About

In Monet’s garden, Giverny, France.

Artist Statement/Bio

The beauty I find  in my everyday life always inspires me to create art. And living in northern Colorado, I have no shortage of breathtaking and inspirational landscapes to paint. While working a 20-year career as a magazine editor and graphic designer, I used to devote my free time to my passion: painting. Now, I enjoy turning my family’s adventures and travels into art.

My love for art began in high school and college. While earning degrees in journalism and English at the University of Southern California, I also studied painting and drawing. After “retiring,” I rediscovered fine art through watercolor and pastel classes and workshops.

I enjoy the Colorado outdoors as well as international travel, and find inspiration everywhere. My work includes landscapes inspired by the beauty of Colorado, intriguing scenes and architecture from my travels, flowers and wildlife found in my own backyard, and portraits of people and pets.

I am drawn to the luminosity of watercolor and the vibrant textures of pastel and oil. I also enjoy combining my favorite media and doing collage and mixed media work. The unique use of line and texture is a consistent element throughout my paintings. An ink line adding to the strength and composition of a watercolor…a mixed media piece started with metallic webbing spray and built up with layers of transparent watercolor…outlines of a dark underpainting showing through vibrant strokes of color in a pastel…directional lines accomplished with strong brushstrokes leading the eye through an oil landscape. Although I work in a variety of media, I strive to use these linear and textural undercurrents to produce work that brings meaning to the subject. I hope it resounds with you.  

Resume

Public Art Collections

  • Selected artist for Loveland, Colorado’s City with HeART Project. Designed and painted 5-foot fiberglass heart, “Lover’s Leap,” collaboration with sculptor Merrilee Cleveland, sponsored by Mueller & Assoc., CPA. Permanent installation, Madison Square, Loveland. 2012 

Juried Shows

  • Louisville Art Association, Annual National Fine Art Show, September 2024
  • “COLOR 24” 7th Annual Juried Exhibition, 3 Square Art, Fort Collins, CO, 2024
  • Colorado Pastel Society Small Works Pastel Show and Sale, Collective Community Arts Center, Lafayette, CO, November 2023
  • New Frontiers Art Show and Sale, Cheyenne Frontiers Day Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY, 2022, 2023
  • “New Horizons Landscapes” 5th Annual Juried Exhibition, 3 Square Art, Fort Collins, CO, 2022
  • Lincoln Gallery 2021 Regional Fine Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, September 2021
  • Colorado Pastel Society Mile High International Exhibition and Sale, August 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020
  • “New Horizons Landscapes” 3rd Annual Juried Exhibition, 3 Square Art, Fort Collins, CO, 2020
  • Colorado Pastel Society Small Works Pastel Show and Sale, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO, November 2019
  • Colorado Watercolor Society State Watercolor Exhibit, PACE Center, Parker, CO, 2019
  • Western Spirit National Art Show, Cheyenne, WY, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019
  • Colorado Pastel Society Small Works Pastel Show and Sale, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO, December 2018
  • Colorado Pastel Society Mile High International Exhibition and Sale, August 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017
  • Longmont Artists’ Guild Fairgrounds Show & Sale, Boulder, CO, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
  • “Colorado Watercolor Society’s 2016 New Trends in Water Media Exhibit” Parker, CO, 2016
  • “The Paths We Take” Juried Art Show and Competition, Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, CO, 2016
  • “National Treasures: Art Celebrating Our National Park System,” Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, Estes Park, 2016
  • Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, 29th Annual Women’s History Month Art Show: “Dreams & Ambitions,” CAC Fine Art Gallery, Estes Park, CO, 2016
  • “Beauty Surrounds Us” Juried Art Show and Competition, Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, CO, 2015
  • “Journeys,” Pastel Society of Colorado’s 2015 Signature Members’ Show, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lakewood, CO, 2015
  • Paint the Poudre Plein Air, Carnegie Gallery, Fort Collins, CO, 2014, 2015
  • Salon des Refuses Art Show, Loveland, CO, 2015, 2016
  • Evergreen Artists Association Spring 2015 All Colorado Art Show, Evergreen, CO, 2015
  • Juried Loveland Art Studio Tour – 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
  • Evergreen Art Open, All Colorado Juried Show, Evergreen, CO, 2014
  • Colorado Pastel Society Mile High International Exhibition and Sale, August 2011, 2014, 2016, 2107
  • Lines into Shapes National Juried Art Show, Art Center of Estes Park, 2007, 2013, 2014
  • Louisville Art Association, Annual National Fine Art Show, September 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Colorado Watercolor Society State Watercolor Exhibit, Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO, 2013
  • Poudre Studio Artists & Galleries Heart Art Show, Poudre River Gallery, Fort Collins, CO, 2013
  • Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, 26th Annual Women’s History Month Art Show: “Common Thread,” CAC Fine Art Gallery, Estes Park, CO, Feb.-April 2013
  • Poudre Studio Artists & Galleries Miniature Art Show, Poudre River Gallery, Fort Collins, CO, 2012
  • Colorado Artists Guild Annual Artists of Colorado Exhibition, Denver, CO, Sept. 2012
  • Gilpin County Arts Association 2012 Juried Art Show, Central City, CO, June, 2012
  • Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, Bellvue, CO, September, 2011
  • Paint the Parks National Art Competition, Paint America, 2011
  • 6th Annual Paint America Competition, 2011
  • Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, 24th Annual Women’s History Month Art Show: “Random Works of Beauty,” CAC Fine Art Gallery, Estes Park, CO, Feb.-April 2011
  • Artist Association of Northern Colorado, National Art Exhibition and Sale, April 2010, 2011, 2013
  • National Greeley Art Exhibition, Greeley, CO, May 2008, 2012
  • Regional Juried Fine Arts Show, Lincoln Gallery, June 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Exhibitions

