Colorado 150: Highlighting Western Colorado’s Landscape & Spirit

To celebrate Colorado’s 150th Anniversary of statehood, the Western Colorado Community Foundation is proud to present Colorado 150: Highlighting Western Colorado’s Landscape & Spirit, a regional art initiative honoring the places, people, and generosity that make western Colorado extraordinary.

As the community foundation serving Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and Rio Blanco counties, WCCF commissioned one artist from each county to create two original works of art. One piece reflects the iconic landscape, history, or character of their county, while the other explores the spirit of generosity, philanthropy, and community impact that helps communities thrive.

Our artists are currently bringing their visions to life, and we can’t wait to share the completed collection with the community later this month.

Join us for A Toast to Colorado 150, a special unveiling celebration on Thursday, July 30, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at WCCF’s Center for Philanthropy, 128 N. 5th Street, Grand Junction. Guests will be among the first to view all fourteen original works, enjoy a Colorado-inspired specialty cocktail and local refreshments, and celebrate the landscapes and spirit of generosity that define western Colorado before Downtown Grand Junction’s Farmers Market, Market on Main.

Event is free, but please let us know if you plan to attend!

The Artists Behind the Story

Every county has a unique story to tell, and every artist brings a distinct perspective to that story.

Representing Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and Rio Blanco counties, these seven talented artists were selected to capture both the landscape and the spirit of their communities. Their creativity is helping create a collection that celebrates western Colorado’s rich heritage and enduring culture of generosity.

Explore each artist’s story below and continue to follow along to learn more about the inspiration behind their work.

Jill Knutson

Delta County

Delta County: Jill Knutson

Inspired by scenery surrounding me, I love the way light and shadow play on an object or scene. Early in my practice I found pastels convey the beauty and softness of the world as I see it. Capturing that beauty and emotion of the moment on paper is the fun part of making a painting. Each painting is a bit like solving a puzzle, piece by piece. My goal is to bring the viewer in to a scene, as if standing there themselves, experiencing what I saw.

Always an artist, I spent my childhood sewing, drawing, designing, building models from found objects, and making up projects to keep myself entertained. Later, I earned a BFA in Graphic Design and after that a K-8 teaching certificate. Since my retirement from teaching I have taken classes in pastel, drawing, and gouache, and have competed in several Plein air events and shows. I belong to Plein Air Artists of Colorado, PAAC, The Blue Sage Center for the Arts and the North Fork Creative Coalition.

My hope is that you will enjoy my paintings as much as I enjoy creating them! It sounds like a cliche, but I make art because I have to. It is what fills my life with meaning, joy, and true happiness.

Learn more

Jami Nix Rahn

Eagle County

Eagle County: Jami Nix Rahn

Jami Nix Rahn is a multidisciplinary artist whose career began internationally, while living, working, and exhibiting in Europe and South America before returning to the United States. Now based in Edwards, Colorado, she works across painting, drawing, and sculpture, exploring themes of connection, fragility, and the natural environment. Her recent paintings are rooted in the landscapes and waterways of Colorado’s Vail Valley and Eagle County but move beyond traditional landscape representation. Rather than simply depicting a place, her work seeks to convey the experience of being immersed in the landscape—the feeling of being surrounded, enveloped, and connected to the natural world.

Learn more.

Tammie Lane

Garfield County

Garfield County: Tammie Lane

Tammie Lane was born in Oklahoma. After receiving her BFA in Illustration from Oklahoma State and Phillips University, she worked as an illustrator doing a variety of work, honing her skills as a painter. Commercial work paid her bills for many years, but fine art—her own work for galleries—was always her inspiration. Eventually, her paintings and pottery took the lead and her illustrative work fell by the wayside. 

Growing up going to her grandfather’s ranch, romping in the fields for hours in the rural countryside, riding horses, and being outdoors set the tone for the things she loves to paint. Being outside as a plein air painter – painting on location – is something she has done for over 40 years. Finding the beauty of a rundown farm, or the last light hitting a mountain meadow—beauty in the ordinary—are all what she loves to find and capture.

She added clay to the mix of her artwork about 20 years ago. Raku has the same quality as watercolor – there is a random play of the fire, that always keeps you interested. Working in three mediums: watercolor, oil, and clay has kept her excited to go into the studio for many years. 

Her work has been in numerous one-man shows, national juried shows, Public Works Projects, and galleries throughout the United States. Currently, she is a Resident Artist at The Redbrick Center for the Arts in Aspen, Colorado, an adjunct professor at the Colorado Mountain College, and travels to Plein Air Festivals throughout the year. 

Learn more.

