiest when you choose colors that make you feel happy and allow you to express your own sense of style.

People that purchase my vibrant folk art always tell me that they like the colors and the theme becuase it makes them smile :)

Friday, February 12, 2010

Downloadable E Patterns

I have been asked by customers and friends to create down loadable e patterns and e books of my folk art so that they may create their own works of art. Due to these inquiries I am now offering down loadable e patterns on my web site. I will be adding new patterns as I create them. They are very affordable at $5.30 each. I am working on a series of how to e Books and I will be offering them soon. These e books will feature my e patterns and step by step painting and technique instructions. You will be able to create your own folk art paintings or stitchery project from my designs. These patterns can be printed out on your computer printer and then transfer them onto your canvas for painting or stitching projects.


CLICK HERE to go to my web site to view and or purchase a pattern.

The e pattern down load includes a full sized pattern template in jpg format that measures 11h x 13w. You can print it out on your computer and easily transfer it onto a canvas or cloth of your choice. The pattern that you will download does not have my name and copyright written across it LIKE THIS IMAGE BELOW. Please see long description for download instructions AT MY WEB SITE.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Quote for today

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.
Carl G. Jung

Country Sunflower Quilt Farm




Country Sunflower Quilt Farm
Here are some pictures and information about how I created this watercolor painting.
First, I come up with a design. Then I draw it on paper or sometimes I use my drawing tablet in photoshop program on my mac and then transfer it to paper.
Once the drawing is transfered onto watercolor tablet I erase the drawing so only a light pencil mark remains as a guide. Next, I chose the colors that I want to use and set them out onto my pallette. Then I apply a light wash of each color waiting in between for each to dry so that they do not mix/spread into each other.





First layer of light yellow wash is being applied to the sunflowers
with a round brush.



I like to use a small round sponge dipped into yellow to paint to add highlights on trees that already have a base coat of light green.


Roof tiles are painted with brush and black watercolor paint.

After the First coat of watercolor applied as a light wash. Then I go over it again with same color but stronger in areas that I want to be darker, bolder, or highlighted.

I use a flat square brush to add second coat of paint to hill tops for a bolder deeper green.

This is the finished watercolor painting.


Thursday, January 28, 2010

Tulips and Hearts House Blessing Sampler Outline

This is an outline that I created for a new sampler folk art painting I am working on 12 of these types of outlines at the moment. I hope to finish them this week so that I can get onto painting them.
"Tulips and Hearts House Blessing Sampler" by Cheryl Bartley
.




My samplers are for the most part on acid free watercolor paper that is treated with a special technique to look like an old linen sampler. Then I apply the watercolor and sometimes acrylic paint. I do all lettering and additional outlines by hand once watercolor dries. I also incorporate letters of the alphabet, numbers, geometric designs, and verses into the designs.

The inspiration for these sampler paintings comes from historic antique embroidered schoolgirl samplers. Each motif that I add to the sampler holds symbolic meanings as did the antique school girl samplers. Many of the motifs that I incorporate are similar in meaning to those used in traditional Samplers. I think that the reason that I was drawn to creating these types of paintings stems from my early childhood. During those years I spoke French so when I started school I use to draw pictures…motifs… to communicate.

I call my sampler paintings "Folk Art Spirit Samplers". Each one of the motifs that I incorporate into one of my designs holds a deep spiritual meaning that I want to express to the world. I also incorporate some of the motifs because I like their shape and colors. These motifs do not hold any deeper meaning except for the fact that I like them! In the folk art spirit sampler painting that I created below you will see both the motifs with deeper meanings and those that I like just for shape and color.

Birds in tree= Love of nature
Cat = Rest
Rooster = Watchfulness
Dove with olive branch = Charity, mercy, peace, love, humility, simplicity and meekness
Flowers = Family unity
Fruit Tree = 15 Apples.. symbol of love and fertility, temptation and evil
Tulip = Perfect love, a declaration of love
Star and Flag = Patriotism and Bravery
5 Pointed Star = birth of Jesus
Sheep = Gentleness and charity
Cow = Naïve
House = Childhood memories Grandmothers farm house
Red Barn for animals = virtues and vices
Two Tall Green Teardrop Shaped Trees = Enduring faith




PRIMITIVE STAR BIRD FARMHOUSE

Wine Chocolate Art Amore..Sounds like heaven to me!

02/05/2010 to 02/05/2010
The Artist @ Whiting Mills

My "Folk Art Spirit Studio" in conjunction with The Artist @ Whiting Mills will open their studios and gallery to the public during the "Bubbles and Truffles" event hosted by The Friends of Main Street. Chocolate, Wine, Art......sounds like a heavenly evening to me! I am so inspired by the thought of all this chocolate, wine, music, and art... I am envisioning a folk art painting.....To be continued...

I will be posting some photos of these events so please check back again.

Wine Tasting/Chocolate Extravaganza
--Friends of Main St. Winsted - Whiting Mills, 210Holabird Ave., Winsted, CT 06098. On Friday evening, February 5, 2010 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM the Friends of Main Street Winsted will sponsor the fourth annual Wine Tasting and Chocolate Extravaganza, a wine and chocolate event and silent auction. The Artist @ Whiting Mills will also have open studios. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. Proceeds from the event will benefit downtown revitalization. Further information call 860-738-3351.
ARTWELL


Evening of Amore'
Artwell Gallery, 19 Water Street, Torrington, CT.
will sponsor the 2nd Annual Valentine's Day event "Evening of Amore'". Admission $15.00- $20.00 couple. Couples canvas painting, champagne, refreshments, and chocolate, ...for a small donation chair massage, flowers, drawing for romantic gifts. Jazz Music 20s thru 50s by "Blue not Blue" Priscilla Newcombe soprano and Adrian Untermyer. Fundraiser for "the love of artwell". For more information 8604825122 artwell@sbcglobal.net http://www.artwellgallery.org/

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Atlanta Gift Show

Friday January 15, 2010



I attended the "Meet and Greet Artist" sponsored by Lang Companies LLC at the Atlanta Gift Show, Atlanta, Georgia.



Here I am with my new "Country Sampler" Lang calender at the Atlanta Gift Show Meet and Greet the Lang Artist at Lang Companies booth building 2. It was so exciting to see my samplers on a calendar that will be sold worldwide!!


"Country Sampler Calender" by Lang Companies LLC will feature my folk art samplers for calender years 20011, 2012 and 2013.


Jim Meserve (my agent Next Day Art) and I at "Meet and Greet Lang Artist" at their showroom.


Me and my husband Russ at the show