Local artist spreads Christmas cheer with festive window paintings
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IDAHO FALLS — When Cheryl Cline puts on her overalls and grabs her painting supplies, it’s anybody’s guess what the end result will be.
Cline paints the windows of many east Idaho businesses, especially this time of year. As an artist she says she has the best gig in town, because business owners give her creative license to paint whatever comes to her.
“I stare at the window and start painting,” Cline said. “Some business owners will say they saw my painting on another window and they want something similar, or they want a Santa, but the rest is up to me.”
Cline, the owner of Overall Artistry, regularly paints Motel West, The Sandwich Tree, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Wackerli’s, Lincoln Court, Plum Loco, Scotty’s, Ferrell’s Clothing, and a number of other businesses and homes from Rexburg to Blackfoot.
She paints other things too, but business windows are highly visible and have become a tradition for the holidays. As a young girl, painting windows of homes at Christmas was a tradition passed onto her from her mother and grandmother.
“I remember watching my mom paint windows,” she said. Cline took a few art classes in high school, but says her talent comes from within.
On one occasion, her husband had a business that needed its windows painted and so Cline got to work. Painting a scene on the window came naturally and it was obvious that she had a real talent for it.
After that word of mouth spread quickly and in 1997 Cline started painting the windows of other businesses around town. For many clients, they want her to return to paint their windows in the spring, summer, fall, and of course, at Christmas.
Her window paintings are often festive and fun, but other times businesses want her to help them advertise promotions or sales. Either way, while painting is how she earns her income, it’s also a way of life for her.
“It’s my therapy,” she said.
This time of year the weather can be a hindrance for outdoor work; once it gets below 15 degrees, Cline’s paints start to freeze and her hands feel the effects of the frigid east Idaho winter weather. But she wouldn’t trade her job for the world.
“It brings businesses to life,” she said. “It spreads joy.”
Check out her Facebook page at Overall Artistry.
