CHERYL PARRIS INTERVIEW by Trish Hoskin

Bright Moon Night

Do you have any tips that you could share with the readers on how to go about getting yourself out there, i.e., being published or exhibited, etc.?

My advice would be to network - join local art groups that perhaps exhibit; meet other artists in your area. You never know where your first opportunity will come.

One of my first exhibits was a medical center in a small town. One of my friends who lived there asked if I would be willing to exhibit there even though it was small. They needed someone for a holiday exhibit as the artist they had scheduled was moving and left them with no one to replace her. My work ended up being there from November through the new year and was a big success with the patients and staff. I wasn’t sure it was worthwhile at the time, but I did it any way. Much to my surprise, an art coordinator from a very large medical center happened to see my exhibit and called asking me to exhibit at their large hospital in a nearby city and I had a 40foot art wall all to myself. That exhibit ended up making the local newspaper with a full-page article on my work, which led to other exhibits. Never turn down an opportunity. Even a small opportunity can be worthwhile.

Follow your dreams and they will come true.

Trish Hoskin