Debbie Kerr, In Plein Sight® 2018

Debbie Kerr, Evergreen CO

Debbie has an obsession for art and living in Colorado has led to a passion for painting landscapes and animals.

She has always enjoyed exploring her surroundings for interesting subjects to paint, and the Colorado Rockies with their sweeping vistas, abundant wildlife, and ranches provide a wealth of inspiration.

For more information visit http://www.artistswithaltitude.com/debbie_kerr.htm

Image 0590 by Debbie Kerr

Debbie will be painting in the Open Space Parks as part of In Plein Sight 2018. Come and watch as she creates her lovely renderings of Jefferson County’s public parks, some of the finest in the country.

Debbie’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Debbie creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

Dawn Buckingham, In Plein Sight® 2018

Late Fall Shadows by Dawn Buckingham

Dawn Buckingham, Niwot CO

Dawn Buckingham is a Colorado artist with a passion for capturing the landscape in all seasons.

She began to pursue pastel painting after retirement from education and now exhibits her work in both local and juried national shows and plein air competitions.

As a career educator, she also enjoys introducing others to the pastel medium through No Fear – Just a Play Day classes and leads weekly open studio sessions.

For more information, visit www.dawnbuckinghamfineart.com.

Teller Farm by Dawn Buckingham

Dawn will be painting in the Open Space Parks as part of In Plein Sight 2018. Come and watch as she creates her lovely renderings of Jefferson County’s public parks, some of the finest in the country.

Dawn’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Dawn creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

Betsy Johnson Welty, In Plein Sight® 2018

Hildebrand Ranch Park by Betsy Johnson Welty

Betsy Johnson Welty, Denver CO

Betsy Johnson Welty attended Occidental College, majoring in fine art, with a focus in painting. She was a political cartoonist and graphic artist for the campus newspaper, and art director for campus publications after graduation. She returned to Denver to work in advertising as a graphic designer/art director, and opened her own studio in 1985. Along the way, Welty garnered numerous design honors and awards.

In recent years, Betsy has focused on her fine art, studying at the Art Students League of Denver, and has taken master classes with Kevin Weckbach. She has also studied with Susie Hyer, Mark Daily, Jordan Wolfson and Quang Ho.

Formation by Betsy Johnson Welty

Welty paints both en plein air and in the studio, in watercolor and oil. Welty’s paintings have appeared in many state and national juried art exhibitions. In 2017, she was invited to participate in the plein air event, “Capturing the Beauty of Open Lands” to benefit the Douglas Land Conservancy. Her painting, “Observatory Nocturne,” appeared on a commemorative poster for the 125th anniversary of Denver’s University Park neighborhood. Her work can be seen at Framed Image Fine Art in Denver.

For more information, visit www.betsyjohnsonwelty.com.

Betsy will be painting in the Open Space Parks as part of In Plein Sight 2018. Come and watch as she creates her lovely renderings of Jefferson County’s public parks, some of the finest in the country.

Betsy’s field schedule:

Monday 9/10 – Lair O’ the Bear Park, 22550 State Highway 74, Idledale

Tuesday 9/11 – Artists are on their own as we set up the Gallery

Wednesday 9/12 – Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, west trailhead, 5136 South Le Masters Road, Evergreen

Thursday 9/13 – Elk Meadow Park, Lewis Ridge trailhead, 2855 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen

Friday 9/14 – Centennial Cone Park, Ralph Schell (north) trailhead, 3956 Camino Perdido, Golden

Saturday 9/15 – Clear Creek in Golden (the booth will be opposite the Community Center and adjacent to the trail, at 10th Street and a small parking lot)

The works that Betsy creates will be on display and available for purchase at the In Plein Sight 2018 Gallery, Golden Community Center, Coal Creek Room (2nd floor), 1470 10th Street.

Gallery hours:

Wednesday 9/12 – 2 to 8 PM

Thursday 9/13 – 2  to 8 PM

Friday 9/14 – 2 to 6 PM (building closes at 6 PM)

Saturday 9/15 – 10 AM to 8 PM

Sunday 9/16 – 10 AM to 4 PM

Make plans now to join us for In Plein Sight 2018, and celebrate the beauty and wonder of our Jefferson County Open Space Parks.

VOLUNTEER FOR IN PLEIN SIGHT® 2018

 

VOLUNTEERS FOR IN PLEIN SIGHT® 2018 NEEDED

Be a part of the most fun “Art in the Parks” event ever, join us as the 25 In Plein Sight 2018 artists create their renderings of our wonderful Jefferson County Open Space Parks! We need volunteers to help in the field and in the Art Gallery. You can register to volunteer at the following EventBrite sites, just choose which day(s) and time(s) suits your schedule.

