Karen Ahlgren

Artist

Karen Ahlgren grew up in northern California with a life-long passion for animals. From spending her early summers in the forests of northern California and later living near the mesas of New Mexico, Karen developed her deep appreciation and love for the natural world. Residing in southern Mexico, she became enamored of the jewel-toned colors in the native costumes, folk art and traditions. She finally realized her dream of living near the wilds of the woods and moved to northern New Mexico. Here her passion and connection with wild beings was nurtured by them passing through her land.

Ahlgren graduated from the University of New Mexico and also attended the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico and Otis Parson's Institute of Design in Los Angeles. Her art instruction has been minimal and she considers herself self-taught.

Jim Barker

Artist

I have been working in the art field since I graduated from college with a degree in commercial art.  Years later, the lure of the fine art world overpowered my interest, leading me to become a full-time painter.  I enjoy using all painting mediums, especially acrylics.  I also sculpt and have several bronzes in the art market. 

Claudette Barker

Artist

Capturing the beauty of nature is my goal.  I enjoy the ever-changing variety of colors, textures, and mood.  Watercolor is my favorite medium because of the fresh colors that flow on, keeping the subject alive and vibrant.  I usually paint on specially finished panels that are sealed and varnished, which allows framing without glass.

Angie Coleman

Artist

Angie Coleman grew up near Chicago, Illinois, graduating from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland California, majoring in printmaking, and for a long time has made Taos, New Mexico her home. Angie is known primarily for her color woodblock prints, using a reduction printing technique. The major inspiration for her imagery comes from hiking and camping in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. She has received many awards and her work is in many collections.ished, which allows framing without glass.

Monique Belitz

Artist

I was born on a houseboat in Utrecht in the Netherlands where I lived until my family moved to the area of Munich, Germany when I was seven. There I went to school and later attended the Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich where I received my BA in art education. I married and moved first to Maryland, then to Oregon, where we lived for eighteen years. I taught art classes at the Maude Kerns Center, later at Lane Community College as adjunct faculty. When the marriage was over, I decided to move to New Mexico to go back to school. At the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque I first received my Masters of Fine Arts, then my Masters in Art History. The dual degree allowed me teach art and art history at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska as an Assistant Professor. However, in 2018 I took early retirement to move back to New Mexico where I settled in Lama and since then have spent my time being a full-time artist. 

Lorraine Watry

Artist

Lorraine Watry earned her Bachelor of Fine Art Degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She lives and works in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Lorraine teaches workshops and classes, and gives demonstrations in person and online.

Lorraine is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society and the 2022/2023 Vice President and Newsletter Director. She is also a signature member of Rocky Mountain National Watercolor Society, American Women Artists, Colorado Watercolor Society, MOWS, and Pikes Peak Watercolor Society. Lorraine is a juried member of the International Guild of Realism and the Society of Animal Artists. Lorraine’s paintings have been juried into many national and international exhibitions.

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Lorraine is an award-winning artist focusing on waterscapes, wildlife, and reflective objects. She has worked with watercolor for more than 28 years and is in her 14th year of teaching watercolor classes and workshops. Lorraine’s watercolor YouTube channel has over 25,000 subscribers. Her “Watercolor Techniques for Beginners” video has over a million views. 

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Lorraine’s paintings are a part of many private and corporate collections. In 2022, Lorraine’s painting, “Coral Chorus Line” was juried into the 155th American Watercolor Society Exhibition and her painting, “Feather’s and Brass” was selected for the 2022 Fabriano in Aquarello Exhibition in Fabriano, Italy. Lorraine’s painting, “Spa Day” was awarded Best in Show at the 2021 Pikes Peak International Watermedia Exhibition. Her painting of flamingos, “Coral Chorus Line”, juried into the 2021 Birds in Art Exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Lorraine’s paintings are published in the Best of Watercolor series - Splash 14, 20, and 23. Lorraine was filmed as a featured artist by “Colour in Your Life”, an Australian art TV show, in 2018. In 2015, Lorraine’s painting, ‘Sonata for Horns’ was juried into the prestigious, international exhibition - the Shenzhen Biennial in China. 

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Her paintings are winners of prestigious awards from the National Watercolor Society and other juried exhibitions including Rocky Mountain National, Watercolor West, San Diego Watercolor Society and the Transparent Watercolor Society. Lorraine’s painting, “Tadpole Takeout”, won 2nd place in the International Artists Magazine, ‘Wildlife’ competition, and is published in the Oct/Nov 2018 issue. She has also received recognition from art publications including - International Artist Magazine, The Artist Magazine, & Pratique des Arts.

Kathy Hill

Artist

Color and light are always significant in my paintings. I am fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful, best kept secrets in Colorado. No matter whether my painting is of the magnificent Spanish Peaks, or of a lowly rock in the snow, my hope is to connect with others who share my love of the natural world.

As we experience the world around us, we often hold onto fleeting moments we remember more as feelings than how things really looked. In my work, I strive to capture these moments, enhancing the feelings with expressive colors, yet retaining the reality of the scene.

Rebecca Myers

Artist

I have been interested in art since I was very young.  Creating things with my hands always kept my interest and was a source of excitement and imagination.  I became an archaeologist after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in studio art and art history.  I continued working in archaeology in the southwest while attending graduate school at ASU where I received my Master of Arts Degree in Native American Arts.  After becoming legally blind as a result of Valley Fever Meningitis, I realized my life and future had changed and I needed to do something to begin a new life journey.

After turning to a career in teaching studio art, art history and humanities at a private art school and a community college in Colorado Springs, I then retired and am now working from my studios in Colorado Springs and La Veta.  I paint with gouache, acrylic and watercolor, handcraft paper under the apple trees, and create ceramic sculpture inspired from my imagination and life experiences.  Through my art, I express the uniqueness of a facial expression, the beauty of the gnarled trees, the red sandstone rock, and the majestic mountains of these two divergent ecosystems.  This provides endless hours of inspiration for my art.