Meet Joan Cheri

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joan Cheri.

Joan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is Joan Cheri and I am a fine artist, oil painter and pop culture curator living and loving in Los Angeles California. Currently, I have 30 3D oil paintings in my collection of portraits. The collection consists of a variety of influential legends in our culture, such as Oprah, Kobe Bryant, and Kanye West. 

“I get it from my mama.” 

As a child, I watched my mother paint from home, which instantly sparked a love for art. Naturally, I was drawn to painting, but my interest was cultivated during my teenage years and further developed when I studied fine arts in college. I also had the desire to fulfill my love for fashion and decided to advance my education in New York City at Parsons New School for Design. I am a sensual soul by nature and deeply inspired by femininity, pop culture, glitter and glam. 

While pursuing my fashion marketing/design degree in NY, I would often escape to California, my happy place! Seeing all the beauty God created in all in one place gave me a great sense of joy, which would later lead to my decision to leave NY with my dream, one suitcase and a one-way ticket to Cali in April 2015. 

Six months later, my life took a traumatic turn. My older brother, William Braxton Peake II (Billy) passed away on our Father’s Birthday from kidney failure. He was just 30 years old. 

Shortly after Billy’s passing, tragedy struck again. While crossing a street in West Hollywood, I was hit by a car which sent me flying in the air. After the accident, the grieving and healing process began. I prayed and meditated to become realigned with my purpose. Soon after, I was reacquainted with art. I began working toward a career that would set my soul on fire. 

As my wounds slowly healed, something purposeful and full of beauty took its place. While I was bedridden, I began experimenting with oil paints and 

discovered a love for portraits. After two years of rehabilitation, doctors declared me permanently disabled. But God had a different declaration. I learned I have a rare but extraordinary condition in which someone who has experienced trauma and displays a spectacular “island of genius” amidst their disability, referred to as Savant syndrome. 

Things shifted for me in December 2017, in my gut I knew it was time to bet on myself. So I took a leap of faith and quit my traditional 9-5 job. And I’ve been pursuing my dreams ever since. 

As time moved on, my work began to reflect both fashion and art. I divulged deeper into this new discovery merging two mediums to create a one-of-a kind 3D Portrait Paintings; that is an extremely rare find. 

This discovery led to the launch of my first wearable art collection, “Over and Out.” This collection was created in honor of Billy. I decided to pay tribute to him because he was my biggest supporter. The name was inspired by our childhood chats on our walkie-talkies. Each night, we’d sign off “Over and Out.” Those nightly talks and his memory will forever live in my heart. 

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
To be honest, my creative journey has been a Marathon. I’ve had some great successes in my first three years of business, but it has come with a great deal of obstacles. Despite all of my hardships as a freelance artist, I challenged myself to get out of the comfort of my studio to paint live outside. I traveled to six cities, surviving off just tips along the way. I started my live painting tour to pay tribute and honor legends from each city. Then it turned into something bigger, and was now the one inspiring young artists and entrepreneurs to push the envelope to paint a life they love! On my tour, I painted legends that have inspired me along my journey, like Nipsey Hussle, Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Tyler Perry, and Beyonce. 

I painted live in ten locations throughout Los Angeles county, New York (Times Square), Philadelphia (Rittenhouse Square), Atlanta (Centennial Olympic Park, Beltline), and Houston (Texas Southern University Homecoming). In between the tour, I would live paint and hustle on Hollywood Blvd, promoting my artwork and sharing my story with passersby. There were days I had more bills than money or couldn’t afford to eat but I took a risk for my dreams and was willing to sacrifice food to create and bring my visions to life. The life of an entrepreneur can be so uncertain and extremely difficult at times, but I’m determined to share my gift with the world and defeat the stereotypes of being a starving artist to encourage others to believe in their dreams! 

In September 2019, my hard work, dedication and hustle led me to my first live painting opportunity with the Seattle Seahawks, for the Cliff Avril Family Foundation, at the 6th Annual Dining to Make a Difference. I was commissioned to paint Russell Wilson, quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks. By the end of the event, the painting was signed by Russell, purchased by Dr. Lina Kim at a silent auction and donated to the Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic and the Marathon Continues! 

We’d love to hear more about your art.
I specialize in oil painting but experiment with color, texture and different mediums. I pride myself on developing artwork that captivates my audience and stimulates their connection to the beauty in the world. My work the past three years has captured moments in our history, which have a profound impact on pop culture today. My paintings explore the varying relationships between pop culture, fashion and fine art. I don’t limit myself to any specific medium, design or concept and my inspiration is constantly evolving. The driving force behind my portraits is to transform pain and sorrow into beauty by sharing the transformative power of creativity. I utilize 3D elements in my portrait paintings to add another dimension to my work, and to allow my audience to discover more and more with each look. It has been an honor to engage with followers and generate social interaction and conversation amongst others. 

Who else deserves credit – have you had mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients or teammates that have played a big role in your success or the success of the business? If so –who are they and what role did they plan / how did they help.
I’ve been blessed to have an amazing, supportive team of family and friends. I would also have to credit my success to some of my IG followers @luvnlife4sho @angelalani @janeyagriffin @ghs1976, just to name a few, these women have continued to empower me and support my business from the beginning. With their generous donations and orders, I’ve been able to survive in LA and get art supplies & materials to create more 3D oil paintings. I’m eternally grateful for their continued love & support throughout my creative journey. 

I’m also thankful for the encouraging words and messages I receive on a daily basis from my YouTube and IG followers, they continue to motivate and inspire me by sending me photos to paint and sharing their stories of grief with me. I would especially like to thank my celebrity clientele for believing in me, commissioning me and/or reposting my artwork on their IG pages. I owe a special thank you to @kimkardashian @khloekardashian @cardib @fabulous @dabrat @officialalbsure for reposting my artwork and helping me expand my brand awareness on social media. 

Contact Info:

• Website: joancheri.com
• Instagram: @joancheri_art
• Other: Youtube Channel- Joan Cheri Art

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