Kristof Kosmowski: Following the muse December 22 2024, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

Kristof Kosmowski is one of those artists who follows the muse, and lately, that has come in the form of his recent home and studio in Crestone.

He and his wife have been building their dream home at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Range. The Crestones, a group of 14,000-plus-foot peaks, inspire him so much that he continues to paint different versions of the views outside his studio — the first part of the home the couple completed.

Evening Ambiance

“Every day, it’s a different lighting and environment; there are different clouds, or snow melting or coming,” he says, adding that various colors, from the sky to mountains, as well as the changing seasons, strike him. 

He likens his devotion of painting the same vistas in Crestone again and again to that of Claude Monet painting scenes of his garden in Giverny.

Moving Light

“It’s a kind of study,” he says, talking about his multi-acre property with views of the San Miguel, Sangre de Christo and San Isabel mountains. “I can see all of the mountains. Every turn of the head is different every day.”

In addition to his studio opening to stunning views, he just finished creating a cross-country track around his, and his cousin’s, property to take in the snowy views even more.

Magic Hour

He describes the quiet of the approximately 160-resident southern Colorado town as a quality he needs to concentrate on his painting. But his neighbors, comprised of professional authors, musicians and artists, as well as spiritual devotees from a variety of faiths, also help inspire him; once or twice a week, many of them gather to play music or otherwise socialize.

“It’s about the energy here,” he says, describing Crestone as a spiritual vortex that, similar to stories of the Hawaiian islands, either kick you out or take you in.

That energy has not only taken Kristof in, but also deeply inspired him.

“Artists find these places that mean the world to them, and they want to share that beauty. It is that sacred to them. It’s meant to be explored and seen again and again and again,” Brian says.

 Whether artists alter the landscape or render it more photo-realistically, they soulfully delve into their creations. That passion translates to viewers, allowing them to experience the natural environment in a fresh manner. It also offers scenes during times of the day or year that they might not otherwise witness.

Winter Soothe

That’s the beauty of both artists and muses: They invite viewers to see mountains, rivers or any other natural landscape anew, as if they’re opening their eyes to it for the first time.

“It’s a youthful experience,” Brian says.

Kristof recognizes that some people prefer sunsets over the mountains, while others prefer the winter crispness of snowy peaks, so he continues to paint similar, yet different, landscapes inspired by Crestone. He also realizes that, although the average person registers when it snows or when it’s hot, they don’t tend to slow down and notice the more specific elements in nature — to breathe and listen to the natural world. Art captures that magic, so people can relate to it in their homes daily.

Giverny

His landscapes, characterized by rich colors, texture and emotional energy, blend Colorado’s beauty with masterful European traditions he studied in his native home of Poland. He takes a modern, expressionistic approach to portraying Colorado’s mountainous landscape, often by placing greater emphasis on color, rather than details. Intermingling layers of colors with Venetian plaster results in a depth and rich vibrancy that sets his paintings apart.

From his engaging integration of texture and color-shifting pigments to his composition, his paintings ultimately come down to exploring — and reminding viewers — how beauty impacts us.

Kristof will be in the Vail gallery Dec. 27-28, so feel free to stop by and hear more about his technique and how nature acts as his muse; his show will be featured through January.

How to Give Art as a Gift December 08 2024, 0 Comments

With the holiday season upon us, many people are looking for the perfect gift for loved ones. But one of the places they don’t often think to look are galleries.

Art makes the perfect gift because it’s so unique.

An artful approach to gratitude November 23 2024, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

Art is a gift that just keeps giving. As the holiday season comes upon us, starting with Thanksgiving, it’s the perfect time to consider giving yourself, or loved ones, unique art.

Appreciating art fosters positive feelings, from gratitude to joy. In fact, a study by Semir Zerki, a professor at the University of College of London, showed that when people look at great art, it increases the amount of dopamine — the feel-good neurotransmitter — in their brains. The American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine reports that simply viewing art can beneficially impact the brain.

But we don’t need studies to tell us that we feel happier when we view art that pleases us. When we choose art for our homes — or even just browse a gallery or museum with an eye toward what makes us feel good — we tend to enjoy life more because we’re focusing on beauty. In other words, our attitude becomes one filled with appreciation.

Ana Maria Botero’s three-dimensional glass pieces are a shining example of appreciating the small aspects of life. She paints flowers, leaves, snowflakes and cacti on multiple panels of glass. And, talk about slowing down and enjoying the process: She literally paints her exquisite details using the single hair of a paintbrush. She takes a similar, attentional approach to life in general.

Born in Columbia and now living in Colorado, she misses the greenery and blooms that surrounded her year-round, so now, she encases the colors of her native land, as well as Colorado, within her works, for everyone to enjoy.

“I really appreciate beauty in art,” she says. “I know there are many ways to make art as a protest or a statement. For me, to bring something beautiful into someone’s home is important — to make people smile.”

Her background as an architect causes her to emphasize empty space within her glass pieces. She explains that people live within the “empty space” of a home, between walls, as do her flowers and other natural elements.

“To feel the empty space is what you enjoy,” she says. “That’s where the magic happens, and I just want to bring a little magic.”

Space also nurtures a sense of simplicity, calm and equilibrium. That’s what informs her work, and she hopes her pieces leave viewers “perhaps with a way to re-imagine their world.”

Houston Llew’s Spiritiles are another way of conveying uplifting messages. With the works priced at $199 (and up), they make great gifts.

In fact, Llew started making them as gifts, before galleries represented him. Using finely ground glass hand-painted on copper and then fired by kiln, his Spiritiles can hang on a wall or stand alone. His work features images and quotes, which emerge from his own experiences and translate to viewers in personal ways.