Monica Esposito

Mesa County

Mesa County: Monica Esposito

Monica Esposito, born in Denver in 1978, is a working artist as well as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. She moved to Texas with her family as a child and lived there for many years, although Colorado was always called home. As a young woman, Monica frequently visiting the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth and was exposed to many artistic visionaries of the west, including Georgia O’Keeffe. Monica returned to Colorado in 2001 after receiving her degree in Fine Arts, Painting, from the University of Texas. Although her focus as a young painter was on the human figure at the University of Texas, she quickly turned to the western landscape for her inspiration. Monica paints in plein air to find inspiration for her larger studio pieces. She credits the art and life of Georgia O’Keeffe as one of her strongest influences.

Monica is a member of the Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Western Colorado Center for the Arts and Oil Painters of America. You can find her work represented at the West Winds Gallery in Grand Junction, CO., the Bross Hotel, Paonia, CO., and the Sage Mountain Gallery in Salida, CO.

Learn more.

Barbara Kendrick

Montrose County

Montrose County: Barbara Kendrick

Barbara is a landscape artist who works both on location and in her studio overlooking the beautiful San Juan Mountains. She draws her inspiration from nature, especially while hiking and exploring the scenic Southwest. Her work is featured in many private collections and has won numerous awards in national, regional and local art competitions including Best of Show; Best Pastel in Show; Arts for the Parks Top 100 and numerous First Place awards. Corporate collectors of her work include Alpine Bank, Citizen’s State Bank, XTO Energy Corporation, Maxfield Peterson P.C., Stonehouse Restaurant and the Gateway Museum in Farmington, NM.

A signature member of the Pastel Society of Colorado, her work can be seen on her website: www.barbarakendrickart.com and Facebook page: Barbara Kendrick Art. Basically self-taught, she works primarily in pastels and employs a representational style. Influenced by contemporary landscape artists such as Bruce Gomez and Aaron Scheur, her work is also guided by past masters including Alfred Glover Ryder, Guy Rose and Edgar Payne from the California Impressionist School. “Nature is an endless source of inspiration for me. It’s sometimes difficult to find words to adequately describe the experience of a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. I have found that art is a powerful tool to explore and share these special moments in special places.”

“My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature.” –Claude Monet

Learn more.

Emma Kalff

Ouray County

Ouray County: Emma Kalff

Emma Kalff’s paintings explore the intersection of memory, emotion, and everyday life, revealing the beauty and complexity of our inner worlds. She paints aspects of ordinary life as a way of giving voice to the hidden world of meaning all around us.

Her work has been selected as part of Southwest Art magazine’s “21 Under 31: Young Artists to Collect Now”, and have been shown in American Art Collector magazine, Plein Air magazine, and Studio Visit magazine. In 2023 she was listed as an Artist to Watch by Plein Air Magazine. Kalff’s paintings are in private and public collections, and have been shown at the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art.

Learn more.

Pat Sheeran Daggett

Rio Blanco County

Rio Blanco County: Pat Sheeran Daggett

Pat Sheeran/Daggett studied art at Colorado State University majoring in sculpture with an interest in fiber arts and painting on the side. She exhibited for several years in New York as well as in national pastel shows from New Jersey to California. She currently has work in the collections of several corporations and non-profit entities. Pat has been working full time as a fine artist since 1986. By a thread of grace she has been allowed to spend her life creating work that celebrates the life around her- the landscapes, the people, and the vanishing lifestyles and vistas of this area. She has been a resident of NW Colorado since 1980. Pat currently owns and runs The Upstairs Gallery in Meeker adjacent to her studio

Learn more.

The Artwork and Their Stories

Verdant Valley

Verdant Valley

Jill chose to create this painting because it reflects the rich blend of agriculture, ranching, mountains, and the North Fork of the Gunnison River that define the North Fork Valley. The scene looks east from Hotchkiss toward Paonia and the Ragged Mountains. When she first moved to the area, someone told her, “Everything you need is in this valley.” She has found that to be true.

Bill Heddles Recreation Complex

Bill Heddles Recreation Complex

Generous senior citizens groups and service organizations, a 1% sales tax, plus an unexpected $100,000 donation from a passing ambassador from Kuwait, provided the necessary funds to build a much needed recreation center in Delta. This painting reflects the diversity of the nearby landscape as well as the scope and size of Bill Heddles Recreation complex. Named after Bill Heddles, former mayor, council member, youth activist, and native son of Delta, this serves as a testament to the generosity of the citizenry.

Booth Creek

Booth Creek

“Booth Creek” represents the headwaters—snowmelt, rock, and moving waters running down from a high alpine lake, plunging over a sixty-foot fall before ultimately running into the Eagle River, which eventually feeds the Colorado River.

Shared Waters

Shared Waters

Shared Waters” reflects the iconic Eagle River that flows through the county. A young boy fishing suggests more than recreation; he represents the way we benefit from the river while also carrying the responsibility to care for it.

