Festival of the Arts returning to Saratoga

For yet another Independence Day weekend, the freedom of expression will be celebrated at the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga with the return of the Festival of the Arts.

Local and regional artists will be set up in the Great Hall, showcasing a variety of talent spread across multiple mediums ranging from two dimensional art to mixed media to three dimensional art. An opening night gala will be held July 5 and the art show will be open July 6 and July 7.

Two Dimensional Art

Dan Andrews

"I strive to make each painting an emotional statement about a particular animal's nature," says wildlife artist, Dan Andrews. This commitment requires not only a detailed understanding of each bird or animal's physical characteristics, but their habits and habitats as well. As a native Coloradoan, Dan has learned about Rocky Mountain wildlife by spending many hours in the field. Recent field trips to Denali National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Bosque De Apache Wildlife Refuge, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and numerous locations in Colorado and Wyoming are very important in the generation of new ideas for Dan's paintings. Dan graduated from Colorado Institute of Art with an associate’s degree in graphic design. Dan has exhibited his work at many national and local art shows including The Saratoga Arts Festival, Buffalo Roundup Art Festival and the Western Spirit Art Show. Recent awards include artwork selected for the 2024 Arkansas Quail Stamp, 2018 & 2022 Colorado Duck Stamp,1st Place 2018 & 2022 Wyoming Conservation Stamp Contest, People’s Choice award at the 2022 and 2023 Saratoga Fine Arts Festival and Best of Show at the Casper Petroleum Annual Show. Dan has a booth in the art show.

Amanda Cowen

Western and wildlife artist Amanda Cowan has been expressing herself through art since she can remember. When she was a young girl she spent most of her time outdoors drawing the horses, cows and any wildlife that she came across. Self-taught, she paints in watercolors and oils. Some of the shows she has participated in are Cowgirl Up!, Wickenburg, Arizona, The Out West Art Show, Great Falls, Montana, the America' s Horse in Art Show in Amarillo, Texas where she won the Steeldust Award in 2018. Also, the Cowboy Classics in Phoenix, Arizona, The Phippen Art Show, in Prescott, Arizona, the San Dimas Western Art Show, in San Dimas, California, and the Western Art Roundup, in Winnemucca, Nevada, where she won the Peoples Choice Award in 2007. Her art is in private collections in Korea, Australia, Canada, France and the US. She lives with her husband on a ranch in southwest Wyoming, where she rides horses behind cattle all year long, they feed with a team in the winter, and she never runs out of amazing inspiration. Amanda has a booth in the art show.

Lisa Davis

Born in Michigan, and raised for a time in California, Lisa’s summers were spent in the wide open spaces of Idaho surrounded by trout-filled rivers, snow-capped mountains and riding horses almost daily. This freedom in her childhood was a huge influence in her life and allowed her to discover nature in her own uninterrupted way. Lisa moved to Colorado to go to college and continues to make her home there. She graduated from Colorado State University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She initially pursued a career in creating stained glass windows and custom framing. After many years, she returned to painting full time. Lisa continues to show her work in juried exhibitions and various galleries. Lisa’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Jimmy Devine

Jimmy Devine, a native of Brooklyn, New York, has been involved in professional art since his graduation from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. Devine has worked as Fashion Artist, a Television Art Director, Sports Illustrator and now devotes his time to the painting of cowboys of the Old West and Contemporary West. Specializing in western art, history and the Wyoming traditions has enabled him to depict his subject matter with startling realism. Jimmy’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Kelly D Donovan

Award-winning artist, Kelly D Donovan has had an interest in art from an early age. Growing up in western Colorado gave Donovan a strong foundation for the work he enjoys. From the time he could pick up a pencil as a young boy, Donovan has immersed himself in cowboy art. He began showing in galleries at age 15. He has also been an accomplished and well-known mural and sign artist for 25 years. Donovan says, “My fascination with the old west has kindled my desire to keep that brief moment in history alive through my artwork”. His extensive research into the old west ensures the authenticity that he strives for in his work. Kelly has a booth in the art show.

