10/16/2026
Today we are featuring Artist Member Cheryl Eng. See more of Cheryl's work and explore our other artists in our Artist Registry!
https://www.alleganyartscouncil.org/artist-registry/
Ms. Eng's Artist Statement: "My journey to digital Photo Artistry started with a little 110 camera given to me when I was 7 years old. Film eventually led to digital, and that meant using Photoshop. I have always enjoyed working in Photoshop. I've taken many classes over the years, and still only use a fraction of its capability. I found that digital scrapbooking wasn't enough and moved onto the more free-form style of Art Journaling. Something was still missing. Then I found the Photoshop Grunge course, and everything fell into place. During the lockdown, I learned to use the DAZ 3d Studio to create and pose characters for my work. Though there are still times my family gets roped into posing for me.
I find inspiration in music, the written word, and even things seen out of the corner of my eye. I use it to create a magical realism, the surreal dreamscape of my imagination. Sometimes the image pops into my head fully rendered, and I just have to figure out how to build it. Other times it’s a vague feeling or concept, and I have to let it sit and grow and collect until it comes together. I collect images so that I can take pieces and build the images I see in my mind. I think that goes back to my degree in architecture. I build the background, bring in the main character(s), and then fill in the rest of the story. There is magic everywhere; you just have to look for it, listen for it, and really see and hear it.
Something a college professor said stuck with me: "You can make a beautiful photograph of anything, even something you consider ugly.” The arts have the ability to heal, connect, and help us grow. My art is a journey to all those magical, beautiful places."