Mount Sopris Splendor

Mount Sopris Splendor

I am always looking at things. Trying to absorb and remember… constantly asking questions and searching for answers. When one answer has been satisfied, there always seem to have been another five questions that have cropped up that I want to figure out… I like the work being an endless series of interrogations, instead of an affirmative message. This process keeps me excited about getting up and going to the studio. I hope that I will always be trying to produce art in a fresh way that has the beginners mind of excitement and challenge.

It is so interesting to me looking at the wildness of nature playing against the perfection of a single flower or the perfect snow blown onto an Aspen trunk. Messy vitality. That is what I am striving for. Not the tiresome plodding of “perfection”, but the excitement/anticipation that comes with a 2” flat brush and a wild watercolor wash that is always the beginning of a 40” X 60” painting. I like to paint beautiful scenes…animals…an interesting old rundown farm…a fall day in the woods… things that remind me of places that I wanted to linger a little longer or wanted to quietly sit and watch. These are the things I am trying to capture while I am working and hope to take my viewer there too, to see and be a part of.

I appreciate you taking the time to look at my work at this show, on my website, and coming by the gallery. I love making my

The Joy of the Journey Glenwood Canyon

The Joy of the Journey Glenwood Canyon

I am always looking at things. Trying to absorb and remember… constantly asking questions and searching for answers. When one answer has been satisfied, there always seem to have been another five questions that have cropped up that I want to figure out… I like the work being an endless series of interrogations, instead of an affirmative message. This process keeps me excited about getting up and going to the studio. I hope that I will always be trying to produce art in a fresh way that has the beginners mind of excitement and challenge.

It is so interesting to me looking at the wildness of nature playing against the perfection of a single flower or the perfect snow blown onto an Aspen trunk. Messy vitality. That is what I am striving for. Not the tiresome plodding of “perfection”, but the excitement/anticipation that comes with a 2” flat brush and a wild watercolor wash that is always the beginning of a 40” X 60” painting. I like to paint beautiful scenes…animals…an interesting old rundown farm…a fall day in the woods… things that remind me of places that I wanted to linger a little longer or wanted to quietly sit and watch. These are the things I am trying to capture while I am working and hope to take my viewer there too, to see and be a part of.

I appreciate you taking the time to look at my work at this show, on my website, and coming by the gallery. I love making my

Rattlesnake Canyon Blackridge Wilderness

Rattlesnake Canyon Blackridge Wilderness

Description coming soon

Black Rocks Ruby Horsethief

Black Rocks Ruby Horsethief

Description coming soon

The Golden Hour

By Barbara Kendrick

To quote Daily Art, “ The golden hour is a brief and awe-inspiring moment filled with the most radiant light, intense colors, and deep shadows. For centuries, artists have raced to capture the essence of the sun’s vitality during these times of the day.” This is a landscape inspired by one of those special moments that Barbara happened to experience last October, not far from her home in Montrose.

Lend A Hand, Help a Neighbor

Lend A Hand, Help a Neighbor

“Lend a Hand, Help a Neighbor” was inspired by the work of Food Bank of the Rockies and a recent fundraiser event at Museum of the Mountain West for Sharing Ministries. Barbara was impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of the many volunteers who worked so hard to organize that project.

View From Ridgway

View From Ridgway

View from Ridgway was inspired by the Gold Mountain Fire in Ouray County. Witnessing the fire from town created an eerie contrast between everyday life and the powerful, unpredictable force of nature. The painting captures the tension between the small white house and the fire, reflecting the experience of carrying on with daily routines while an unfolding natural event looms just beyond.

Catching Up

Catching Up

Catching Up is a portrait of everyday life in Ouray County, where dirt roads, a slower pace, and strong community connections are part of the landscape. Inspired by the familiar sight of a car stopped in the middle of the road while neighbors lean in the window to catch up, the painting celebrates the simple moments that reflect the character and closeness of the community.

Homestead Beneath the Hills

Homestead Beneath the Hills

This landscape was painted from Rio Blanco County Rd #8 looking back towards town. The old sandstone outcrops stretch from one end of the county to the other tying together the two towns that exist here.

Happiness is a Wet Sheepdog

 Happiness is a Wet Sheepdog

The Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trial is a catalyst that inspired its volunteers to found and fund other charitable organizations within our community: Hopewest Hospice Foundation, The Pioneers Healthcare Foundation, The Meeker Educational Foundation, The Meeker Mustang Makeover, The White River Alliance and the Rio Blanco County Historical Society. These entities have been a gift to our town providing scholarships, institutional and individual financial aid, improved health care, emotional support, problem solving for our water and lands issues, and in keeping our history alive.