JC Dye

J.C was raised on a small ranch in central Montana. After high school he joined the Marines corps and spent 13 months in the jungle in Vietnam Nam. After returning home he spent a few years working on ranches. In 1984 he and his wife bought his family’s ranch and raised their family there. Throughout all those years J C spent as much time as he could developing his skills as a sculptor. Somehow, I got pretty good and was able to get in some of the finest galleries in the western U S. He was commissioned to do several public monuments and a few private ones. In 2010 he began having health issues (pancreatitis and lung cancer.) after his health began improving he turned to painting. He is now painting full time and showing them in Yellowstone Trails gallery in Lander Wy. JC has submitted his work in the 2D and 3D competitions. JC has a booth in the art show.

Lynette Fransen

Lynette Fransen was born and raised in eastern South Dakota. Her mother died when she was young and her father raised their four children alone. Her flair for drawing and painting began in grade school. A teacher’s appreciation and encouragement set the stage for what was to come years down the road. Lynette’s passion for life, people, relationships and her love for the Lord have been her inspiration. After her father’s death in 1992 with Alzheimer’s, she felt motivated to begin her publishing company, Ruth’s Images. She dedicated this company to her parents’ memory. It seemed quite fitting to name her “art” company Ruth’s Images because her mother’s name was Ruth Imogene and her father’s name was Art Daly. Lynette enjoys creativity in both her work and choosing each painting’s title. She enjoys the painting even more when there is a clever title attached to it. You will see this for yourself as you browse her web site and see paintings such as Lab-ratory, Mask-er-raid and Roll Call. Lynette’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Brent Flory

“Your work has such heart” is one of Brent Flory’s most favorite compliments he has received about his work. Though many people comment on his use of light, Brent loves to paint the honest reality of the western experience. Whether it’s cowboys, Native Americans, farmers, ranchers, or their families and animals, his goal is to bring their experiences as close to reality as possible. “People then were so much more connected to, or reliant on, the land, weather, and nature. They appreciated it more because their lives depended on it.” Horses also are a huge part of Brent’s paintings. “I think the horse is probably the most often painted subject in history. When you think of how many thousands of years man has used the horse, it is an extremely brief moment in time that we have gotten away from its dependence.” Brent and his wife and family live on a ranch in Wallsburg, UT. His work is held in many private collections throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, and Russia. His work can be viewed on Facebook.com/brentflory. Brent has a booth in the art show.

Karen Henneck

Karen has always loved the Nostalgic Western Landscape, the spirited visits, dramatic unending skies. She lives in Casper, Wyoming where the air is fresh and clean and the sun shines almost every day. Casper is backed by a mountain and the North Platte River runs through it. Minutes away are cattle ranches, streams and prairies. Karen uses pastels with their brilliance and depth of color to capture these beautiful scenes. After 21 years working as a floral designer, Karen decided to follow her dream of pursuing an art career. She went to Casper College and realized art was her life and her soul. While there she found she lives illustration, also, She now has written 14 children’s books she is illustrating, and currently has three published. “Something’s Fishy”, “Ben and Pirate Moon:, and “The Skin I’m In” can be purchased through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Karen has created numerous children’s rooms murals and life-size fiberglass animals for fundraising events in Wyoming and South Dakota. To Karen, art is not a hobby or pastime, art is her life, and emotional gift from God which has transformed her forever. Karen’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Jan Hodson

Jan Hodson began drawing at an early age. An outstanding high school art teacher was instrumental in her decision to pursue her interest in art. Her formal education stressed the abstract but also included many hours of drawing, life study and representational art. Paint quality and abstract composition became important during that time. She has studied with professional artists through the years. Jan works primarily in oils, using a palette knife technique. Western landscapes, with a special interest in trees and the desert are her preferred subject matter. She and her husband traveled extensively, but the Rocky Mountain West became home. Jan’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Moss Kent

