“Her” story of art – by Jeanette Locher (also know as Locher-The Artist)
My history as an artist began as soon as I could hold a crayon. I always was attracted to colors in nature and nature itself and tried to imitate Her in my drawings.
Growing up in the middle class white suburbs of Detroit afforded me a better education and appreciation for the arts, as the arts were always in the schools.
We had “art on a cart” at elementary level and I was always excited to see that cart rolling into my classroom for the hour a week, as this meant to me fun, instead of doing the regular math, writing and reading routine!
Later on in junior high school, we had what was termed electives, we could choose between art, drafting, wood or metal or auto shop. I chose wood shop, drafting and art. Back then it was really odd to have females in either wood shop or drafting classes and I excelled at this as my father had taught me how to use tools way before most of the guys were taught by their dads.
High school is when I really soared in art. I had a fantastic teacher, his name was Mr. Enger and he let us students explore all media in this art class. I loved it so much I used to stay after school and hang out with him in the art room.
After graduation, I went on to Macomb Community College to pursue a career in ART!
I took a drawing class and water color painting class before becoming discouraged by my parents. My mothers words of “artists are a dime a dozen” and “you will never make a living as an artist” rang in my ears, and ended up quitting school and not returning until 1982, and then returning to get a degree in a more “practical field” of drafting.
I graduated in 1985, worked in the field as a drafter/designer for 10 yrs, and obtained another associates degree in 1994 along the way.
I happened to teach in adult education for one yr 1996-97 and liked the teaching very much. I was told by my students that I was a very good teacher and should pursue it full time. With that in mind I enrolled at Wayne State University and started to obtain my degree in Technology. After doing some thinking, I decided to change my major to art education, figuring, at least I can do what I really love to do, which was art. I graduated in December 2003 with my Bachelor of the arts degree, art education.
I worked a bit part time as a teacher, yet still wasn’t happy doing that. I really wanted to do my art for a living, coming full circle back to where I was in 1976! I started to create again, getting my art into shows, also out to the general public.
I have had 3 art shows so far since 2003, I have done 3 works for charity, also 1 community mural at a elementary school here in Detroit. I have sold around 14 works so far, what a RUSH that is! I also have the honor of having my artwork published in the upcoming book “The BEST of Michigan artists”.

I feel that all artists are important to the art world as each brings a different prospective to what art is and I am no different. Art is needed, art should be in all schools, all communities.
How gray and dull would the world be without artists creating wondrous works of art? I know I do not want to live in such a awful place.

Locher-The Artist www.lochertheartist1.bravehost.com