Cheri’s Story:

               Cheri Vilona’s artistic training began in Rockland, NY with a degree in Graphic Arts and Advertising, with an emphasis on Art History.  Working in the Jewelry Manufacturing industry for over 12 years has been key in developing her aesthetic for art and design, as well as moving from the Hudson River area of Marlboro New York State to California, Oregon, Florida, and finally Colorado. She has travelled extensively, including Italy, France, Germany, Thailand and Bali.

“Looking out the car window for hours as a small child while driving across the country, through New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, towards Colorado, Oregon and Washington, I studied the colors and patterns of the riverscapes, skies, farmlands, mountains and oceans. I have spent years photographing and developing back in the black and white film developing studio days, and refer to these images as inspiration while painting. I am interested in using strokes of paint that resonate recognition and at the same time abstraction, conveying a sense of interpreted place through atmosphere and personal viewpoints of perspective in my work.  My artistic goal is to create an abstracted view and feeling of place both visited and imagined within my paintings."

“Often I incorporate India ink, oil stick and carbon and use various tools applying the paint to create shapes and textures.  Experimentation allows spontaneous responsive possibilities and conveys my painterly conversations on canvas.”

               “I begin with a visual reference, and choose a color plan that excites me. Once I have the entire canvas covered with a thin sketch followed by a complimentary wash, I begin laying exciting colors and establish my values and shapes with them.  Sometimes I scrape it all back, and let the piece dry, which gives an under painting texture and color dynamics that really add layers of interest.  I may let some of this under painting peek through in each final piece. Oil paints combined with various mediums allow such a wonderful painterly freedom of expression, the colors are vibrant and blend so well on the canvas, allowing happy surprises to appear and refresh my palette and give way to new and exciting directions.”

               “Once the canvas is through this stage, colors and shapes take precedence and the fun/work begins! Sometimes paintings take many passes, changing and re-directing, that’s the fun of working with oils!  My continuous color corrections and intuitions push me out of my comfort area, away from my initial reference photographs, away from details, towards more exciting abstract color relationships, towards my very unique and personal interpreted sense of place.”

               Cheri, with an AA degree in Graphic Arts with an Art History major and a Bachelors Degree in Business, attends oil painting and mixed media workshops at the Arts Students League in Denver, working with notable artists Jeff Wenzel, Homare Ikeda, Don Sahli, Jane Jones, Jill Soukup and Jordan Wolfson.

Advanced workshops include working with Krista Harris of Durango, CO, Larissa Aukon of Santa Fe New Mexico, Mitch Alballa of Seattle Washington, Ken Elliott of Castle Rock, Colorado, Douglas Fryer of Utah, and Casey Klahn of Washington.  Her artistic touch lends itself to broad strokes, gestural marks with an intuitive color placement, capturing an essence of drama through open color choices, harmonies & contrasts.

               In 2013 and 2016 she was juried into the Artist in Residence Program in Breckenridge, Colorado.  Her artwork has been exhibited at Aspen art Gallery in Aspen CO, Gallery 8 Arts in Avon, Parkside Gallery in Park City, Utah, Thornwood Gallery in Houston, TX, Dolce Gallery in Telluride CO, Smith-Klein Gallery in Boulder, Colorado, Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and most recently Mill Contemporary, Santa Fe New Mexico..  

Cheri resides in Northern Colorado with her sculptor husband James Vilona.  Together they have created art and family for over 40 years.

  CV

Personal:

Born Evanston Illinois, Graduated Marlboro HS, NY

Resided in NJ, NY, California, Oregon, Florida and Colorado

Married, four grown children, four beautiful grandchildren.  Resides on 5-acre farm outside Denver, Colorado

Education:

AAS Degree Graphic Arts & Advertising, NY

BS Degree, Marylhurst College, Oregon

Atelier Workshops- Krista Harris, Stuart Shils, Ken Elliott, Casey Klahn, Larissa Aukon, Mitch Albala,  Jeff Wenzel, Douglas Fryer, Don Sahli     

Member of the Arts Students League of Denver, Colorado

Artwork Exhibitions:

Mill Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM, Group Show 2018, Solo Show 2019, Solo Show 2020

PACE Center 144 Show, December 2020, Parker, CO 2020

BreckCreates, Breckenridge CO Solo Show, July 2016

Vilona Gallery Group Show, Boulder CO 2015

Boulder Chamber Orchestra, May 2016, Live Painting during Symphony Program

Open Arts Exhibition, Boulder, CO 2015

Public Presentations:

Juried Fine Art Festivals including Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, Crested Butte, CO, Park City Arts Festival, Park City, Utah, Boulder, CO, Plaza Arts Festival, Kansas City MO.

Artist in Residence Program, BreckCreates 2013 & 2015

Photographic Artists of CU Boulder-Visiting Artist Lecture 2015

Professional Photography-Article for JCK Magazine 2007   

 Career:

1994-2004 Jewelry Manufacturing Company in Oregon- Collaborated for 10 years

2004-2008 JV925, LLC Fine Art and Sculpture Manufacturing Co-Owner

2015 Vilona Gallery, curated all artworks, ran marketing and advertising campaigns

2006-Present Paints full time at Vilona Studios, Berthoud CO