My name is Cheryl Moore. I am a retired Phillips county art teacher, living in Elaine, Arkansas, who is now actively developing my own body of artwork. I live in east central Arkansas between two rivers, the Mississippi and the White. I spend a lot of my time riding the levees of both rivers, photographing wildlife and landscapes. This easy going life style has led me to meditative journaling and sketching while sitting on my front porch. Recording my relaxed country life has stimulated the growth in other areas such as landscape, portrait, still life, and abstract painting. Drawing and painting have played a major part in the direction of my life. The two things always came easy which led me to take art in high school and college. When I was enrolled as an art major at Arkansas State University, an art professor once told me that I could paint anything I wanted. He also said that I just didn’t have the drive. Those weren’t his exact words, but that was the jest of it. Funny thing, I only heard that I could paint anything I desired. And so, I went my merry way. Of course, I realized years later that I heard wrong. I think the professor meant that an artist needs to be skilled, work with determination, and focused on a message. After graduating from college, I became a high school art teacher. I encouraged my students to do their best but never attempted to express my own art. Teaching was my art. In 1998, I had each of my students design a youth, King Biscuit Blues Festival poster. Because there was an adult entry level, I decided to join them and submit my own design. Much to my surprise, I won the contest. The winning was awesome but the experience of bringing something new into the world, and people liking it, left me wanting more. That was the turning point in my creative life. And, so began my own artistic journey. From that point on I wanted to see what I was capable of doing. It was time to find out if I had the skills and tools to find my art voice. This art journey has been both exciting and sometimes disappointing, but never one which I regret. Each experience of creative exploring moves me forward and takes me in directions I never dreamed possible. Each day I find that I have grown spiritually as well as artistically through photography, writing, drawing and painting. My wildlife photography helps me see farther than just with my eyes. It enables my heart to see and understand nature like I have never seen it before. My writing and sketching helps me hear and see my inner voice and visions clearer. My painting is my way of surrendering to the mystery of the universe. My victories and failures have always taught me something about my authentic self. The end product of all these imaginative outlets communicates how I an Arkansas woman, perceive my Delta roots and country environment. The quiet beauty of the Mississippi Delta can’t help but be a valuable part of my daily inward growth, which has brought into existence the artist that I am today. Through my art and actions, I hope that I can encourage others to find their creative path, wherever they are planted on this earth.