Florida Artists Group

Cheryl's Bio:

Cheryl is the daughter of John and Jean Rousselle. Born in New York and raised in Largo, Florida. Cheryl currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, and attends Central Christian Church in Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Cheryl’s passion for art led her to photography. Anywhere she went, you would see her with a camera in hand. In 2002 Cheryl married certified professional photographer, Jim Swallow. Together Cheryl and Jim facilitate a non-profit photography group called The Photographic Art Society of Florida. It is their hope to encourage other photographers to go out and capture their passion for life through photography. www.PhotographicArtSociety.org

In 1999 Cheryl met world renown vitreous enamel artist Joseph Spencer. Joseph is considered a pioneer in multi torch fired enameling. Joe took Cheryl under his wing so to speak in 1999. Joseph spent a good deal of time teaching, sharing and encouraging Cheryl with her studies of using vitreous enamels. Most of her torch fire experiences with vitreous enamels have been learned over a 19 year period with Joseph Spencer, her mentor and friend. She is adding to this experience by taking additional classes in kiln firing techniques and experimenting alone in her studio. If you would like to learn more about Joseph Spencer, here is a special website showing his 51 years of contributions to this wonderful art form. http://www.joespencerart.com/H/

Joe passed into heaven in 2016. Cheryl is currently regrouping her thoughts and some of her art goals. She sees herself experimenting with new ideas using the vitreous enamels. She hopes someday to encourage other artist using vitreous enamels, but for now is looking forward to sharing new ideas that Lord has given her in the last several months.

Cheryl is looking forward to sharing her new creations in vitreous enamels during the first annual Art & Soul Event to happen in November 2018. Her new art is being created using both kiln fired and torch fired vitreous enamel techniques. She looks forward to creating art pieces that inspire others while bringing joy to herself though the creation process. In the future, she looks forward to the possibility of combining photography and vitreous enamels together.   

Artist Statement:

The Lord’s creations are my inspiration. Everyday objects appear to me extraordinary as they lend themselves to fuel my creative spirit within. My creative desire can never truly be controlled or satisfied no matter how much art I create. Everywhere I look, from the fresh foliage leaf, to a passing flower, their images are forever stored in my mind. Constant reminders gently revisit my soul, which then flow from my heart, through my hands and onto the creative canvas.\

Selected Awards:

Cecily Hangen Outstanding Service Award 2015
Vanna White Lion Brand Yarn Finalist in 2012
Vanna White Lion Brand Yarn Honorable Mention 2011
Vanna White Lion Brand Yarn 2nd place winner 2010
Pinellas County Artist Grant 2007, $1000.00 Visual Arts
Digital Artist of the year 2001 & 2002 – Florida Professional Photographers Association
Photographer of the year 1999 – Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association

Publications:

The Enamelist Society 2017
IPod Application Puzzle Falls 2011
America 24/7 Florida Edition November 2004
America 24/7 November 2003
Ulead PhotoImpact User Stories September 2003
Florida Area Aging Agency Yearly Convention 2003
Kim Hill album cover & CD Insert for Surrounded by Mercy
Cover for Citrus Industry Magazine July 2003
Professional Photographers of American Loan Collection 1997 & 1998
The Digital Photographer Magazine June 2000
Photographers Edge Magazine May 1999

Group Exhibits:

The Summit Executive Building, Clearwater, FL 2009 – 2019
Ringling College of Art and Design, Sarasota FL 2019
Naples Art Association Art Gallery, Naples, FL 2019
Arts for Act, Fort Myers, FL 2019
620 Gallery Saint Petersburg, FL 2019
Art Life St. Pete, Saint Petersburg, FL 2018
The Webber Gallery, Ocala, FL 2018
Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, FL 2017
Davidson Fine Art Gallery, Saint Petersburg, FL 2017
Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, Bonita Springs, FL 2016
Las Damas de Arte University of Tampa, Tampa, FL 2016

