Rogoway's

 Cleo Teissedre

     Early on I noticed that some families were musically inclined while others were into science or math.  May family was definitely into art.  My mother was a pastel artist and worked for Disney for a time.  My sister and I were always into one form of the visual arts or another.  I don't remember when I couldn't  draw and paint.

     I was born in Califormia, but we moved to Arizona in 1960.  I know that Arizona inspires, and influences my art and this is where I call home.

     In the beginning, my subjects were figures, landscapes, and still life.  I made my living in portraiture.

     There were two other people besides my mother that influenced my art, my high school art teacher, who was a very organized and talented artist in her own right.  I took her classes in figure drawing, drawing from life out of doors, still life and lettering.

     I took a workshop from Miles Batt and accomplished my first semi-abstract painting in watercolor.  When the class ended Miles said, don't ever stop painting.  Encouraged and excited I've never looked back and I've been doing abstract ever since.

     Abstract allows me freedom to experiment with materials and enjoy the spontaneous and explosive effects as I execute the work.