Moss was born and raised in Texas, and now lives in Wyoming with his wife Karen and sons. Moss was exposed to the art world at a very young age. His sister, Lyn Kent Jones was the first in the family to follow a career in art. Definite influences by the wonderful Russel family of artists in Pecos, a small town in romantic West Texas, created a spark in Moss which followed him through worldly careers to the point where the artistic pull could no longer be denied. In fact, Moss’ budding artist son, also Moss, provided a stimulus for the elder artist to “get serious” about art. Along with art instruction at an early age with Marion Russell, Moss has participated in various art courses in college; Moss is amazed on a daily basis with the processes of applying paint to a blank canvas and at some point seeing something beautiful, inspiring, or exciting to pop out. Catching the light of the work is his goal. Beauty will follow. Moss has a booth in the art show.

Joy Keown

I have always been inspired by the beauty and wonders of nature. Beginning with pencil drawings as a child, my love for nature expressed as art unfolded. I took my first watercolor class in 1986, and continue to enjoy the versatility of this medium. I earned a BS and an MS in biology at Emporia State University, and taught biology for many years. Working as a park ranger naturalist in Yellowstone for many summers gave me the opportunity to study nature intimately firsthand. I have exhibited in national shows and received many awards. As an Artist in Residence in Rocky Mountain National Park I studied the work of early landscape painters. My wildlife paintings have been exhibited many places including the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper. My love for the natural world has led me to make conservation the focus of my work. I am represented by Artisans’ Gallery of Laramie, Clay Paper Scissors of Cheyenne, and the Nicolaysen Gift Shop in Casper. Joy’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Jennifer Morss

As a Wyoming native, born and raised, the state is my inspiration. From the mountains to the landscape and wildlife there is always a subject waiting to be painted. Watercolor is my medium of choice; it allows me to capture reality as well as a “painterly/whimsical” effect. I also like to heat, etch and patina copper. Jennifer has a booth in the art show.

Carla Stroh

Carla Stroh is a seasoned Wyoming cowgirl, and she transitions easily from horse trainer to renowned western artist. She has shown her work in many art shows including NOAPS in Boulder, CO, the AIS show is Taos, NM and the AAEA Show to name a few. She has won Best of Show in Ken Caryl Ranch and Elizabeth Folk Festival, in Colorado. She earned Best New Artist Award Art Week in Great Falls, Montana and honorable mention in the Pastel Society in Wichita, KS and the Presidents Show Western Nebraska Art Center. She was also selected to participate in 10 by 10 Art Show at the Western Nebraska Arts Center. Carla has been selected to participate in the Western Spirit Art Show in Cheyenne, WY and was featured in a One Man Show at Many Colours Gallery in Parker, CO. Carla taught middle school art for 10 years in Elizabeth, CO and has a BFA in Art Education from Regis University. Carla has a booth in the art show.

Debbie Thomas

Debbie grew up on a cattle ranch near Pinedale, Wyoming. She always has a love for horses and art and pursued both at Colorado State University, graduating in 1984. That art degree led to almost 30 years of drafting and architectural illustrating and rendering. During that time she married John Thomas and had two children, Andrew and Lauren. They live in Mitchell for 26 years. Debbie’s “Creative Design” business came about after 13 years of interior painting as she wanted to get back to more artistic work. Four years ago, she learned how to filet a goose and was fascinated with the intricate design and amazing beauty of the feathers. This led to continuing to evolve and has been rewarding and enjoyed by many. Her love for animals and the outdoors are her subject matter. Besides feathers, Debbie enjoys painting on canvas, walls, fences and fireplaces. She is currently working in a variety of mediums including pencil, acrylic and watercolor. Debbie’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Mixed Media