In the Park volunteer:

Staff the PLAN Jeffco canopy, answer questions, assist artists is locating spots to paint, assist getting lunches to the artists, returning canopy and material to the Golden Community Center at the end of day. On Sunday the 16th, staff an information booth at the Golden Giddyup event in Lion’s Park, Golden.

Monday 9/10:  Lair o’ the Bear – https://tinyurl.com/ycmuejph

Choose 7:00 to 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 3:00 to 7:00 PM

Wednesday 9/12:   Alderfer/Three Sisters – https://tinyurl.com/y8bt6uf8

Choose 7:00 to 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 3:00 to 7:00 PM

Thursday 9/13:  Elk Meadow – https://tinyurl.com/ycpft3pu

Choose 7:00 to 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 3:00 to 7:00 PM

Friday 9/14:  Centennial Cone – https://tinyurl.com/ybrmvdx3

Choose 7:00 to 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 3:00 to 6:00 PM

Saturday 9/15:  Clear Creek – https://tinyurl.com/y7dzjl2r

Choose  7:00 to 11:00 AM, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 3:00 to 5:00 PM

Sunday 9/16:  Lions Park, Golden – https://tinyurl.com/y7thtpfh

11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

In the Gallery volunteer:

Log in artist’s paintings, assist them in hanging the paintings, handle sales, answer questions. On Saturday the 15th, at 5:30 p.m. also assist with the evening reception. On Sunday the 16th, at 4:00 p.m., also assist the artists in removing the unsold paintings and disassembling the Gallery.

Wednesday 9/12: https://tinyurl.com/ybhtm43l

Choose 2:00 to 5:00 PM, 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Thursday 9/13: https://tinyurl.com/y9t9nx8t

Choose 2:00 to 5:00 PM, 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Friday 9/14: https://tinyurl.com/y8nmj8k7

2:00 to 6:00 PM

Saturday 9/15: https://tinyurl.com/yb5awzhe

Choose 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, 1:00 to 5:00 PM, 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Sunday 9/16: https://tinyurl.com/y9fhmxhr

Choose 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 2:00 to 6:00 PM

Welcome Returning Artists to In Plein Sight® 2018

Windy Platte River by Cliff Austin

On Monday, September 10th, 2018, 25 plein aire artists will descent upon Lair O’the Bear Open Space Park, in the opening act of In Plein Sight® 2018. Nine of these artists are returnees; they were part of the first In Plein Sight® event in October 2016. PLAN Jeffco proudly welcomes them back.

Cliff Austin, Littleton CO

Windy Platte River by Cliff Austin

Windy Platte River by Cliff Austin

Cliff Austin is a graduate of Denver Institute of Technology and The Rocky Mountain School of Art. An award-winning Colorado artist, Cliff has been painting and illustrating since 1980 and is affiliated with several Colorado art organizations including the Pastel Society of Colorado, Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Oil Painters of America and American Impressionists Society. The core of Cliff’s art is the relationship of light on shape using line and tone and color as it wraps and flows around the landscape, cityscape and figures. His work can be described as colorful, impressionistic and abstract. For more information, visit www.cliffaustin.com.

Patty Dwyer, Littleton CO

Image 9723 by Patty Dwyer

Image 9723 by Patty Dwyer

Whether working “en plein air” or in her studio, a sublime connection with nature permeates Patty Dwyer’s paintings, which have been described as expressive, joyful, textural, colorful and ebullient. A self-taught, life-long artist who works primarily in oils and soft pastels, Patty only recently began showing and selling her work. Patty is a member of Plein Air Painters of Colorado, Pastel Artists of Colorado, Greater Castle Rock Art Guild and the Denver Art Students League. As the founding member and chairperson of the Arts Committee at Cherokee Ranch & Castle in Sedalia, she is very involved in building long-term arts and programs at this historic castle and ranch. For more information, visit www.pattydwyerartist.com.

Shelley Howard, Denver CO

Golden Overpass by Shelley Howard

Golden Overpass by Shelley Howard

Originally from Ohio, Shelley Howard received a BFA in drawing and painting from Bowling Green State University, and later an MA in visual arts education from The University of Northern Colorado while teaching art in the public schools in Colorado. From the beginning, her work has been inspired by the architectural landscape in Colorado and New Mexico. The interplay of edges with expressive brushstrokes, or in Shelley’s case, mark making in pastel, helps unify the works while creating a feeling of rhythm throughout each piece. Shelley regularly exhibits her work as an active member of the Pastel Society of Colorado, the Plein Air Artists of Colorado and the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico. For more information, visit www.artistshelleyhoward.com.

Janeice Linden, Littleton CO

Storm at Red Tail Overlook by Janeice Linden

Storm at Red Tail Overlook by Janeice Linden

Painting landscape and wildlife has been Janeice Linden’s passion for more than 20 years. She has participated in the Southeastern Wildlife Art Show, Natureworks Art Show and Out West Art Show, and her work has been featured at OPA Salon Show of Traditional Oils, OPA Western Regional Show, Society of Animal Artists Exhibition, American Miniatures and Small Works Great Wonders. Additionally, Janeice’s paintings have been exhibited at Horizon Art Gallery, Settlers West, Wildhorse Gallery and the Beverly McNeil Gallery. For more information, visit https://artofsunshine.com/.

