Both through my work and through the classes I teach I try to emphasize three things. (1) Visual art is about seeing. It is about learning to see the world more honestly and completely. (2) All work should begin with an idea, not an object. The artist must take the time to determine at the beginning of a work what it is he or she wishes to communicate, whether it is a complex abstract idea or simply a sense of coolness or warmth. (3) Color. Color is a wonderful tool. I use strong complimentary color schemes as the basis for my color work.
A Sense of Wonder, paintings by Cher Compton, solo exhibition at the Artists' Gallery of Columbia April 28 – May 30, 2008
2008 Maryland Pastel Society Exhibit at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts in Annapolis May-June
Howard County Art Guild Exhibition , Slayton House, Columbia, MD April 2008
Cher Compton and Students at WSSC Building Lobby Gallery, Laurel, MD October 2008
Personal Mythologies, Paintings by Cher Compton and her Students at the Bohrer Center Gaithersburg, MD 2007
University of Maryland University College 2007 Invitational Exhibition, May 2007
Best American Artists and Artisans: Pastel 2007 Kennedy Publications
Glenview Mansion Gallery, Rockville MD Maryland Pastel Society Members Only Juried Show 2007
2007 Sheep and Wool Festival Fine Art Competition, Second Place Pastel and Third Place Pastel
2007 Solo Exhibition WSSC Lobby Gallery Laurel MD April 2007
"Shades of Pastel" national juried exhibition,Duane Wakeham, juror at the Charles Sumner School Museum, 17th and M Streets NW, Washington DC September 2006 through January 2007.
Northwest Florida Pastel Society National Juried Exhibit, Maggie Price, PSA, Juror. at the Okloosa Walton College Art Center. Niceville FL through October 2006
"Dog Gala Exhibit" ArtBeat Gallery, Grand Rapids, Michigan. October 1-31,2006
Harbor Gallery, 3177 Harbor View Drive, Gig Harbor, Washington International Juried Exhibition sponsored by the Northwest Pastel Society and Juried by Deborah Paris. September 2006.
First Place, Friends of MFA awards, Maryland Federation of Art Annual juried exhibition 2006
Salon Artist, Maryland Public Television “Artworks” March 2006
Time Transfixed, solo Exhibition at Artists’ Gallery of Columbia MD (Baltimore Sun “Best Bet”), March 2006
Solo Exhibition, WSSC ,Laurel MD May 2006
First place, 2005 Annual HCAG judged show at the Hoffberger Gallery, Baltimore, MD
Slayton House Columbia MD “Woman Nature and Spirit” 2004 with Roxy Sinex and Jerry Weinstein
Chlidren’s Hospital National Medical Center, Washington DC 2004 (Maryland Pastel Society)
2003 Pastel Society of America, National Juried Competition, “Pastels Only”, New York, NY
2003 MFA Chesapeake Regional open Self portrait Competition, Juror Dr. Carolyn Carr Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC. Winner Honorable Mention
Maryland Federation of Art Circle Gallery, Small Works, 2003 John Ruppert, Chairman Dept. of Art, U. of MD Juror Winner, Juror’s Choice
Maryland Federation of Art Circle Gallery, National Works on Paper, 2003 Linda Simmons, Curator Emeritus, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Juror (53 entries selected from 1,062 submissions)
Quiet Waters Gallery, Annapolis, MD HCAG Show – Winner, Best in Show,2002
Shades of Pastel Regional Show – Strathmore Hall - Brochure Cover Art, 2002
University of Maryland, University College Center, College Park, MD Songs in Paint and Fiber, Four Women Artists (Sept 2003)
Art Strokes TV Program on Montgomery Cable channel 21 – Featured Artist – 30 minute interview and studio tour
Hoffberger Gallery “Spirit and Nature” Paintings by Cher Compton and Photography by Jerry Weinstein
60 to 100 students attend weekly painting and drawing classes in my studio
Drawing and watercolor at University of Maryland, University College, College Park
Pastels, Acrylics and various workshops for Howard County Recreation and Parks
Demonstrating artist and art appreciation engagements speaker at art events and for artist’s associations .
President, Artist’s Gallery of Columbia [Web]
President, Howard County Art Guild [Web]
Howard County Arts Council [Web]
Maryland Art League (juried) [Web]
Maryland Federation of Art [Web]
Maryland Pastel Society (juried) [Web]
Laurel Art Guild [Web]