Artist Cindy Sorley-Keichinger

Biography of
Cindy Sorley-Keichinger

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CREDENTIALS

I come from a family with strong artistic ability, but I’m the only one who has taken it out of the hobby realm.  My family are from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. However, my Father joined the Armed Forces, and finally settled in Alberta.  I trained as a Medical laboratory technician, and have not been formally trained in art.  As a teenager, and with my Father’s input, I worked on drawings at home.  These efforts, I entered in junior competitions and often won a placement.  While at university, I tried my hand at murals, and learned how to scale things up and down in size.  I really did not view myself as a painter because I did not think I knew how to use colour.  I was frustrated that my pictures would not match what was in my head; so I did not pursue art as a career choice.

After my marriage, my husband encouraged me to take a painting class being offered.  I was interested this time because I had since seen work by Robert Bateman.  His style was along the lines of what I had always seen in my head and admired.  Anyway, after being told to mute my colours; what I came up with surprised both my husband and I. I have continued, with my husband’s support, ever since.  I have since taken workshops with John Seerey-Lester, Carl Brenders, Allan Hunt, Robert Bateman, Daniel Smith, Jan Martin McQuire and Terry Isaac; all of whom are both great painters and great teachers.

I am often called on to teach workshops, and art project classes. My work has been in shows across the United States and Canada in such places as New York, Ottawa, Lloydminster, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver; as well as being in a yearlong Cross Canada show with Canadian Wildlife Habitat; and I was also the artist in residence in February 1999 for the Barr Colony Heritage Center and “Education through Art Society” My work is in collections across Canada, The States and overseas.

CREDENTIALS:

CAREER HISTORY:
-Has painted for over 20 years
-Works primarily in Acrylic, but also in Gouache and oil.
-Teaches art workshops to children and adults, and go pro-bono into schools to work with teachers on art projects

EDUCATION:
-Self taught artist, has taken workshops from artists like: Robert Bateman, John Seerey-Lester, Carl Brenders, Allan Hunt, Daniel Smith, Terry Isaac, Guy Combes and other notable artists.
-Trained as a Medical Laboratory Tech, and have two years of Pre-Med. Schooling

SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS

  • Art Room “Waters” online art exhibition – 2023
  • David Sheppard Wildlife Artist of the Year – Virtual – 2022
  • NOAPS Fall International Online Exhibition – 2022
  • Portrait Society of America – Members only online show – 2022
  • Artist Space – “Nature Art Competition – 2022
  • Colors of Humanity Art Gallery – “Animals” Show – 2022
  • Society of Canadian Artists – 54 th Open Juried Exhibition – Papermill Gallery Toronto – 2022
  • American Artists Professional League 94 th Grand National Exhibition – 2022
  • Society of Animal Artists – Winged Things Show – 2022
  • Artists For Conservation – Vancouver BC – 2022
  • Acrylic International Biennial Juried Exhibition – Kenosha WI – 2022
  • American Artists Professional League Spring 2022 Online Show – 2022
  • Society of Canadian Artists – Open International Juried Exhibition – Online – 2022
  • Federation of Canadian Artists – Artist’s Choice Show – Vancouver – 2022
  • Richeson75 – Animals, Birds & Wildlife Show – Online – 2021
  • Society of Animal Artists – “The Kingdom” – Midland Centre for the Arts – 2021
  • Artists For Conservation – AFC Exhibit Tour – Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum – 2021
  • WAOW – Online Show “All Creatures Great & Small – 2021
  • Richeson75 International Art Competitions – Landscapes – Online – 2021
  • Society of Animal Artists – Roger Tory Peterson Institute & Tour – 2021
  • Society of Animal Artists – Hiram Blauvelt Museum – New Jersey – 2020
  • International Guild of Realism (IGOR) Spring Online Exhibition – 2020
  • Richeson75 Animals, Birds, & Wildlife Show – 2019
  • International Society of Acrylic Painters All Members Online Exhibition – 2019
  • American Artists Professional League 91st Grand International Exhibition – New York – 2019
  • Bold Brush Painting Competition – 2019
  • Federation of Canadian Artists AIRE Online Exhibition – 2019
  • Masterpieces in Miniature – Sherwood Park Alberta – 2019, 2020, 2021
  • Artists for Conservation – Vancouver, BC – 2019, 2020
  • Art Renewal Centre Salon Show – 2019
  • Richeson75 Animals, Birds, & Wildlife Show – 2018
  • International Society of Acrylic Painters – All Member Online Show – 2018
  • American Artists Professional League 90th Grand International Exhibition – New York – 2018
  • Federation of Canadian Artists – Wildlife Exhibition – Vancouver BC – May 1-13, 2018
  • Discovery Art show – Lloydminster AB/SK – 2018
  • Artists for Conservation – Annual Exhibition – Vancouver – September 2018
  • Artists For conservation – Traveling Exhibition – China – 2017/2018
  • American Women Artists – Full Sun: American Women Illuminate the Haggin Museum – Aug-Sept. 2018
  • Artists for Conservation – Van Dusen Botanical Gardens, Vancouver BC – 2018, 2017
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) – Best of America – Castle Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN – 2017
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) – Small Works Show – Cathy Kline Gallery, Parkville MO – 2017
  • Vermilion Public Library – 2017
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painter’s Society (NOAPS) – Best of America Exhibition – Orleans MA – 2016
  • The American Artists Professional League – Members Only Online Portrait Theme Show (portraits, figure, animal) – 2016
  • Artists for Conservation – Grouse Mountain Resort (Vancouver BC) – 2016
  • International Society of Acrylic Painters (ISAP) -7th Annual Open Online Exhibition – 2017, 2016
  • Artists for Conservation – Grouse Mountain Resort (Vancouver BC) – 2015
  • American Artists Professional League – 87th Grand National Exhibition – New York NY – 2015
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) Fall International Online Exhibit – 2016, 2015
  • WAOW Inc – 45th National Exhibition – Tucson Desert Art Museum AZ – 2015
  • American Women Artists – Spring Online Juried Show – 2015
  • The International Society of Acrylic Painters – 6th Annual International Open Online Show – 2015
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painter’s Society (NOAPS) – Fall Online International Exhibition – (2014)
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painter’s Society (NOAPS) – Best of America Exhibition – Bolivar MO – (2014)
  • Artists for Conservation – Grouse Mountain Resort (Vancouver BC) – 2014
  • American Artists Professional League – 86th Grand National Exhibition – Salmagundi Club New York – Nov.9-21 2014
  • Federation of Canadian Artists – Scenes of Western Canada Show – Federation Gallery (Vancouver BC) October 2014
  • NOAP’s – Spring Online Show –2017, 2014
  • WAOW – Online WAOW goes Wild Show – Sept. 2014-Nov. 2014
  • Great Summer Show – Picture This Gallery (Sherwood Park Alberta) 2014
  • Masterpieces in Miniature, Picture This Gallery (Sherwood Park AB) 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
  • Great Fall Show – Picture This Gallery (Sherwood Park Alberta) 2013
  • Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club – 117th Annual Open Exhibition (New York) 2013
  • American Artists Professional League – Members Summer Theme Show (New York) 2013
  • Artists for Conservation (Vancouver BC) 2013, 2012, 2011
  • National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) – Best of America Exhibit 2013
  • National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) – Online Exhibition 2013
  • Arabella Magazine – Great Canadian Landscape Exhibition – 2013
  • Federation of Canadian Artists – Small Smaller Smallest Show (Vancouver BC) 2011
  • The American Artists Professional League Grand National Exhibition (New York) 2011, 2010
  • Arts Without Borders Juried Fine Art Show (Lloydminster AB/SK) – 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007

AWARDS & HONOURS:

