About the Artist - Cherri Cunningham

“From my earliest memories I wanted a stack of paper and a handful of crayons or markers to draw with”, said Cunningham who began oil painting again 3 years ago after relocating to Princeton with husband Jimmie. “My mother always encouraged me to draw and later to paint. When I was little I often dreamed of one day working for Disney”. While she didn’t pursue that particular dream art, in some form, has never been farther away that the tips of her fingers.

Some of Cunningham’s first formal training, in addition to high school art, was with lessons from
Ms. Granny, Bill Granstaff’s mother. “Ms. Granny encouraged me as a teenager to express myself freely with art. She was so personable, always serving hot tea or some treat to make me feel at home in her studio”. Cunningham continued her studies at every opportunity, including courses at: Louisville School of Art; Jefferson Community College; and Paducah Community College to name a few. She began her college career as an art major at Murray State University later changing her major to elementary education where she obtained her Masters with a certificate in K – 8. She felt the opportunities to apply art in a multitude of ways would be greater in general education.

Little did she realize how art would be such a part of daily life as a Kindergarten teacher.. In fact, not one subject she taught her little students in school or children’s church, where she has served for many years was, void of art. And yet art, as she loved it most – oil painting – became a void in her life. The years of teaching, church and raising a family left little personal time for painting.

“There never seemed to be enough time or just the right time to paint”, she said but the desire was always there. “My husband has always encouraged me to get the brushes out again. He, too, loves art and recently renewed his own involvement with writing and photography. We try to support each other by blending our approaches to art. Cunningham says the two enjoy spending time together and art is just another way of doing that. They are working on a related project that should be ready later this year.

“God so often works in mysterious ways or so it appears in human terms”, says Cunningham as she explained what led to a resurgence of her art career. “We just seemed to be drawn to the Princeton area. I can’t really explain it. My husband, a Trigg County native, was born in the old hospital and spent a lot of time here growing up. My family relocated to Lyon County when I was young to resume farming on the family farm in the Fredonia Valley near Crider, home of my Grandparents”. While renovating the old farm house, she and Jimmie resided in Princeton for a few months. One of her neighbors discovered that Cunningham loved to paint; a discovery that led not only to a new friendship but a painting partner as well in Joan Mitchell, another Guild member. Though experimenting with different styles, Cunningham prefers plein aire painting – going on site and painting free hand what the eye perceives – as her forte.

When asked about subject matter for her oil work, Cunningham says she loves to record on canvas natural landscapes or meaningful structures. In particular she tries to preserve in picture old barns, a family homestead or the community church and other buildings with historical significance before they become faded memories eroded into the past. This, she says, gives a sense of urgency to her art. “Seeing the expression on a face when my painting has touched an emotion or brought back a memory from the past, just goes beyond words in what that does for me”. It gives purpose that only adds to the pleasure she derives from painting, said Cunningham. Though she has done illustrations for Sunday School literature, created hundreds of bulletin boards and programs for her classroom and others, designed sets for plays and painted character backdrops, she never tires of the creativity of art..

To the Cunninghams’ art is about family. Daughter Audrey, mother of three, has apparently inherited Mom’s love of art. She is already instilling art into the lives of her sons who love spending weekends at Thistlewood , the old farmhouse where the Cunninghams now reside. It was named for their Scotch-Irish heritage and also serves as home to The Art of Thistlewood, a family venture founded in 2008. It seems the grandsons may carry this tradition to the third generation as they enjoy helping Mom in her role with creative design and marketing.

“I feel art appreciation is in everyone, but some have misconceptions about what art is or is not”, Cunningham said. “As with musical styles where peoples tastes vary, the same is true for art. The key is just enjoying art in whatever form meaningful to you”. She says she especially loves encouraging children to explore art and teach them to find the talents God has blessed them with.

To the Cunninghams, The Art of Thistlewood is not business venture but a family mission. It is a means of connecting with people through the medium of art. It is a venue for sharing intimate family time and teaching their grandsons that as a value. And art is a way of preserving a special memory on a wall or a coffee table that can be relived for a moment in just a passing glance. Art is not a way of life but a part of life recording memories for years to come.