Molly Box

Molly Box is an award-winning artist, photographer and graphic designer who is native to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her passion for culture, the West and the great outdoors can easily be seen through her work. In describing her style, she says, “I believe very strongly in observing your environment and creating art based on your surrounding and experiences. I have a love for the West and interest in the wildlife. I also strongly believe that the American West is new, vibrant, colorful and ever-changing. “Molly displays/sells art at the Work of Wyoming Gallery in Laramie, WY, regional shows, and has art in the permanent collection at the Old West Museum in Cheyenne. Molly has worked entered in the 2D and Mixed Media competitions. Molly’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Nancy Ford

Nancy Ford lives and creates in Saratoga, WY. Her feltwork is an expression of her fondness for wool fiber and its amazing ability to form a durable textile using the elements of heat, moisture, and pressure. Ford’s Headcoverings are a continuing series symbolizing protection of the highest form. They are meant as a reminder of our frailty as flesh and blood creatures, and of the magnificent one who daily battles on our behalf. Nancy’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Svetlana Howe

Svetlana Howe is a Laramie, Wyoming based artist who uses watercolor to create original artwork of beautiful florals and local landscapes. Early in her life she became fascinated with different aspects of design and fine art, especially painting made with ink and watercolor. Svetlana was born in Russia. After High School she completed Technical University with an MA in mechanical engineering and taught some technical subjects in Saratov Industrial College. But her passion for art brought her back to school and she obtained an MFA at Ural State University and Saratov State Art College with a major in “Fine art and fashion design”. At this time, she started her own business as a fashion designer and did that for seven years until emigrated to the US. She was a member of “Art on Mountains” Gallery and teaching private classes in Fort Collins, Colorado before she and her husband moved to Wyoming. For several years she has been sharing her knowledge and passion for art with her students as an Art instructor at Laramie Community College and Epson center. Svetlana works as independent watercolor artist and takes part of variety of national and international art exhibitions and plein air competitions. You can see her artwork at “Works of Wyoming” Art Gallery in Laramie, WY. She is a signature member of Wyoming Watercolor Society. Sveltana has a booth in the art show.

Lori Kostur

Lori holds a fine art degree. She was commissioned by the National Minin Hall of Fame and Museum to create a larger-than-life monument bronze representing the mining industry. She loves painting and sculpting the beauty of Saratoga. Lori has a booth in the art show.

Wendy Sohm

Wendy Sohm, founder of Pinecone Pottery, is a 26-year veteran high school art teacher. She is fluent in drawing and calligraphy as well as ceramics, accepting many commissions in all these areas. Her passion for pottery is obvious when looking at her artwork. A Missouri country girl at heart, Wendy enjoys finding new ways to incorporate natural elements such as driftwood, deer antlers, basket weaving and other treasures from nature to combine with the rawness of clay. While many of her ceramic pieces are functional, most recently Wendy has been pushing the sculptural boundaries of clay and urging viewers to see the inherent beauty of earthly items as she brings them together in art.

A proud wife and mother, in addition to art, Wendy enjoys spending time with family, gardening, kayaking and loving her pups. She is a huge national parks fan and vacations are often spent exploring our nation's beauty. Wendy has a booth in the art show.

Randy Teeuwan

Randy Teeuwen is a Wyoming writer and woodworker who enjoys creating unique furniture incorporating a variety of materials, including walnut, maple, cherry ebony, beetle-kill pine and copper. His tables and cabinets are based in the Shaker tradition and often include curves and tapers that create a contemporary look. In his beetle-kill pine furniture, he seeks unique grain color, knots to create a uniquely Western look. Randy has a booth in the art show.

Julie Woods

Since my first painting I have always preferred to focus on those subjects I understand and feel passionate about. Each and every one of he different subjects I’ve worked with over the years have helped to shape my life and career in a personal and unique way. I started drawing animals at a young age. I’m a self-taught artist to which my family has always told me “It’s a God-given talent”. I have showed in many national and international juried art shows. I have done art for Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Children’s Medical Network, Quarter Horse Association, and other Animal Association. Julie has a booth in the art show.

