Watercolors, Pastels and Welded Sculptures Will Be on Display at Cimarron Books and Coffeehouse

RIDGWAY – Four local artists’ work will be put on display for a holiday art show at the Cimarron Books and Coffee House in Ridgway beginning with an opening reception on Sunday, Dec. 20, 3-5 p.m.

The holiday art show will showcase the watercolor and pastel paintings of Susan “Lupita” Baker, Diane Rickey and Connie Anderson as well as the welded steel sculptures of David Miss. Each artist will have several pieces of work on display for about a month.

Baker, of the famed Lupita’s Bizarre Bazaar, has been painting watercolors and pastels for about three years now, after being a potter for six years. She said she mainly paints landscapes inspired by Ridgway’s surrounding landscape but often reverts back to ocean landscapes where she grew up.

“When you live in this beautiful country you want to express your appreciation in some form,” Baker said last week. “I took to watercolors and pastels and mainly I do landscapes. I am really excited to see everyone’s work at the show.”

Rickey will also display her watercolors and pastels at the show. She has lived in Ridgway for over five years now. Prior to moving to Ridgway, Rickey was a representative for her own photo studio in Michigan, and worked as a rep for a photographer who had clients in national advertising, as well – keeping her, Rickey tallies, close to the arts for over 30 years.

“When I came here five-and-a-half years ago, I met so many artists,” Rickey said. “Being surrounded by all of these artists inspired me to take a painting class with Meredith Nemirov and I have been painting ever since. It’s a pleasure to be asked to be in the art show.”

Anderson spends her time in the summer in the high country, once the mountain passes are open, where she loves to paint everything from animals to people to mountain landscapes. Anderson, who has worked with watercolor for seven years, said she draws much of her artistic knowledge from her mother.

“My mother was an artist and I’d always wanted to see if anything wore off on me,” Anderson said. “Sure enough, I find myself remembering things she used to tell me about painting. I love to paint the landscapes here. It’s always inspiring.

“There is always something more to learn, opportunities to go deeper with creativity and fall more in love with the process,” Anderson added.

There will be five welded steel sculptures at the show created by Miss, a Colorado native and a welder by trade.

“I started making these about two years ago,” Miss said of the welded weathervanes, birds and other sculptures he has been working on. “When I retired, I decided that I needed to start doing stuff I wanted to do.”

He said he has already put together close to 10 different sculptures (one of which is on display outside Lupita’s) and there are several birds around town.

Cimarron Books and Coffee House is located at 380 West Sherman St. Refreshments will be served at Sunday’s opening reception.