Fostering Health and Well-Being for People, Animals, and Nature
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EAE 2022 Introduction
A Look Back with SuzAnne & Paula
Artist Interview: Rebecca Kinane
Artist Interview: Johanna Johnson
Artist Inteview: Linda Leslie
Artist Inteview: Nikci King
Artist Inteview: Dawn Ness
Artist Inteview: Kim Kresan
Artist Inteview: Annette Wagner
Musician Inteview: Charla Bauman
Portraits at the River
Releasing the Herd
About the Artists
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I am an artist and visual designer that has been living in the Missoula area since 2013. I graduated from the University of Montana in 2019 with a degree in Art and I currently paint in oils and do graphic design. I have always loved drawing and learning how to use different mediums. Most of my time is spent with my family; a firefighter husband, 16 and 13 year old sons and our wire-haired pointing griffon dog. We like to be active with various outdoor sports but also love staying home.
My work mostly revolves around nature. I am always observing and trying to learn from the plants and animals around me. I have always overlapped my interests of science and art and believe that art is a pivotal instrument to learn and teach any subject. Whether that is history, biology, psychology, math or even instructions on how to do a task.
I am a multi-media artist with roots in nature, health, animals, and a love of the old. Conceptually wanting a smaller footprint, I strive for repurposed materials to create my “whimsical industrialism” theme. My work contains strong movement, color, and abstraction, while searching for a balance between a structural habitat and abstract realism. I received my BFA in 2011 from Idaho State University with an emphasis in acrylic painting and metalsmithing. I have been found in art walks, farmers markets, bumpers, boats, desks, country clubs, museums, small shops, parade of homes, and at Raja’s.
My concept has to do with the end of a species trail. Dino endings! The horse will be the ultimate ending to the design! Same theme, alternate coloring to lumify.
Kim Kresan is an artist, cartographer, and dessert enthusiast who's hopelessly in love with her home state of Montana. Her work dips back and forth between digital and traditional, geometric and naturalistic, and explores the flow in between. Though her subject matter is sometimes wildly divergent, it's almost always colorful, and shiny whenever possible! When not creating with lines and paper, Kim can be found making maps, baking, reading, gardening, and generally absorbing as much sunlight as possible.
This year’s theme, “The Trail Ahead”, immediately brought to mind a quote I saw recently: when asked about what they thought the future might bring, with all the pain and struggle of the recent past, a respondent replied, “I think it will bring flowers.” “Why is that?”, they were questioned. The reply was so simple: “Because I’m planting flowers.” I have ever been an optimist, and I continue to be. I still think the world is a bright and beautiful thing, and perhaps that is my rebellion. I believe the trail ahead can be as bright and vibrant as we make it, and that’s what I intend to do. I created this piece to represent that forward momentum, that energy of purpose - forging ahead with bold and bright strokes into the beautiful unknown, full of possibility.
Linda Leslie has been studying classical figurative painting for over four decades. She is a Non-Resident Artist Member of the Salmagundi Club. Her educational background includes studies at the Art Students’ League and the National Academy in New York.
She moved from the east coast to Santa Fe in 1994 where she studied with David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, Tony Ryder, Geoffrey Laurence and Kevin Gorges.
Born: 1951, New Haven, Connecticut
Previous Residence: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Current Residence: Missoula, Montana
When I heard about the Equine Art Extravaganza at Dunrovin Ranch I felt excited and wanted to be a part of it. I love horses, rode as a youth and as an adult. I've owned a horse, "Black Jam." I've painted horses, but I have never painted ON a horse!
I believe this event at Dunrovin is positive, and a chance to contribute my enthusiasm towards a cause.
It is a refreshingly new experience for me to paint on a living, moving being. I'll be using saturated primary colors - not my usual palette of muted earth tones, and will create simple graphic shapes that can be read from a distance on a moving "canvas." My assigned horse is named "Rocket," which is perfect for this year's theme of the Trail Ahead and my concept: Rocket over the moon into the starry night.
I'm looking forward to participating with the other artists, being around the horses, and working with the wonderful people I've met at the ranch. I have such a high regard for the Dunrovin Ranch, for the care of the animals, the facility and the thoughtfully developed outreach they are offering to a far-flung community.
I was raised just south of Billings where the creek ran as freely as the kids that grew up there. My folks say I was born with a crayon in my hand and horses on my mind. I am a self taught, horse crazy artist, who is grateful for an abundance amount of support and instruction in my creative adventure. I use a variety of mediums that include Watercolor, Oil, Charcoal, Acrylic and Graphite. My style has a wide range to suit the mood of each unique piece.
People ask, “Where do you get your inspiration?” It’s different every time. It’s been a sunrise, a song, a memory or a vision. One constant is that my heart and mind collaborate to lead my hand to express those feelings onto the paper or canvas. One of the most memorable compliments I received was from a client who said “I’ve got to have that painting! I feel like that horse is looking right into my soul.” I asked if he was an equine art enthusiast and he replied, “No, but I am now.” I create out of love and I love what that can create!
My visions of “The Trail Ahead” are vast, open and unexplored. There is no physical trail at all. I believe the proverbial “Trail” is living our lives with our hearts, our intuition, dreams, beliefs and inspiration. We should never let the wonder of what is right in front of us, be taken for granted. “The Trail Ahead” is full of wonder, I hope you experience it often!
Annette studied painting with American Master painter Sue Hoya Sellars who taught her the practice of Japanese sumi-e. Annette also studied with renowned Asian watercolor painter, May Shei. Annette’s background includes a M.A. in Women’s Spirituality along with 21 patents from hi-tech land.
Annette learned the practice of Intentional Creativity from Shiloh Sophia, the founder of the IC movement. Annette uses this practice to create acrylic paintings based on inquiry, myth and mystery.
Annette is a certified Intentional Creativity Teacher and faculty at the Color of Woman School new IC teachers are trained and certified. She also has a certificate in Creative Expressions. She regularly teaches workshops in her studio in Stevensville, MT.
The mediums she works in include acrylic, watercolor and ink, collage and sculpture.
I love walking down a trail early in the morning listening to the birds, talking to the trees, and touching the wildflowers. Wherever I go, I have my sketchbook, sumi-e pen, and watercolors. As I walk, I ground down into the earth and open my heart to hear what wants to be painted.
When something calls to me, I stop and listen. Before I begin to paint, I connect to the essence of what I see, what is called the “chi”, the life or breath contained in the tree, a rock, leaf, or sea shell before me. This life force flows through my heart, the end of the brush and onto the paper.
In this way, I activate the right and left sides of my brain which moves me into a place of inspiration and intention. I “write” what I see, ask what words want to be painted and whisper a word of thanks before I continue on my way.
My intention when I create is to honor the earth upon whom I walk as well as to provide opportunities for others to step into a deeper connection with their heart and our planet.
