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Before we dive into the highlights from our recent Keeper of the Mist painting event, we'd love to invite you to join us for an upcoming opportunity to create art while giving back. Upcoming Event: September Fundraiser Join Paintings by JF for a special painting event where creativity and community come together for a great cause. ✅ Beginner-friendly instruction ✅ All supplies included ✅ Fun and welcoming atmosphere ✅ Support a meaningful local fundraiser Learn more and reser

Community, creativity, and a whole lot of lemons. Every great event begins long before the first guest arrives. For Lemon Grove, it started with a car full of supplies, paintings, boxes, and that cheerful lemon‑themed welcome sign peeking out from the backseat. There’s something special about that moment — the quiet anticipation, the preparation, the feeling of bringing an idea to life. And this time, that excitement came with an extra spark — the Lemon Grove Painting Event w

First Friday at Edge Optics was an evening filled with art, conversation, and community connection. Visitors stopped by throughout the night to explore original artwork, meet the artist, and discover the stories behind a wide variety of paintings, prints, and creative projects. From pet portraits and whimsical animal paintings to landscapes and floral-inspired works, the exhibit offered something for every art lover. More importantly, the evening created opportunities for mea

Quiet Beginning The day began with a gentle sense of anticipation as the canopy rose and the booth took shape. Paints were arranged, raffle tickets tucked neatly into place, calendars stacked, and signage set out to welcome the community. There was a peaceful charm in these early moments — the calm before the creative buzz that would soon fill the River District. When Wondercrawl Came Alive As the event began, the quiet setup transformed into a lively flow of visitors wanderi

There’s a special rhythm to a painting night—one that unfolds slowly, layer by layer, like a story being told in color. This week’s class carried that rhythm beautifully as we painted in two intentional parts, each one building toward a final piece full of personality, patriotism, and tiny whiskered charm. 🌙 Part One: Starry Night Skies & Groundwork We began with the sky—always the sky. Deep blues, swirling strokes, bright yellows blooming into stars. As Van Gogh once said:

There’s always a papertowel beside me when I paint — quiet, crinkled, and ready. It starts out simple and white, but soon becomes a tiny gallery of color: green dabs, blue swirls, a brave little streak of red. There’s something Van Goghish about the way it collects emotion. Every softened stroke, every wiped‑away doubt, every burst of yellow hope — it absorbs the moment like a miniature Starry Night unfolding across its textured surface. While the canvas gets the spotlight, t

On Friday, June 5, I joined the First Friday Art Walk at Wagz, bringing my little world of color into a space usually filled with wagging tails, treats, and cheerful regulars. From the moment I set up, the shop felt alive with conversation, curiosity, and the steady rhythm of people exploring both art and pet goodies. My table held pieces from across my collection — landscapes, guinea‑pig whimsy, patriotic minis, and prints from my Pets of Old Town series. The large landscape

Kent Leier won a personalized paining from May Art Walk Some days in the studio feel like ordinary workdays… and then there are days when the whole room hums with that spark — the kind that reminds me why I teach, why I paint, and why art has always been my favorite way of connecting with people. This week’s spark came from a special moment: one of the Art Walk prize winners stopped by to pick up his personalized painting. He had brought the reference photo that inspired it,

There are days that feel ordinary, and then there are days that glow — the kind that hum with laughter, color, and the quiet bravery it takes to try something new. Our latest community painting workshop was one of those glowing days. Set against stone walls, warm lights, and the soft buzz of conversation, a group of wonderful humans gathered around long tables covered in brushes, palettes, and the promise of possibility. What unfolded was pure magic. Finding Flow in the Swirl

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when people gather around a table with paint on their palettes and wine in their glasses. It’s the kind of magic that hums quietly at first — a brushstroke here, a laugh there — and then suddenly fills the whole room with warmth. Our One Glass, One Slate event at Wagonhound Wine Co. was exactly that kind of night. From the moment guests slipped on their red aprons and settled in, the room buzzed with that unmistakable blend of crea

Some paintings begin with a single artist.This one began with a community. What started as a blank, taped‑off grid quickly became a gathering place — a space where people of all ages, backgrounds, and comfort levels with a paintbrush stepped forward to add their own touch. Every square became a tiny world shaped by the person who chose it. A Canvas Divided, A Community United The cozy corner where the canvas waited — inviting everyone to step in and add a little color. Throug

Some days feel like they’re stitched together with color, conversation, and a little bit of luck. Second Sunday at The Lyric, in collaboration with Petrichor Collective, was one of those days — a warm, creative gathering where art, community, and playfulness blended into something unforgettable. From the moment the tents opened, space buzzed with energy. Vendors set up their displays, families wandered in with iced drinks, and the community canvas waited patiently for its fir

There’s a special kind of electricity that runs through Downtown Fort Collins on the first Friday of each month — a blend of warm streetlight glow, the hum of footsteps, and the unmistakable pull of creativity. This May Art Walk was no exception, and for me, it carried an extra layer of meaning. It marked the first day of Art Week in Fort Collins — a citywide celebration of makers, imagination, and the vibrant arts community I’m grateful to be part of. I could feel that energ

A cozy morning of creativity, community, and moonlit canvases. A proud moment — everyone holding up their finished Morning Moonlight paintings. Hosting my very first official community painting class was a milestone I’ll never forget.I’ve taught before — including the Guinea Pig Fundraiser — but this class was something new. It was the beginning of a series of creative, welcoming sessions designed simply for the joy of painting together. The room filled with laughter, quiet f

Today’s appreciation post goes out to the quiet MVP of my first community painting class:the humble paper plate palette. It didn’t ask for attention.It didn’t try to be fancy.It simply showed up and held every swirl of gold, every soft gray cloud, every moonlit highlight with unwavering loyalty. While we blended skies and shaped mountains, it sat there — steady, simple, and absolutely essential.A tiny circle of chaos and creativity. A hero in plain white. Here’s to the paper

There are some days that feel like they glow from the inside out — and our Guinea Pig Painting Fundraiser was absolutely one of them. What started as a simple idea to bring people together for a good cause blossomed into a room full of laughter, paint‑splattered aprons, tiny masterpieces, and a shared sense of purpose. Thanks to everyone who joined us, over $1,000 was raised for Cavies & Canines Animal Rescue . Walking into the studio that afternoon felt like stepping into

Friday’s Art Walk was one of those evenings that reminds me exactly why I love sharing art with the world—warm faces, curious conversations, and the kind of energy that only happens when a community gathers around creativity. From the moment the doors opened at the Global Village Museum, the night felt alive. The lights glowed against the deep blue sky, the “OPEN” sign flickered with invitation, and people stepped inside ready to explore, connect, and celebrate local art. A W

There’s a funny thing that happens when you spend your days painting in Colorado — surrounded by mountains, soft winter light, and the gentle chaos of creating whimsical guinea pig paintings that somehow make people smile before they even know why. Folks will look at one of my furry little muses or a Colorado landscape and say, “Jill, this is sick,” or call me an “epic painter.” At first, I laughed and thought, What does this even mean? I grew up with “sick” meaning the opp

There’s a special kind of electricity that fills the studio when a new character comes to life on the canvas. Over the past few weeks, my easel has been home to a little nighttime wanderer — an otter with a coffee cup, a backpack full of art supplies, and a story that seems to unfold with every brushstroke. What began as a simple pencil sketch quickly grew into a full urban scene. The earliest lines captured the otter’s posture and personality: upright, curious, and ready for