Blog

August 2025-December 2025

September 2025
New Collections, Exhibitions, and Expanding Horizons

Exhibitions & Events

This month marked the closing of three wonderful shows—All Natural, Nouveau West, and ATC Cards. Each one brought opportunities to share my work with others and connect with the community. I also had the privilege of attending Conversations with Artists for both the All Natural and Nouveau West exhibitions.

During these events, I shared about two of my pieces—Girl Splashing in a Puddle (All Natural) and Queen of Hearts (Nouveau West). It was a rewarding experience to explain the inspiration and technique behind these works, while also listening to other artists discuss the meaning woven into their own creations.

I also joined in on a brainstorming session for the upcoming Alphabet Soup Exhibition, which is currently on display in the South Display Case from August 26 through October 25. My contribution, the Letter G, is a 5" x 7" piece on museum Scratchbord™ and is available for purchase for $5. The installation at the Grand Theater showcases an inspirational phrase built from letters created by local artists—a true celebration of collective creativity.

While I chose not to participate in this year’s 2025 Fresh Ideas Exhibition, I am considering submitting artwork to the Lewisville Playhouse exhibition for the play Frankenstein. I continue to keep an eye open for future exhibition opportunities.

New Collections & Featured Artwork

A fresh addition this month is the Ink and Wash Vintage Art Collection, featuring artwork illustrations in India Ink Line and Wash. Two new pieces—Celeste and Lillian—were introduced as part of a series of vintage-inspired ink portraits.

I also expanded the Colored Pencil and Acrylics & Pastels offerings, bringing in three new collections:

Farm Animal Collection
Winter Acrylic Landscapes
Geometric Abstracts

These groups include both newly spotlighted works and earlier pieces that now have a proper home within curated collections. Additional images were also added to the Photography section, continuing to build a diverse and well-rounded catalog of art.

Business Updates

On the business side, there were several exciting developments this month:

Email Marketing: I welcomed two new subscribers and sent out their first emails with a special 10% discount on first purchases (valid through year-end). This promotion continues for all new subscribers. A Back-to-School Sale promo was sent to subscribers mid-month and the Labor Day Special is available all day on Labor Day!
Featured Artwork: Spotlight this month included Paper Máche Man with Boy and Bird, my sculptures, the Wild Animal Collection, Pencil Animal Artwork, and the new Framed Pencil Minis. These minis, available in 2" x 3" and 4" x 6", are delightful reproductions of original pencil works—perfect as keepsakes or thoughtful gifts.
Website & Marketing Expansion: The website received an update with a bolder homepage and new organization of collections. With the Back-to-School season in mind, this month’s focus turned to decor—helping viewers see how artwork can enrich dorms, schools, and personal spaces, while also offering meaningful pieces for collectors or as gifts. To highlight this, a new homepage carousel was added, featuring a medley of different collections and eclectic works that showcase the range of what cHerArtwork has to offer.

Perhaps the biggest milestone was the long-awaited launch of the Pinterest Catalog! After the nine-month waiting period, ingestion is complete, with 298 listings now live and actively being organized into product groups. This expansion will help visually extend cHerArtwork across social media and open up new marketing opportunities.
Other Platforms: Updates were also made on eBay, though more work remains to align product listings more closely with the website—particularly with the Pencil Minis.
Branding: New business cards were ordered in a bold red and white color scheme to match the refreshed website branding. While the first vendor order didn’t turn out as expected, the cards will be useful for broad distribution, and I’ll continue exploring new printing options.
Networking & Growth: I joined Alignable, a business networking platform, to connect with new contacts and expand cHerArtwork’s reach.
Looking Ahead: In addition to these updates, I began experimenting with video creation as part of an email and promotional strategy. Plans are underway to create a short company video and outline a year-long promotional plan—so stay tuned for more to come!

Closing Thoughts

While September felt like a quieter month in some ways, much was accomplished—from exhibitions and new collections to expanded marketing efforts and networking opportunities. Each step, whether large or small, continues to build toward sharing artwork more widely and connecting with those who enjoy it.

As always, thank you for being part of the cHerArtwork journey!