  • Featured Artist, “Lyrical Landscapes,” Art Center of Estes Park, Estes Park, Colorado, 2021
  • Featured Artist, “Fresh Perspectives: Colorado and Beyond” with guest artist sculptor Mike Dwyer, Art Center of Estes Park, Estes Park, Colorado, 2018
  • Guest Artist, “Growth in its Season” Garden Show, Madison & Main Gallery, Greeley, Colorado, 2017
  • “Fresh Watercolor Images,” Show with Karen Ramsay and Diana Wade, Art Design+Dine, Cheyenne, WY, 2014
  • Loveland Art Studio Tour, Loveland, CO, Oct. 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014
  • Featured Artist, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, Aug. 2010
  • Featured Artist, Art on a Whim Gallery, Breckenridge, CO, March 2010, July 2010
  • The Gardens on Spring Creek, Watercolor Exhibition & Sale, Fort Collins, CO, Feb. 2010
  • Featured Artist, Whole Life Spiritual Center, Fort Collins, CO, Jan. 2010, April 2011
  • Featured Artist, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Loveland, CO, Nov. 2009
  • St. Stephen’s Fine Art Show, Longmont, CO, April 2009, 2011, 2013
  • Featured Artist, Loveland Visitors Center, Loveland, CO, Oct. 2007

