Cheryl Harley-Volz – Western Artist

Cheryl has western jeans in her genes. Cheryl was reared a “city kid” in Missouri, but had the delight of visiting her uncles’ Colorado ranches every summer. The days were spent riding horses all over Cripple Creek and Victor, working cows, brook trout fishing, trapping chipmunks, and exploring old gold mines. It was exquisite.

Cheryl loves the Western attitude and revels in competition, believing in the intense work inherent to both. The heart she has for the human soul and its connection to the spirit of animals comes to life in her work, giving a glimpse into her reality.
While still in high school, Cheryl studied drawing at the Kansas City Art Institute. She has a BFA in drawing and painting from Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Her father said she majored in art and minored in horses. I think he had it backwards. She later studied art at Western States College, Gunnison, Colorado and earned her teaching certification for art K-12 from Colorado State University, Pueblo.

Cheryl has built a base of collectors across the United States and abroad and has been juried into Women Artists of the West as a signature member. She has a website to actively promote her award winning work at www.charleyart.net. Rodeo News, Horses in Art, and the Grand Junction Sentinel have all run feature articles on Cheryl. Her work graces the pages of the Grand National Livestock Show and Rodeo Event Guide as rodeo event illustrations for both 2013 and 2014.