Norbert Nagel, Lakewood CO

Morning Serenity by Norbert Nagel

Morning Serenity by Norbert Nagel

Norbert Nagel is an award-winning plein air artist. Originally from Cincinnati, Norbert moved west to study at Colorado State University. Norbert is an Art Teacher at Jefferson County Public Schools, and he currently teaches art for the City of Lakewood. He currently serves as co-president of the Pastel Society of Colorado. Most of his painting is done en plein air, working to capture the feeling of a landscape more than copying it. Follow Norbert Nagel on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/norbert.nagel.5.

Rodgers Naylor, Denver CO

7:30 AM by Rodgers Naylor

7:30 AM by Rodgers Naylor

Rodgers Naylor takes a strong interest in the effects of light and shadow and warm/cool colors, and is intrigued by the interplay between the landscape and its human inhabitants. Each painting is both an abstract composition of light and dark shapes, and the starting point of a story whose details and conclusions may be imagined by the viewer. Rodgers completes some work “alla prima,” in one painting session, and others as a part of a group of paintings done together over a period of weeks. He paints both in the studio and en plein air. Rodgers is a member of the American Impressionist Society, the Art Students League of Denver, Oil Painters of America and Plein Air Artists Colorado. For more information, visit http://RNaylorStudio.com.

Mike Ray, Littleton CO

South View Red Rocks by Mike Ray

South View Red Rocks by Mike Ray

Mike Ray paints about half of his work on location, outdoors. He has received numerous national and international awards for his pastel painting work and is a Master signature member of the Pastel Society of Colorado. Born and raised in Colorado, most of Mike’s subject matter comes from front range locations west and south of Denver. For more information, visit www.mrray.faso.com.

Jennifer Riefenberg, Castle Rock CO

Aspen Impressions by Jennifer Riefenberg

Aspen Impressions by Jennifer Riefenberg

A fourth-generation Colorado native, born and raised in Jeffco, Jennifer Riefenberg has degrees in engineering and mathematics and is an award-winning plein air artist who feels most at home outside with nature and oil paint. Jennifer is a board member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado (PAAC) and member of the American Impressionist Society, Women Artists of the West, and Oil Painters of America.  She has been juried into national shows with her plein air paintings, including PAAC and WAOW, and has received several awards in area plein air competitions including Best of Day and Award of Excellence (Plein Air Magazine) in Fairplay, Best of Show at Paint the Town in Florence, Best of Quick Draw in Meeker and others. For more information, visit www.artofsunshine.com.

Beverly Thomas, Denver CO

Rocks at Gunnison by Beverly Thomas

Rocks at Gunnison by Beverly Thomas

Most of Beverly’s larger paintings start out as sketches , watercolors or small studies out in the field, where color and shapes are enhanced intuitively. Bev has been a life time painter, teaching for a while in Rhode Island before moving to CO in 2014. Bev’s work can be seen at Artists on Santa Fe in Denver. For more information, visit www.bevthomasonline.com.

Please join us on this opening day of In Plein Sight® 2018, and follow us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

Seasonal Wildlife Closures Begin Feb. 1

Centennial Cone Park. Elk Range Trail at Centennial Cone Park, including the interior of the park, is closed from February 1 through mid-June to protect elk during their calving season. All other trails are open.

Clear Creek Canyon Park. Portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park near Mile Marker 270 are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Bumbling Stock, Stumbling Block, Skinny Legs, Blonde Formation and Ghost crag. The Fault Caves are also included in this closure.Portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park, near Tunnel 2, are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Highlander, Evil Area, and Tetanus Garden.

North Table Mountain Park. Rim Rock Trail at North Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory and ground-nesting bird habitat.

Cathedral Spires Park. Cathedral Spires Park is closed from March 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory.

Crown Hill Park. The Crown Hill Park National Urban Wildlife Refuge is closed from March 1 through June 30 to protect nesting and brooding waterfowl.
Each year Jeffco Open Space uses seasonal wildlife closures at the parks to protect species at sensitive times in their life cycles.
Seasonal wildlife closures apply to all park visitors and all types of visitation. (Source: Jeffco Open Space)

Owner gives 41 acres in Kittredge to land trust

 

The Mountain Area Land Trust has received the largest land donation in its 25-year history of saving ranches, natural areas and other scenic resources.

Bob Meade, who retired in 1996 after working for the U.S. Geological Survey for many years, gave a 41-acre parcel north of Kittredge to MALT for the benefit of the community.

