Quintessential Austin — weird and fun

Peter Pan Mini Golf a small family-run business opened in 1948 on Barton Springs Road and over the past 50 years has become a South Austin landmark.

In 2011 a large renovation project started and owner Mike Dismukes gave Cheryl Latimer a call a couple months after she left a handwritten note with Peter Pan's front desk staff, offering to bring new life to the old putt putt course. 

Over the past five years Cheryl has made over seven of the sculptures and built sixteen new ones including the Ant Band, the Texas Totem, Tinker Bell, the Dreadlock-wearing Pirate, the Texas State Capitol and many more.

"I get to create cartoons all day," Cheryl Latimer

My name is Cheryl Latimer and I am a professional illustrator, artist, graphic designer, and sculptor with over 30 years of experience. I have illustrated, written, and designed three children’s books. I work in traditional mediums using watercolor, color pencils, ink, and of course the Adobe Suite.

In 1995 Cheryl had been working as a Graphic Designer for eight years and it had been that long since she had put pen to paper or paint to canvas. Her creative self had been suffocated by tight deadlines, long hours and Cheryl had lost her passion for art and wanted it back. On New Years Day she made a resolution to take an art class, she decided on stone carving taught by Joseph and Jeep Kincannon at the Elisabet Ney Sculpture Conservatory. To Cheryl's astonishment and delight she had found her life calling - SCULPTURE!

Quirky the Turkey was inspired by the true story of Texas-based, pop-art sculptor, author, and illustrator Cheryl Latimer. This labor of love is about a sad-looking and feather bare wild turkey who walked by Cheryl's home in the country and decided to move in. Quirky the Turkey is full of colorful illustrations, rhyming prose, and characters that leap off the pages. This book is perfect for children ages 0-7, the adults will enjoy Quirky as much as their children and grandchildren.

https://www.amazon.com/Quirky-Turkey-Cheryl-Latimer/dp/0578603829

The Legend of Ralph the Merpig is a magical picture book about an ordinary pig with an extraordinary wish. Ralph the pig wants to swim like a fish, so a kind mermaid grants his heart’s desire. On a beautiful summer day, Ralph finds friendship and fun playing in crystal-clear spring water. This book is inspired by the author and artist’s own sculpture “Ode To Ralph” that stands outside the Tourist Information Center in San Marcos, Texas. Ralph was a real swimming pig that entertained folks at the Aquarena Springs park and roadside attraction in the 1970s. The Legend of Ralph the Merpig is full of colorful illustrations, rhyming prose, and characters that leap off the pages. This book is perfect for children ages 0-7. Adults will enjoy Ralph as much as their children and grandchildren.

https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Ralph-Merpig-Cheryl-Latimer/dp/B08P3SBTR5

I Believe in Mini Golf & Fairies Coloring & Activity Book
Full of characters and scenes from the world of Peter Pan Mini Golf in Austin Texas. This coloring & activity book is the creation of Pop Artist and Sculptor Cheryl Latimer who renovated Peter Pan and sculpted over 15 new characters. If you want a hip and fun way to engage the children in your life this is it. This activity book is packed with doodling prompts, puzzles, and coloring pages featuring characters like T-Rex, The Lost Boy Pan, an Ant Band, a Fairy, a Rabbit with his trusty skateboard, and many others.

https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Mini-Fairies-Coloring-Activity/dp/B08R97LNLJ

“Ode to Ralph”
Stands in front of the San Marcos Tourist Information Center
617 IH 35 North
San Marcos, TX 78666

 In 2014 Wayne Orchid the CEO of Freeit Data Solutions took his two daughters to play mini golf at Peter Pan, they loved the fun bright colors and lovable characters that Cheryl Latimer had designed, built and painted.

So Wayne in his exuberant fashion located Cheryl, she had recently moved to Bastrop Texas and proposed that she design and build a Christmas float for the Chuy's Parade. Never one to turn down a challenge Cheryl built her art studio, learned to sculpt the light weight polystyrene and the Freeit Christmas Carousel Float was born.

"This is such a fun project I get to revisit it every year and make it bigger, brighter and better" Cheryl Latimer

Want some personalized, whimsical, and brightly colored yard art?

Just drop Cheryl an email at cheryllatimerart@gmail.com, she would love to create something special just for you!

Cheryl’s current work is scaled down yet still holds all of her fanciful, fresh and funky charm. She takes inspiration from favorite childhood stories and links them to adult sensibilities, this combination enlivens Cheryl’s creativity and launches a world where everything that she sees and touches becomes part of her creative progression.

The world of wonder she creates in her new work personifies storybook characters using vintage items such as old clocks, eyeglasses, china and jewelry in tandem with brightly painted clay sculpture to create surprise and depth, delivering an edginess that all great stories need to get you hooked.

Cheryl’s sculptures are page turners – you are excited to see the next piece just to experience what the characters can tell you about themselves. Her work will bring you smiles, happiness, a touch of, “What in the world is going on here?” and will make you remember your childhood in a brand new light.

Keeping Austin Weird

Cheryl met Amy and Steve while working out at Lord's Boxing Gym, when building their first Amy's Ice Cream/Phil's Ice House location Steve approached her about carving some stone cows. The price was too high so he suggested making them in concrete. Cheryl said yes, purchased the book "creating with Concrete" and learned to make her signature funky cement cow sculptures.

Want to enjoy a sweet treat or one of the best burgers in Austin while hanging out on a cow, then head to 5620 Burnet Road or 2901 South Lamar Blvd.

A life long city dweller, Cheryl recently moved to the country and was lucky enough to get a piece of property with a beautiful flower garden.

So what does an artist do when she is surrounded by such a variety of color and texture?

She paints!

Bee & Hive Sculpture; Bee Cave Texas
Concept, design, and clay model for large bee and hive sculpture. Painted 1 of the 10 bees. Queen Bee 2020

Parade of Cows; Austin Texas
Painted cow Morning Glory 2011

The Ram Sculpture is on display at the Bee Cave Sculpture Park
13333 West State Highway, Bee Cave Texas

The Horse Sculpture is on display at The People’s Gallery in Austin City Hall, 301 West 2nd Street