The Beach Art Center, Indian Rocks Beach, FL 2011, 2012
Ringling College of Art & Design, Selby Gallery 2012
The Florida Craftsmen Gallery, Saint Petersburg, FL 2007 – 2012
Dunedin Fine Art Center 2008 – 2012
Leepa – Rattner Museum of Art 2008 – 2014 & 2015
Indian Rocks Beach Art Center 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012
Maitland Art & History Museum 2011
Cornell Museum, Delray Beach 2011
Big Arts, Sanibel Island 2010
Naples Museum of Art 2009
Amory Art Center, West Palm Beach 2009
Riverside Fine Arts 2009
Coral Springs Museum of Art 2009
Octagon Art Gallery 2008
Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater, Florida 2007 – 2008 and 2009
Daytona Beach Museum of Arts & Sciences, May- September 2007
Studio 620 2007
Don Vista Cultural Art Centre’ St. Pete Beach, FL 2006 – 2012
Ridge Art Association, Winter Haven, FL 2006
The Beck Gallery, FL 2006
Disney Worlds NEC Building, Orlando, FL 2006
Clearwater City Project, Clearwater FL 2005
The Florida International Museum, Saint Petersburg FL 2003
The Arts Center, Saint Petersburg, FL 1999 – 2004 and 2006
Professional Photographers of America 1999 -2003
Florida Professional Photographers 1999-2010
Oldsmar Art Center March 2000 and 2001, 2004
Suntan Art Gallery 1999, 2007, 2009, 2010 – 2014
Tampa City Center 2002-2006
The Packinghouse Gallery, Largo, FL 2002 – 2005
Selby Botanical Gardens 2001
Gulfport Library 2001
Boyd Hill Nature Park 1999, 2001
Lieberman Gallery, Flower Power, 1999 Juried Exhibition
Southeastern Professional Photographers, Atlanta 1999

Solo Exhibits:

Octagon Gallery, Clearwater, FL 2012
St. Petersburg Main Library 2009
Washington Mutual Bank 2007
Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center 2005 – 2006
Don Vista Cultural Arts Centre 2006
Sunken Gardens 2006
Packinghouse Gallery and Studio, Largo, FL 2005
Kathryn Hickman Theater 2004 – 2005
St. Petersburg Main Post Office 1999 – 2002
Borders Bookstore Tampa, FL 2001
Monet Cafe & Gallery 1999
Borough Museum and Gallery, England 1999
Oldsmar City Gallery 1998

Corporate Collections:

Florida Area Agency for Aging, Tampa, FL
D & D Missionary Homes, Pinellas Park, FL
Guitar Center, Clearwater, FL
Ulead Corporation, CA

Community Involvement:

Mayors Showcase City of Saint Petersburg 2017-2019
Made with Love 2016-2019
Photographic Art Society of Florida 2006-2019
President of the Florida Artists Group 2012-2015
Calvary Chapel Heart Spun, St. Petersburg 2009-2016
Calvary Chapel Art & Crafts Festival 2011
Crime Watch Block Captain 2008 – 2012
Nursing Home/Hospital Ministry 2006 – 2011
Prison Fellowship Ministry 1999 – 2004
President Pinellas Park Art Center 1996 – 1997

Art Galleries & Museums:

Davidson Fine Art Gallery 2016-2019
Suntan Art Center (life member) 1997 – 2019
The Leepa Rattner Museum 2010 – 2016
The Florida Craftsman 2007 – 2019
Dunedin Fine Art Center 2008 – 2018
The Art Center Sarasota 2006 – 2009
Clay & Paper Gallery 2009 – 2011
The Nature of Art Gallery 2006 – 2010
The Art Center, St. Pete 1998 – 2006

Art Affiliations:

Enamelist Society 2017-2019
Tampa Bay Christian Songwriters Group 2017-2019
Pottery Guild of Tampa Bay 2010 – 2016
Photographic Art Society of Florida 2005 – 2019
The Florida Artists Group 2006 – 2019
President Florida Artists Group 2012 – 2015
Florida Gourd Society 2006 – 2016
Manasota Gourd Patch 2007 – 2016
Florida Professional Photographers 1997 – 2011
P. A. V. A. 2009 – 2010
Surface Design Guild of Tampa Bay 2006 – 2009
Professional Photographers of America 1997 – 2009
Hand Weavers Guild of America 2007 – 2008
Tampa Bay Fiber Art Group 2007 – 2008
T.E.S.A. 2006-2009
Gulf Coast Artist Alliance 2006 -2007
Founder/President St. Pete Polymer 2005 -2006
Pinellas Weavers Guild 2005 – 2008
Pinellas Park Art Society 1995-2000
President of Pinellas Park Art Society 1997-1998
Founder/President Your Best Shot Photography 1996 – 2004