  • Merit Awards for “Waters” online art exhibition with Art Room – 2 awards for Hogsback Falls and Morning on the Maligne River
  • Editors Choice Award for the Artists for Conservation Festival – 2023
  • Full page artist focus in Western Art Collector – 2023
  • SCA 54 th Open International Exhibition – Duggan Canadian Landscape Award – 2022
  • David Sheppard Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year Finalist 2022
  • Richeson75 – Animals, Birds & Wildlife – Finalist 2021
  • Richeson75 – Animal, Birds & Wildlife – Selected as a Meritorious 2021
  • Richeson75 – Landscapes, Seascapes & Architecture – Finalist 2021
  • Winner of the Duggan Canadian Landscape Award for “Autumn Snooze” – 2022
  • Finalist – Wildlife Artist of the Year – David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation – 2022
  • IGOR – International Guild of Realism Spring Salon Online Exhibition – Finalist – 2020
  • Richeson75 – Animals, Birds & Wildlife – selected as a Finalist – 2019
  • Art Renewal Centre – 14th International ARC Salon Exhibition – Finalist – 2019
  • Richeson75 – Animals, Birds & Wildlife – Selected as a Finalist – 2018
  • Richeson75 – Animals, Birds & Wildlife – Selected as a Meritorious – 2018
  • The International Society of Acrylic Painters – 5th place award in Online International Open Show – 2017
  • Was made a signature member of the (NOAPS) National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society – 2016
  • The International Society of Acrylic Painters – Holbein Art Materials Award – 2015
  • Royal Canadian Mint – Designed a $20 Specialty coin – 2015
  • Arts Without Borders – 2nd Place Wildlife/Animal – 2015
  • Was made a fellow of the (AAPL) American Artists Professional League – 2014
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society – International Fall Online Exhibition Award of Excellence – 2014
  • National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society – Best of America Exhibition Award of Merit – 2014
  • Arts Without Borders Juried Art Show – People’s Choice Award – 2014
  • Arts Without Borders Juried Art Show – 3rd place Animal/wildlife
  • American Artists Professional League – 1st Place Landscape – Members Summer Theme Show (2013)
  • Arabella Great Canadian Landscape Competition – Semi Finalist – (2013)
  • Wildscape Art Magazine – Runner up for Wildlife (2012)
  • Arts Without Borders Juried Show – 1st Animal/ Wildlife (2012, 2011)
  • Arts Without Borders Juried Art Show – Best of Show, 1st Floral/Botanical, 2nd Animal/Wildlife, 3rd Animal/Wildlife, 2nd & 3rd runner up for People’s Choice Award (2010)

GUILDS AND ORGANIZATIONS

I have now been painting seriously since 1990; fitting it around our Family Grain farm. I like to work in oil, acrylic and gouache, which have the strong colors I prefer to use.  I find they work well for painting Nature and Landscapes, my favorite subjects to paint.

Artist Statement

My approach to painting my images tends to be a bit of” By Gosh and by Golly”, lots of research, and tons of reference photos, to get my details right.  The end result is a by-product of what I saw out on my travels, and the artistic vision of what is in my head.

I have yet to do a painting that I think exactly measures up to what I was attempting, but what is life without challenges?  The world is an interesting place, with lots of wonderful things to see and explore; I try to capture this attitude in my work.  There is a definite “nothing ventured nothing gained” approach to how I do things.  Being self-taught, has freed me from the “you can’t do this”, or the “you can’t mix that” that formal training would have given me.  There is a real sense of freedom when I try my hand at another challenge.

My favourite fall back quote, when I’m a little nervous about what I’m trying; comes from Robert Bateman….”If you painted it once, you can do it again!”  Very freeing, if you are trying an effect you are not sure will work!

Moonlit Stroll - Cindy Sorley-Keichinger
Tiger Prowl - Cindy Sorley-Keichinger
Yellow Warbler - Cindy Sorley-Keichinger
Swallow Dream - Cindy Sorley-Keichinger
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