Andiamo

There are few things more disheartening than to wake up late in life and regret not having ever pursued a dream. “That almost happened to me, but fortunately my heart overruled my head,” exclaims 39 year old Cherie Monteferrante. “I floundered for years in the job market with a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts and a Masters degree in Technology. It wasn’t until I realized that I was treating my passion for painting like a hobby instead of a livelihood.”

Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Cherie Monteferrante has always had a flair for creativity. She recalls, “the first affirmation of my talent came when I won a state art competition in 5^th grade. From that moment on I was involved in taking art or making art, right up to the present.”

Monteferrante recalls two artists, in particular, that influenced her in a profound way. “While I was in school I idolized Michelangelo. The beauty and realism of his sculptures and paintings impressed me so much that I actually fantasized about being a descendent of his bloodline! Later on in my life, however, I gravitated more towards Monet because of his work with colors and minimized shapes. I found Monet’s work to be extremely romantic.”

Well, while we certainly don’t have the credentials to be qualified art critics, we can tell you that Monteferrante has more than a passion for painting. This talented woman has a gift for taking scenery to canvas with the accuracy of a Polaroid photo. While acrylics may be her medium of choice, her use of colors and her varied brush strokes give each canvas a uniqueness. It’s not surprising that the demand for her work has outpaced her ability to keep up with it.

Most people that meet Cherie aren’t at all surprised that she’s an artist. Like most artists, she’s eccentric in her dress and the way she leads her life. When this young beauty isn’t making appearances at a variety of functions within the community, or taking her daughter to martial arts classes, she can be found searching for outlandish fashions in all the area costume shoppes and second-hand clothiers.

“Life is a canvas, and how you lead your life says a lot about the artist in you.”

Speaking of Monteferrante, the artist, most days she can be found in her studio located in the quiet municipality of Glendale, a small burb carved into the southeast geography of Denver.

“This is where I bring the world. I take slices of life’s canvas and bring them to acrylic life. Vision is brought out by the artist in me. Passion is where I draw on the Italian in me. When I sign my work, I do it believing that someday my name will have just as much value as the painting itself.”

Some of Cher’s work can be found on her website—www.monteferrante.net. If you are interested in seeing her work firsthand, we would strongly recommend those times that offer the opportunity for a face-to-face meeting with the artist. She is an interesting, intelligent, and articulate woman who can outpace most academicians in a wide range of topics. Meeting her is as enjoyable an experience as viewing her work.

For more information, call (303)717-6946 or write: Cherie Monteferrante, 4340 East Kentucky Avenue #235, Glendale, CO 80246