Member Shows

  • PSC 2024 Member Show, Articulating Color, Great Frame Up, Longmont, CO, 2024
  • PSC 2022 Member Show, Perspective, Great Frame Up, Longmont, CO, 2022
  • PSC 2020 Member Show, Emergence From Quarantine, On-line Show, 2020
  • Longmont Artists’ Guild Member’s Art Show, Great Frame Up, Longmont, CO, 2019
  • “AANC Spring Forward Show” Fort Collins, CO, 2016
  • “Fall Into Art,” Artists’ Association of Northern Colorado Art Show and Sale, Fort Collins, CO, 2015
  • Colorado Watercolor Society Annual Members’ Show, Carnegie Gallery, Fort Collins, CO, 2014
  • AANC Small Works Show, Reader’s Cove Bookstore, Fort Collins, CO, Nov. 2009, 2010
  • Thompson Valley Art League Spring Fine Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, 2012, 2013
  • Celebration of Color, AANC, Old Firehouse Books, Fort Collins, CO, June 2010
  • Capture the County, AANC, Art on Mountain, Fort Collins, CO, Oct. 2009
  • Pastel Society of Colorado Members Show, Art on Mountain, Fort Collins, CO, June 2008
  • Pastel Society of Colorado Members Show, The Great Frame-up, Longmont, CO, June 2007, 2011, 2019
  • SweetArt Show, Thompson Valley Art League, Lincoln Gallery, February 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014
  • Fall Festival Members’ Show, Lincoln Gallery, October, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Gallery Representation

  • Art Center of Estes Park Gallery, Estes Park, CO
  • Homestead Fine Art Gallery, Berthoud, CO
  • Tumbleweed Art Collective, Longmont, CO
  • Fine Art America.com

 Awards & Honors

  • “Calf Creek Falls, ” Honorable Mention, Colorado Pastel Society Small Works Pastel Show and Sale, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder, CO, December 2018
  • “River Bend,” Honorable Mention, Pastel, Longmont Artists’ Guild Art Show and Sale, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Longmont, CO, 2018
  • “La Maison de Monet,” 2nd Place, Pastel, Longmont Artists’ Guild Art Show and Sale, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Longmont, CO, 2016
  • “Riverrun,” Honorable Mention Mixed Media, “The Paths We Take” Juried Art Show and Competition, Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, CO, 2016
  • “Silver Sky,” 1st Place Mixed Media, “Beauty Surrounds Us” Juried Art Show and Competition, Boardwalk Gallery, Windsor, CO, 2015
  • “Reflections in History,” 1st Place Pastel, TVAL Fall Festival Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2013
  • “Water Lily Reverie,” 1st Place Watercolor, TVAL Fall Festival Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2013
  • “Rome Street Scene #3,” Honorable Mention Watercolor, TVAL Fall Festival Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2013
  • “County Clare, Late Afternoon,” 1st Place, Pastel; Colorado Pastel Society Award, TVAL Regional Juried Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2013
  • “Just Resting My Eyes,” Honorable Mention, TVAL Regional Juried Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2013
  • “Towering Sequoias,” 1st Place, Pastel, TVAL Spring Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2013
  • “Casting Call,” 3rd Place, Pastel, TVAL Spring Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2013
  • “Dooish Hill, Donegal, Ireland,” “County Clare, Late Afternoon,” 2 meritorious awards, Richeson 75 International Art Competitions: Small Works 2013, Dec. 2012
  • “Water Lily Reverie,” “Towering Sequoias,” 2 meritorious awards, Richeson 75 International Art Competitions: Landscape, Seascape, Architecture, 2013
  • “Clare’s Lane,” Merit Award, Gilpin County Arts Association 2012 Juried Art Show, Central City, CO
  • “Sequoias on Yupo,” Merit Award, TVAL Fall Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2012
  • “A Snowy Perch,” 6th Annual Paint America Mini Award, 2012
  • “Tied Up in Venice,” 1st Place Pastel, TVAL Spring Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2012
  • “Point of View,” 2nd Place Mixed Media, TVAL Spring Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO, 2012
  • “Snowy Road Home,” Pastel Society of Colorado Award, Regional Juried Fine Arts Show, Lincoln Gallery, 2011
  • “Sneaking Up on a Rainbow,” 2011 Paint the Parks Mini 50 Award
  • “Pair o’ Bulls,” 2011 Paint the Parks Mini 50 Award
  • “Learning to Walk on the Edge,” 3rd Place, Pastel, SweetArt Juried Show, Lincoln Gallery, 2011
  • “Bleeding Hearts,” 2nd Place, Watercolor, AANC Small Works Show, Reader’s Cove, Fort Collins, CO, 2010
  • “Tied Up in Venice,” 2nd Place, Pastel, AANC Small Works Show, Reader’s Cove, Fort Collins, CO, 2010
  • “Pinnacle,” 2nd Place Watercolor, Fall Festival Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, 2010
  • “Evening Waves,” 2nd Place Pastel, June Juried Fine Arts Show,  Lincoln Gallery, 2010
  • “Window,” 2nd 100, Paint the Parks National Exhibition, 2010
  • “Pinnacle,” 2nd Mini 50, Paint the Parks National Exhibition, 2010
  • “Jagged Edges,” 2nd Place, Mixed Media, AANC Small Works Show, Reader’s Cove Bookstore, 2009
  • “Nymph Lake,” 2nd Place, Water Media, June Juried Fine Arts Show, Lincoln Gallery, 2008
  • “Nymph Lake,” “2nd Mini 50,” Paint the Parks National Exhibition, 2007

