Cinda Rae Oliverio is a Founding Member of ZNE.  She is well known for her colorful, whimsical, magazine style collages, as well as her fun folk art fabric collage and art dolls.  Cinda is a frequent contributor to many philanthropic activities and has helped to support nearly all of ZNE's Art with a Heart Programs including the Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser, and most of our We Care Alerts.  Perhaps lesser known is the fact that Cinda is fairly shy.  She provided this interview as a special favor to ZNE, and we couldn't be more delighted.  We hope you enjoy this opportunity to get to know Cinda a little better!

Tell us a little about yourself, where do you live, what are your hobbies, do you have pets, etc.:	I live in Clarksburg, West Virginia. I grew up on a farm with hundreds of animals! As I think back, it could have been a 100! ha! We had lots of hound dogs and other kinds we referred to as the 57 Variety , a few cats, at least 25 chickens, 30 head of beautiful red hereford cattle, a few pigs, a few ducks, a few turkeys, a few sheep and my favorites, many crows!!!on our hill in back of our house! Chipmunks, squirrels, possum and sometimes a fox would appear! I loved coloring when I was little and played with paper dolls! I even made buckeye necklaces! Now, what are my hobbies? Art mostly.
How long have you been crafting and creating art?:	I have been married almost 34 years and through the years I made a quilt or two but didn't make anything artful until I discoverd Self Representing Artists back in 2002 and bought my first art piece off of a gal, Emmy Tofa!
Did you attend art school, or are you a self taught artison?:	I am self taught and still don't think of myself as an artist although in high school I designed some outrageous dresses for Home Ec!
You have a passion for magazine collage. Talk about how that developed.:	I just love taking a blank piece of paper and creating something on it, usually a woman with maybe a message.
How often do you create art? How important is the artistic process to you?	It depends. Right now, all I want to do is work on altered books! I've always wanted to write a book! A book of poetry or a book to make you feel relaxed and forget about all the stress you may be feeling, a book you can just lay down and relax with. The artistic process is very important to me because it is me, it's a part of me expressing myself. It relaxes me.
Do you have a favorite piece that you have created?:	Right now, I think of 4, maybe 5! One is in an altered book I sold on eBay to a fellow Zner! Another one is a piece I sold also.
What do you do when need some creative inspiration?:	I LOVE music and I like to take walks or hikes to unwind I just watched Zorba The Greek! What a movie! It makes me want to go out and learn how to do a Greek Dance! OOOOMMMMPPPAAAA! LOL
Tell us a little about your creative technique. When you see images you want to use, what apeals to you about them?:	I always look for interesting eyes and big beautiful lips!
Can you share with us any of your resources? Do you have a favorite glue, favorite pair of scissors, favorite magazines, etc. for your collage?:	Some of the best images I have used are from a Bride magazine in the past, now I use whatever, I get Jane and Elle and my daughter gets Glamour so I have some great choices!
Do you have a favorite quote?:	Not really! Let me think. How about "I HOPE YOU DANCE!"
You are a Founding member of ZNE - do you have any thoughts on the value of being part of a group of supportive artists - such as this one?:	I have met many beautiful people in Zne!
Please share any other thoughts or information, here::	I think Chel is the sweetest and I am GLAD she is in my life!

 

Ok, I (Chel) have to say one more thing about Cinda's interview.  See up there where she says:  "I... don't think of myself as an artist..."  - well, I wanted to strike that part.  But they are not my words to strike.  So I left them in.

Personally, I not only believe, I KNOW that Cinda is an artist.  Creativity absolutely pours off her.  Her art is whimsical and fun and exhibits an extraordinary eye for composition ~ and a fearlessness that I find very inspiring.  For this reason, my own art studio is filled to the brim with Cinda originals, and they are among my most prized art possessions!

I also left that part of Cinda's interview intact, because I have heard those same words from so many incredible artists.  A modesty that denies them an identity that they have earned, and should wear with pride.  The act of artistic creation requires the ability to follow your heart and abandon instint - both of which require courage.  

I applaud Cinda's courage.  And am so very grateful, that she is, indeed, an artist.

 Please join me in thanking Cinda Rae Oliverio for providing us with this fun interview!