Meade said he had enjoyed managing the property he has owned since 1980 but his days as a volunteer forester had come to an end. He said he was delighted to give the land to MALT at this point and walk away, knowing that MALT would be taking good care of it, according to a press release. Meade enjoyed the property with his wife, Mereth, who died in 2013.

“We are truly humbled and grateful for his generous donation, said Jeanne Beaudry, executive director of MALT.

Based in Evergreen, MALT has protected 21,404 acres, mainly in the form of conservation easements, but this is the largest donation of raw land both in terms of size and monetary value, according to Linda Besler, MALT communications director.

MALT also owns some land on the side of Pennsylvania Mountain in Park County.

The Meade land is north of Kittredge between Kerr Gulch and Quartz Valley. It includes ponderosa forests, open grass and shrub meadows and rock outcroppings. It embodies conservation values of open space, scenic vistas, wildlife habitat and migration corridors.

Info at savetheland.org.

Rattlesnake activity closes Cottonwood Canyon Trail

Jeffco Open Space closed the Cottonwood Canyon Trail in North Table Mountain Park Oct. 20 due to rattlesnake activity.  The 1-mile-long trail is accessed from the bottom of the mesa on the east side of the park. For information on closures, see https://www.jeffco.us/964/Parks

In a separate incident, a hiker who was bitten by a rattlesnake while hiking in Mount Galbraith Park on Saturday, Oct. 7, died the next day at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood. The 31-year-old was about 1 and 1/2 miles from the trailhead when he was bitten, according to the Denver Post. A friend called for help and emergency responders hiked in to help him.

Andrew DuBois

OSAC Meeting Notes Oct. 2017

JEFFERSON COUNTY OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Open Space Administrative Office

700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100, Golden, CO

October 2017 – Meeting Canceled

 

Happy 45th Birthday PLAN Jeffco!

PLAN JEFFCO CELEBRATES ITS 45TH BIRTHDAY ON AUGUST 29 WITH A SUMMER PICNIC IN THE PARK

— CLICK HERE! — MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW —

Public Picnic and Guided Tours at Lookout Mountain Nature Preserve Open to All Ages

PLAN Jeffco is pleased to announce it will host a Summer Picnic in the Park to celebrate its 45th Birthday on Tuesday, August 29 from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. All ages are invited to attend the celebration at Lookout Mountain Nature Center, located at 910 Colorow Rd. in Golden. The event will be free to attend and open to the public.

 Guests can pack their own picnics, or will be able to purchase food from SmokeStack70 BBQ, vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free cuisine from WongWay Veg, and ice cream from Happy Cones, on-site at the Nature Center. PLAN Jeffco is providing birthday cake for all. There will be children’s nature-based activities, scavenger hunts indoors and out, and three guided hikes will be available for attendees of all ages. Enjoy one or all of the hikes, and do remember to bring picnic blankets and folding chairs if you want to picnic in the meadow.

4:15-4:45 PM: Bird-watching guided hike with PLAN Jeffco’s own Ann Bonnell, 2nd Vice President of the Audubon Society of Greater Denver. PLEASE BRING YOUR BINOCULARS. Due to the specialized nature of this hike and the hands-on instruction involved, this group will be limited in size to the first dozen attendees. If there is demand, Ann has agreed to guide a second group of bird-watchers, from 5-5:30 PM. ASSEMBLE ON THE STEPS OF THE BOETTCHER MANSION and be ready to leave promptly at 4:15 PM, and again at 5 PM.

5-5:30 PM: Natural History & Bio-diversity Tour lead by Alicia Vermily, Naturalist and Education Specialist at JeffCo Open Space since 2006. Join Alicia for a fun nature walk and see the oldest tree on Lookout Mountain. ASSEMBLE NEAR THE PICNIC AREA and be ready to leave promptly at 5 PM.

7-7:30 PM: Lookout Mountain Nature Center Site History Tour with Andrea Keppers, Jeffco Open Space’s own history educator. Andrea will delight you with stories of the history of Lookout Mountain and the Nature Center itself. ASSEMBLE IN THE PARKING LOT NEAR THE GATES TO THE NATURE CENTER and be ready to leave promptly at 7 PM. Don’t forget a jacket or a sweater, as the evenings on Lookout Mountain can be rather cool.

 Mary Ann Bonnell, Jefferson County Open Space Visitor Services Manager (also known as Ranger1), will provide a keynote talk at 6PM where she’ll discuss the stewardship of the land and its inhabitants, including the increase in the populations of coyotes, rattlesnakes and moose (yes, moose!) in Jefferson County. Mary Ann will be speaking in front of the Nature Center, or – if weather demands, inside the main room of the Nature Center.

Advance registration is encouraged so that we can be certain to have enough food; birthday cake will be served. Register here!

More information will follow by email and on this website as we complete the details. Sign up now so you don’t miss a thing!