2024 September Artist of the Month

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Cheryl Bullard


Pottery and Basket


8" x 10", Soft Pastel

As a young woman, I enjoyed creating all types of arts and crafts for myself, family and friends.  I also took various classes in oil painting, fabric sculpture, clay and ceramics.

In 1990 I made a job transfer from Yuma to Tucson and that’s where I started focusing more intently on art.  My first home in Tucson was located on the northwest side and had such a great view of Pusch Ridge and the Catalina’s that it inspired me to paint them.  I took many classes of ‘Art for Personal Development’ and ‘Drawing Classes’ at Pima College.

After retirement I had more time to paint and produced many more works.  Favorite subjects are southwest landscapes but I feel I can learn and grow by painting all type of subjects.  I love the beauty of cactus especially when blooming and have started painting these quite often. 

 At the urging of a fellow artist, I decided to venture into pastels and started classes at Oasis and later Fran Odum at her gallery.  I found pastels a wonderful media for producing portrait and wildlife art.

I was a member of Southwestern League of Fine Arts and then I joined the Tucson Pastel Society in 2011 in hopes of getting more exposure and displaying my works in commercial establishments and galleries.  After joining the Tucson Pastel Society I started going on their plein air outings, before that I worked mainly from my own photographs.
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I found I really enjoyed painting and it made me feel good to create something I could be proud of and share with others.  I especially enjoy open studios with its casual atmosphere and where I can interact with other artist and learn from them.  I enjoy creating works of art in oils and pastels and sharing them with others.