Shake Off the Winter Doldrums on First Friday!

Feeling a bit lethargic after the busy holiday season? Join in the community spirit at the Artists’ Gallery on First Friday, February 1st, from 5-8 p.m.! Our monthly artist’s reception promises a fun and revitalizing evening with stimulating conversation, live music, and refreshments served by the artists! Presenting three Featured Artists for the month:

Painter, Betti Royall exclaims, “I never thought I could have so much fun in retirement!” She’s always had an artist’s eye for detail, so painting has come naturally to her. Without formal art training, but encouraged by some very good mentors, she decided to “just do it!” Now painting has become her passion. Oils and pastels are her favorite medium for creating her lovely still life and floral paintings, but portraits are the subjects she really loves working on. Her joy and passion are evident in each painting!

First influenced by her father’s art, Suzi Popkess, has been painting for over 45 years. Concentrating her skills on watercolor scenes of Colorado, the southwest, and Italian design, she expertly renders splendidly rich landscapes and still life paintings. Suzi says, “I especially enjoy working in watercolor medium for its deep earth tones and vibrant colors.” Suzi creates her paintings in her home studio in Florence, where natural Colorado beauty inspires and stimulates her art work every day. She is also a very talented silversmith!

Paper Clay artist, Holliday Thompson, grew up in Denver, Colorado; both her parents were artists who nurtured her artistic spirit. Later, with a degree in graphic design and illustration from The Colorado Institute of Art, she became an illustrator. Over the last 20 years Holli has also developed a passion for the tactile and colorful art of Sculptural Papier Mache Clay. She loves the hands-on process of working with recycled paper, additives, and found objects. Her masks, vessels and wall art hang in many private collections. She continues to explore this medium’s many possibilities.

Community support of the arts in Southern Colorado is vital to its existence! The Artists’ Gallery expresses our sincere gratitude for the wonderful response and participation of our local community! The Artists’ Gallery, 416 Main St., Canon City, is open every day with winter hours from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information call (719)345-4070 or visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheArtistsGallery/.