As soon as I started this blog, I began thinking about this post — a post about Cheryl Hicks, the artist who created “Adam’s Choice” — the artwork that is featured on our first bag. I’ve even started typing this post several times, only to delete the words, and abandon the exercise altogether, completely convinced that I simply could not do justice: trying to put into words how thankful I am for Cheryl and for the way that she shares her work with the world.
- The Artwork featured on our first bag is a piece called, “Adam’s Choice”. Cheryl created this painting ~1999 in Athens, TX. You can see a low-res sample here.
- Mixed-media on canvas – paper, paint, and more paper, with some Modge Podge and only Cheryl knows what else.
- Cheryl is currently a full time maker, a full time artist, working at Gallery 211 in Athens, TX
- Cheryl is a MASTER teacher — she taught me photography and she changed my life in the creative writing class that I took with her in 1997. While her career has evolved — she has never stopped teaching people around her. We are so lucky to have you in this world Cheryl. Thank you for all of the amazing teaching you do!!!!!!!!
- Cheryl produces art relentlessly. She never stops shipping.
- You can read her blog here.
- For this project – Badass Backpack’s first bag, “Sincerity Inside” – Cheryl has contributed one of the most amazing ingredients ever. Not only did she agree to let us use her artwork on our first bag, and NOT ONLY did she hand sign the “First 100”, and NOT ONLY did she always welcome me for open-ended timeless conversations about this project – but in addition to all of that: Cheryl invited us to step into the driver’s seat — she invited us to create. She urged me not to stop creating. Even when we hit our slow-downs. She surrendered control in order for me to have a chance to learn. When I asked her if I could crop things a certain way: she smiled. When I asked if we could move things around: she smiled. When I asked if I could try something different, she got excited with me, and she smiled. She encouraged us to create. To keep creating. To add to her work. She urged us to set limits and boundaries to guide our work. And then she applauded us as we shattered the very rules that she had urged us to embrace. (<– this is a lesson that Cheryl teaches well)
Final thought to share about Cheryl Hicks: She taught me the word “loquacious” when I was a student in her creative-writing class at Athens High School (~1997). She loved it that I loved that word — and she is one of the few people in my life that told me (roughly paraphrased): [“yes, you are very loquacious – that’s you, that’s who you are, perhaps you should not stop talking.”] <– Notable that this is very different than what most people have to say about my talkative nature.
Thank you Cheryl — thank you so much for saying yes when I asked if could dance with your artwork during our first attempt to make a Badass Backpack. Cheryl: you are so amazing — and I am so grateful for you. Thank you!
Big smile.