About the Artist

My name is Cheryl Micaela McCardle, and I am a painter and sculptor. I work from my studio in Clayton, which is just outside of Raleigh , North Carolina . I received a Bachelor's degree in Studio Arts from George Mason University in Virginia , with a focus in painting. 

When I relocated to the Raleigh area I became involved in community art programs. I joined the Visual Art Exchange, the Johnstonian Visual Artists, and became a board member to the Johnston County Arts Council. I helped to chair the Clayton Art Faire from 2000-2003. I feel it is important to participate in local shows and bring art awareness to my community.

I feel it is important to educate others about the arts, which is why I have served on the Arts Council and I am now working with a grass roots group of artists in the Clayton area. I am always anxious to learn more and open myself to new experiences, so my art education continues through drawing, painting and sculpture classes, and I look forward to exciting challenges in my future.

My collection of works has been exhibited in several local businesses, and I have had solo shows in Raleigh and the surrounding areas.

Artist's Statement

My interest in art first blossomed when my second grade teacher praised a crayon drawing of a snow-covered tree. Just those few words of praise led to a lifelong passion for color and creativity. I paint landscapes, abstracts, and figurative works in acrylics and watercolor.

I have been greatly influenced by the colorful shapes in the work of Georgia O'Keefe, the raw texture in the work of Anselm Kiefer, and the rhythmical qualities of the art of Wassily Kandinsky.

I view my work is an evolutionary process, and continually seek new avenues of creative expression. I have experimented with  faux finishes, decorative painting on furniture and floorcloths, as well as my latest interest, pottery and sculpture.

My approach to artwork relies heavily on intuition. I look for beauty in all things, and find much of my inspiration in nature. I seek to focus on that which is often overlooked, such as the way light shines through a leaf or patterns in a gnarled piece of wood. Music and the performing arts are also important to my creative spirit. Depending on my mood, my work can vary from the serenity of a wooded landscape to the vibrancy of a jazz concert.

My most recent body of work is centered on self-discovery and finding a spiritual connection through art. I see a tremendous healing power in the arts for the artist and the viewer. The series, “ Finding Joy, Finding Me,” illustrates my own experience in healing and the spiritual connection that brings about self discovery. My journey into this theme is far from over, and I plan to continue this exploration through figurative, abstract and sculptural representation.