Drawn to art

CHERISE WARD only has eyes for the arts. And she doesn’t intend to change that.
Unlike most students who are indecisive about what profession they will get into, Cherise, 22, has always known she would have a career in the arts.
Said the 2006 Barbados Scholar, for whom becoming an illustrator has been a lifelong dream: “I was always into art; it started from childhood. From five years old at primary school at St
Gabriel’s a friend and I would always write our own stories, and do drawings for them. So I know it was always for me.”
What would Cherise do if she wasn’t an illustrator?
“It would have to be something definitely dealing with art.”
And dashing the misconception that Barbados Scholars only pursue medicine or science, the former St Michael School student said: “I personally know two others who did art at BCC [Barbados Community College] and got the Barbados Scholarship, and one who got the Exhibition.
“We are few in number who get the Barbados Scholarship and go off to pursue art, but we are out there, working hard as well.”
Since moving on from the Barbados Community College, Cherise has graduated to bigger and better things. She now holds a Bachelor’s degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York
City, and there too she has left her mark.
“While at the university I did lots of courses in illustration and puppetry, and all have paid off tremendously,” she said.
Her work proved to be of such a high standard that she was also awarded the United State’s college’s Gilbert Stone Scholarship. Strive for excellenceHigh on Cherise’s list of commitments is excellence – which she strives for “at all times” – and while at college she determined she would remain on the Dean’s List.
Cherise was granted the opportunity to remain in New York City for an extra year for an internship with the artist Nina Kuo. She also had her work published in magazines and shown at galleries across the United States.
“I had illustration work published in a magazine called PlanSponsor in Connecticut, and I had work exhibited in galleries in California and New Jersey,” she said with pride.
Those are just a few of the things she can be proud of.
On returning to Barbados in June, she was just in time for Bridgetown Market; and immediately she started seeing the benefits. 
“Everything went pretty good at Bridgetown Market. I sold a lot of my work, which were fantasy drawings mixed with local things. People really liked them,” Cherise said.Writes children’s booksAlong with producing drawings and illustrations, she also writes children’s books, and she believes it is her affection for children that inspires this.
“I really love children, and one day I hope to become a published author and illustrator, so that everyone will see my work.”
But as she waits for her dream to come true, Cherise is planning on passing on to others some of what she has learnt.
“I am hoping to teach illustration at BCC, starting in January. I am also working on some of my own children’s book projects,” she says.