Photography

Kirby Hornbeck

Kirby C. Hornbeck is a Wyoming native who specializes in beautiful landscapes and magnificent wildlife of southern Wyoming. He graduated from Hanna-Elk Mountain High School in 1977 and promptly went to work in the coal mines. From an early age he always had a love of photographer and spent the last 40 plus years pursuing it. He and his wife, Rita, now reside in Laramie. Retirement has provided ample time to enjoy his passions. Kirby has a booth in the art show.

Allison Pluda

Owner and artist Allison Pluda started Seneca Creek Studios in 2007 and brings over a decade of her professional experiences to life with her natural, vibrant, genuine, and adventurous style. She eventually gave up her corporate career to follow her dreams and become a professional artists and small business owner. She hasn’t looked back since and truly puts her heart and soul into every photograph, project, and client she works with. She now runs her online fine art gallery, portrait photography business, and visual marketing and design studio full-time. Allison’s work is displayed in the jury booth.

Kirk Shepherd

Kirk Shepherd is a nature and wildlife photographer in Wyoming who loves spending time outdoors in pursuit of capturing photographs with a unique touch. Wyoming offers wide open spaces, unlimited beauty and an atmosphere of adventure. Outdoor photography gives an artist the chance to capture and preserve these scenic places and animal encounters, sharing with others who may not have that opportunity. Nature and wildlife photography is challenging yet brings satisfaction when you’re able to capture a special or “one of a kind” moment, it takes great light, patience, persistence and “sometimes” a little bit of luck. Photography is a lifelong journey of learning and honing of one’s skill. Kirk has been residing in and exploring the great Wyoming outdoors for more than 50 years. After a long career in the Energy Industry, he began his photography journey which revived a passion for the outdoors and the peacefulness that it brings. Kirk is largely a self-taught photographer who has a desire to always improve on the quality of his work. Focusing primarily on wildlife photography, he loves the challenge of capturing unique and emotion filled images. ?Kirk has been published in the Wyoming Wildlife Photography Edition for the past 3 years, in 2023 earning a 2nd place in the Wildlife Division and is also published in the JH (Jackson Hole) Style Magazine. Kirk has a booth in the art show.

Elizabeth Wood

Have you ever heard about a person who gets up before the crack of dawn to take a photo of a sunrise? What about the person who drives miles of country roads to find one good photo of a wildflower? That is Elizabeth Wood. Her photographic interests are as varied as the landscape of the West. Breathtaking vistas, old vehicles, and wildlife take center stage in her camera to create works of art. She takes her camera wherever she goes and strives to find a unique view. Elizabeth has a booth in the art show.

Three Dimensional

Dustin Stephenson

Dustin Stephenson is a native Wyoming artist residing in Ten Sleep, Wyoming where he teaches K-12 art. He has been teaching for 28 years and creating art for as long as he can remember. “Art is My Life”! His favorite piece is always the next one he creates! “As an art teacher I find myself playing around in all different facets of medium, but Raku Pottery with a Wyoming flare in my passion! Dustin has a booth in the art show.

Jerry Wood

It takes a unique skill to help stone tell a story, but that is exactly what Jerry Wood does. Wood’s love of stone sculpture began in 1979 while he was attending the Blackhawk Mountain School of Art when he picked up a hammer and chisel for the very first time. Ever since, his love of stone has driven him to continually push the boundaries on what he can do. Jerry doesn’t begin his carving with an idea. Instead, he begins by removing what doesn’t belong until he is able to see what lies within the stone and brings it out with a combination of devotion and time. For Jerry, the process of stone carving is a dance of labor and love, experiencing both fascination and fatigue until the image begins to emerge. Each piece is unique, a one-of-a-kind story that can only be told through Jerry’s skill as he turns the solid into fluid. From animal carvings to female figures, Jerry allows the stone take a shape that mimics other elements of nature, whether it is wind or water. Jerry has a booth in the art show.