Cheryl (Baughn) King, a fourth generation Puget Sounder, was born with a passion for art and throughout her childhood pursued a myriad of creative goals, always knowing that art was her future. Forced to put her dreams on hold  as a young adult, in 1989 Cheryl was introduced to oils and was immediately hooked. Today she paints exclusively in this medium. Later she spent several years studying under Julann Campbell, a protégé of Sergei Bongart, learning the nuances of Russian Impressionism. These roots Cheryl shows today, painting with vibrant color and bold brushwork.

Over subsequent years Cheryl has taken the occasional workshop from nationally and internationally known artists, but the most profound experience was having the opportunity to take a 4 week study trip to St. Petersburg Russia in the summer of 2006. Studying at the Repin Academy of Fine Art, she received the tutelage of 3 different instructors in both drawing and painting, enjoying studio model work and plein air excursions to historic city locales.

Like most artists, the drama of sunlight and shadow excite her, giving her great motivation to create the immediacy of the moment. She enjoys painting a variety of subjects although “paintings with a heartbeat” are dearest to her; those with either animals or people in their compositions and she has won awards at the local, national and international level. In 2007 she devoted herself to painting the human figure, completing nearly 40 nude paintings glorifying the female figure and auctioning them to benefit breast cancer research. Cheryl also spends much of her easel time painting commissioned portraits of beloved pets and for the past decade has been greatly sought after for her sensitive and insightful portraits. She feels the greatest compliment she can receive is given in the form of tears welling in the recipient’s eyes.

As a working artist, Cheryl paints full time, devoting a large part of each week either in her studio, outdoors or painting with a core group of fellow artists that have supported each other for the past several years. She is a dynamic and fun loving ‘people’ person and she strives to have these qualities show in the paintings she creates. Oil painting is a passion, obsession and addiction that she has no intention of getting therapy for!

Affiliations:

Oil Painters of America

Women Painters of Washington

Washington Artist’s Group