Her joyful gift: Cherie Serrano moves her talent across the border, By FAYE WHITBECK, Staff Writer

In the notable “Wild Wings” original art catalog, local resident Cherie Taylor Serrano annotates one of her paintings in this way:
“Reverence best describes the feeling that washes over me as I look into the face of an impending storm on Rainy Lake. My personal challenge has been to capture and convey the sense of immanence that motivated me to paint this scene.”
Humility is a fitting word to describe Serrano’s demeanor, but her work is far from humble. Serrano paintings are now offered for sale at Cabela’s across the country; one of her originals is featured at $4,900. But her work includes a lower range as well, she said.
Her scapes and portraits are in prints for framing as well as on scrap booking papers, screen savers and casual wear. And on Monday, Serrano received her first contract for the Wild Wings production of a 2010 Serrano calendar, which will be distributed worldwide.
“This is very encouraging,” said the soft-spoken artist who considers it an honor to be consigned with the 40-year-old company that bills itself as representing America’s top nature, sporting, Americana and nostalgia artists, including Terry Redlin exclusively.
On Friday and Saturday, Serrano’s work will be exhibited in the Falls at an art show at the Arro of the North business on Highway 53. The work of Fort Frances artists Pam Brandrick, Cher Pruys and Colleen Taylor will also be featured.

Conceptions
Born in Fort Frances and raised on Canadian Rainy Lake, Serrano crossed the border about a year ago to make her home on the American side with husband Dave, and their two young boys, Edward and William.
In love with the outdoors, her first brush strokes were kindled in childhood with a passion nurtured by her mother, Colleen Taylor. Serrano had natural ability and responded to the beauty of the wilderness area in which she was born.
Settings have played an important role in Serrano’s talent. She spent her youngest years on a hobby farm, and then grew up with three siblings at Taylor’s Cove — her family’s Rainy Lake resort with the pristine backdrop of artists’ dreams. This scenery provided rich perspectives for the artisan whose work has been referred to as “just too diverse to fall into one of the main stream categories.”
“I have been very blessed to have been surrounded by both encouragement as well as beautiful Rainy Lake,” said Serrano, who paints in oil and acrylic. Her canvases render landscapes, florals, animals and nature, and human portraits.
Serrano’s appreciation of natural beauty is illustrated in her Rainy Lake waterscapes with titles like “Storm Break” and “Mirror Image.” These scapes, easily mistakable as photographs, depict what reviews call “her extraordinary realism and her spirituality.”
Her exuberance in depicting all creatures great and small, remains at heart a labor of love, she said.

Lifescape
But Serrano considers mothering her priority. While she is chatting, her young son William bashfully leans into her. Serrano explains that her mother developed her own artistic gift just a few years ago after her children were raised, and well after her daughter was an established artist.
“We like to paint together, don’t we?” Serrano says to her child.
Serrano is excited for the International Falls showing which she will share with her mother and accomplished artists from Fort Frances. Over 30 art works will be featured.
The average-sized Serrano work is an 18 inch by 20 inch canvas, which husband Dave stretches for her. She has done scenes as large as 4 feet by 6 feet; and miniatures in the three inch by five inch range.
It’s been written that Serrano’s gift will take her as far as she wants to go.
Serrano will share that gift with Borderland this weekend. And in the future, her growing success may share the beauty of Rainy Lake with the world at large.

Hours for Friday’s art show are 5 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Refreshments will be offered.
Wild Wings Original Collections are featured in thousands of retail locations in the United States and Canada and can be contacted at 800-445-4833. Catalog and company information can be found at www.wildwings.com.

If you go:
Art Show: Cherie Serrano and Friends
WHEN: Fri. 6 to 9 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
WHERE: At the Arro of the North business (log building) at 825 Third Ave. (Hwy. 53 in the Falls)
WHY: To experience the painted canvases of Serrano, Pam Brandrick, Cher Pruys and Colleen Taylor