Cheryl Vaca
cHerArtwork

www.cherartwork.com
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Zazzle Store: www.zazzle.com/store/cherartwork

August 2025
Hot Splashes This Summer

Summer heat, puddle splashes, and fresh paint — July has been all about movement and momentum. Between bursts of creativity and gallery visits, I’ve been reaching for paintbrushes, pencils, and even a good book. Here’s a peek at what’s been happening in the studio and beyond.

Making Waves in the Studio
Several new pieces emerged this month, each bringing its own mood and story:

Girl Splashing in a Puddle
Queen of Hearts
Once Upon a Time
Mademoiselle’s Son
Bird Poised
Painting of a Pig

Some have already stepped into the spotlight on gallery walls and the homepage of cHerArtwork.com.

On Display with a Dash of Conversation
This summer’s exhibitions at the Lewisville Grand Theater have been inspiring and full of meaningful dialogue. Five of my pieces are currently on display across three exhibits.

In the All Natural exhibition (July 12 – August 9), Girl Splashing in a Puddle and Bird Poised are featured. I spoke about Girl Splashing in a Puddle at the July 27 “Conversations with Artists” event. Originally a companion to Little Boy and Ducks, this piece was reworked to capture pure, unfiltered joy. Interestingly, I painted it during the same weekend the Guadalupe River flooded, a tragic event claiming the lives of several children. Despite that sorrow, the painting became a quiet tribute to life’s lightness and hope.

In the Nouveau West exhibition (July 20 – August 24), Queen of Hearts and Once Upon a Time are on view. I will return for the August 3 Conversations with Artists event, open to the public, to share more about the story and symbolism behind Queen of Hearts.

Also on exhibit is a delightful series of ATC pencil animal cards in the ATC Exhibition displayed in the North Display Case. These miniature works, each presented on a tiny easel, celebrate national and international days throughout July and August.

Exhibit details:
https://www.cherartwork.com/exhibitions
https://visualartleague.org/2025-exhibition-themes

Moments & Tradition
Two new colored pencil collections quietly debuted this month:

Joy and Life, capturing moments that reflect on tragedy while offering a hopeful and positive perspective
Rich Traditions, grounded in country and timeless values

Both collections bring unique personalities to the Colored Pencil Art Collections.

Books, Brushes, and Balancing Acts
Alongside creating and exhibiting artwork, I’ve been enriching my perspective through a summer reading program — over 20 books and counting. Two stood out for their deep connection to the art world and my own creative journey:

Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton offers an insider’s glimpse into diverse corners of the art world — from the highest-end auctions, artist studios, and publications to international shows — capturing the pulse, personalities, and processes that shape contemporary art. Exploring these varied venues gave me fresh insight and inspiration for my own work and exhibitions.

All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley presents a unique viewpoint from a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His reflections on art and humanity reveal the quiet power of everyday encounters with beauty and creativity, reminding me how every role in the art world holds meaning and influence.

This summer reading journey added new dimensions to my artwork. While much of my time is spent creating, exhibiting, or managing the business side, these books allowed me to explore art worlds I’m less familiar with. From the richest venues on the global stage to the humble, heartfelt perspective of a museum guard who treasured each piece of art, as well as the people he worked with and the visitors he met, these stories deepened my appreciation for the beauty and humanity behind every work. If you enjoy art or storytelling, you might find these books inspiring too.

A Note Before We Turn the Page

August brings more ideas and a new exhibition on the horizon (Alphabet Soup is already stirring). The homepage has been refreshed to showcase new work, and email automation is now in place—welcoming new subscribers with a personal note.

Behind the scenes, I’ve been exploring a range of new tools and updates. From experimenting with emerging AI models in ads to testing out email marketing automation platforms, it’s been a season of tech exploration. I was finally able to merge the Facebook pages (still working on updating the URL), and I’ve updated business cards to match the new website. I'm also developing a new product offering to complement the current collection. This month, I’m looking into Pinterest more closely, now that I qualify for easier product uploads and additional features.

If you are a new subscriber—thank you! If you haven’t already, be sure to hit the Subscribe button to stay in the loop on updates, artwork, and special offers. And feel free to share it with a friend—art is better when it’s shared.

As always, thank you for being part of this journey—whether you’re brand new or have been following along since the beginning. I’m grateful you’re here.