Continuing Education

  • Studio Landscape Painting Dave Santillanes, Loveland, CO
  • Pastel Landscape Painting Lydia Pottoff, Estes Park, CO
  • Adding Creativity to Your Artwork, Jody Rigsby, Estes Park, CO
  • Landscape Painting in Pastel, Cliff Austin, Estes Park, CO
  • Oil Painting — Cecy Turner, Estes Park, CO
  • Pastel and Oil Painting — Desmond O’Hagan, Denver, CO
  • Oil Painting — Coni Grant, Estes Park, CO
  • Watercolor and Plein Air Instruction —Karen Ramsay, Fort Collins
  • Animal Painting in Acrylic Workshop—Pat Saunders White
  • Mixed Media Workshop — Carol Nelson, Evergreen, CO
  • Pastel Instruction—Sally Fulton, Longmont
  • Watercolor and Pastel Instruction— Mary Landis, Loveland
  • Watercolor Portrait Workshop—Lincoln Gallery, Loveland
  • Still Life Pastel Workshop—Rick Stoner, Longmont
  • Impressionistic Watercolor Workshop—Mark Silvers, Fort Collins

Charitable Art Donations/Community Contributions

  • 65 Roses for Cystic Fibrosis, Loveland, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022
  • Navajo Mission Silent Auction, Faith Church, Loveland, CO, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Pastels on 5th, Loveland, CO, to benefit Alternatives to Violence, 2011, 2012, 2014
  • Loveland Chamber of Commerce “Close to the Heart,” Art Auction, 2014
  • Alzheimer’s Association Memories in the Making Art Auction, Fort Collins, CO, 2013
  • American Cancer Society Cattle Baron’s Ball, Greeley, CO, 2012
  • Stars on the Bridge, Rialto Theater Silent Auction, Loveland, CO, 2012
  • Loveland Art Studio Tour, portion to benefit Alternatives to Violence, 2011
  • Empty Bowls Silent Auction to benefit Food Bank of Larimer County, 2011
  • Hand-painted Ostrich Egg to Benefit Alzheimer’s Association, Eggstravaganza Auction, Loveland, CO, 2011
  • New Vision Charter School Art Show and Silent Auction, 2007, 2008
  • Thompson Valley Art League Silent Auction, 2009 

Teaching Experience

  • Ongoing mentoring of students in pastel and watercolor for Art Center of Estes Park, 2014-present

Memberships

  • Signature Member, Colorado Pastel Society
  • Signature Member, Colorado Watercolor Society
  • Art Center of Estes Park: Participating Artist Member 2014-present; Board Member and Marketing Committee Chair/Social Media Director 2017-present
  • Associate Member, American Impressionist Society
  • Longmont Artists’ Guild 

Commissions Accepted

News

lyrical landscapes by mary benke reporter herald

 

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