Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  On Friday and Saturday, June 15 and June 16, the Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association hosted its annual Mountain Artisans Guild show, inviting local artists and residents to spend a day meeting each other and displaying their work.

This small art show has become a favorite among Coal Creek and neighboring residents who are happy to get their art out into the public.

Watercolor artist Kathy Bremers has her new work on display, especially her painting of children walking along a path in the woods. The tender rendering of the subject makes one want to be young again.

Jan Bannister filled a corner in the CCCIA with her incredible paintings of aspens and other Colorado foliage. She uses both alcohol ink and acrylic, leading to focusing on one-of-a-kind vibrant art. She has discovered the experience of painting outside, feeling the breeze and sunshine as she fills a canvas. She went for a broad, palette knife style of painting the aspens that has become life changing for her.

The fabric art on display was awesome, heavy sweaters, throws, knit jackets. Greeting cards found nowhere else filled shelves.

Slow cookers filled with chili and home-baked sweets were available

Artists chatted and exchanged addresses and phone numbers and offered and gave advice. Summer in Coal Creek Canyon.

(Originally published in the June 28, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)