While it's human nature to seek simple communication, stories are a compelling means of guidance towards a positive existence. As a child, Cecilia Rossey was immersed in a storytelling culture. For her, stories are heritage and a gift to those who follow. They embrace the hopeful persuasion that followers will be attracted to a cause, especially a tale that highlights the human struggle. One thing is certain, stories permit the imagination to soar. Indeed, a story is a gift.

"Cis Rossey's exuberance abounds with her process, sometimes reaching for the heavens with allegoric and rhythmic gestures whether they be on a hunk of birch plywood, scarred softwood or a sliver of battleship linoleum. Her linear strokes meander playfully with a sense of the ‘dance’ while, at the same time, they show the discipline of years of work and research." So states Dan Welden, master printmaker and Rossey's longtime friend. To fully actualize her creative life, Cecilia Rossey’s greatest challenge was to identify and embrace her native talents. For her, classical training in art would come third in a trifecta of disciplines, including singing and dance. Her voice teacher in Italy gave her the pivotal metaphor for her creative life, cautioning, “Cecilia, you must use the gift God gave you. You cannot sing Opera if your voice is suited for ‘musica da camera.’ You must be yourself and accept the gift given you.” As a modern choreographer, she witnessed the imaginal characteristics of design fueled by both the dancers and the dance. Indeed, her early tenure in singing and dance permitted her reliance on instinct and honed myriad techniques, however, the stories of her life became the true fodder for her prints, giving birth to her most enduring creative practice — executing complex ideas through a medium that best conveys a concept; printmaking. To wit, Rossey states, “I accept the many gifts that are given to me as a printmaker: forms, colors, and shapes. I play with them, change and arrange them and delight at the conversation between paper, plate and ink. As a choreographer, whether designing for the stage or staging a design, the elements of the creative process utilize a similar aesthetic foundation. I’m inspired by moving dancers on stage until line and emotions come alive through design. As an artist, I move line, forms, stencils and layers of delicate color. I employ multiple techniques, not only as a visual delight enticing the senses, but to execute a version of reality. The choice of pen, paper, and paint is important to the telling of the story since they are the descriptive vehicle. Contemplating moral or contemporary issues, I engage all possibilities, including weaving. The diversity of technique - solarplate etchings, monoprints, linocuts, woodcuts, collage and encaustic painting - gives me the tools needed to convey and explore this basic human need: communication.”