Perhaps the most poignant piece when it comes to gratitude is one of his earlier works titled, “Thanks.” It reads: “People will forget what you said and what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” The quote is from Maya Angelou.

Some feature quotes by famous people, like Carl Sagan’s “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known,” while others come to Llew’s mind. He sketched “Peak,” which showcases a skier, in our Breckenridge gallery and then came up with the quote — “Skiing is the way we get closer to heaven and down to earth” — walking through town.

 "Peak" by Houston Llew

“The muse comes by, and then she goes away,” he says about his inspiration — and the reason he takes notes immediately. “It starts with a concept.”

For Llew, the concept has always been to make people happy.

Art connects us with other peoples’ muses, sparking thoughts and feelings we might not have experienced otherwise — and those new encounters increase dopamine. It also encourages us to surround ourselves with uplifting visuals, slow down to take in beauty and inspiration and approach the world through a lens of gratitude.

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season!

Bring Colorado’s three-dimensional beauty into your home through sculptures November 09 2024, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

In our last blog, we talked about ushering landscape paintings into your non-Colorado home. Yet, there’s another, three-dimensional, way to bring the beauty of Colorado’s wildlife and vistas into your home — whether you live in state or not — and that’s through sculptures.

Sculptures add depth and delight to your home — much like spending time in the mountains does. Blending them with paintings results in a captivating, multi-dimensional aesthetic. Together, they tell a story about what you value.

When it comes to sculptures, many people automatically think of bronzes. But so many artists extend beyond typical bronze sculptures — even when they include the medium in their works.

For example, Colorado native James G. Moore incorporates bells into his wildlife-based bronzes. His inspiration stems from how bells traditionally gather people together, act as a signal for meditation or even warn people of danger.

Clay Enoch takes a playful approach to bronzes, while also integrating other materials in certain sculptures. Known for his uplifting works, pieces like “Ski School II” speak to kids venturing into the sport of skiing, while “Fall Line” and “Carver” showcase dynamic skiers on a steep slope fashioned from glass. “The Catch” captures children proudly displaying their fish on a line.

Other artists, like Alex Alvis, employ completely different materials. She utilizes paper clay to fashion her signature long-legged horses, which exude a vibrant spirit. She also creates stout mountain lions and wide-eyed owls that reflect Colorado’s wildlife. Many of her sculptures feature her distinct patinas, which add intriguing color.

Though Ana Maria Botero was born in Colombia, she moved to Colorado in 2005. She takes an innovative approach through her glass sculptures; in fact, she’s a bit of an illusionist. She uses the single hair of a paintbrush to meticulously paint reflections of Colorado in the form of turning aspen leaves, sparkling snowflakes, columbines (Colorado’s state flower), and other blooms. Then she bakes the piece, fusing the paint and glass. Like the mountains of Colorado, her sculptures impart a sense of calm, equilibrium and spaciousness, the latter of which particularly comes through her attention to empty space held within the glass.

If you’ve spent any time in Colorado, you’ve probably noticed that Coloradans treat their dogs much like kids, taking them just about everywhere they can. DD LaRue portrays the joy dogs bring to mountain lovers with her life-sized, mixed-media sculptures depicting hair-flyin’, smilin’ dogs hanging their heads from open car windows. While LaRue’s artwork differs a bit in the sculpture world because it does hang on a wall, its textural three-dimensionality cannot be denied. And, you just can’t help but smile when you walk into a room and see a car door, true to size, with fur-babies blowin’ in the wind.

Of course, if you love dogs, you have to consider introducing one of Marty Goldstein’s playful canines into your home.

Jeremy Bradshaw conveys the roundness and fullness of foxes, bears, wolves and birds while also connecting people with the majesty, playfulness and agility of mountain lions and foxes.

Houston Llew’s Spiritiles offer a small way to introduce three-dimensional art. Measuring 5 ¼ x 8 ½ x 1 ¾, they’re made of copper, glass and wood with finely ground glass hand painted on copper and then fired by kiln. While they portray various regions, you’ll find cowboys stating how “life can be a long ride,” a teepee reminding you to “find peace at home, within yourself” and a fox talking about a life lived wild.

When it comes to your art collection, it’s perfectly fine to group different mediums and different sizes, but sometimes it can be tricky to make it all look cohesive. We love creating harmonizing spaces, and we’re happy to guide you in finding ways to reflect your love of Colorado throughout your home.

Bringing Colorado Landscapes into Your Non-Colorado Home November 02 2024, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

Some collectors wonder if it’s fitting to hang landscapes of Colorado in their primary home located in another state, like Texas or even the tropical environment of Florida. Here at Raitman Art Galleries, we believe art should bring joy — it should light you up and make you smile — so we fully support displaying artwork depicting the majesty of Colorado’s forests, mountains, lakes and wildlife in your non-Colorado home.

The truth is: Art has no regional limits. It reflects and celebrates YOU: What you love, how you long to feel and what you treasure. And, when you can’t view the Colorado mountains, aspens and evergreens outside your windows, paintings provide your own, personalized window into nature.

Art elicits memory, and in that way, it allows you to bring home memories and recall them every single day. Research shows that viewing art improves memory by supporting you to recall precious moments you spent in a region, or in nature. Art also evokes emotions and helps you create a relaxing, calming space.

And, it tells a story. Paintings forge deep bonds between you and the landscape. They often prompt you to share entertaining and inspiring stories of time spent in Colorado when guests come to your home and notice Colorado landscapes hanging over the fireplace or in other prominent areas. They can act as a warm welcome in your entryway, connecting you deeper with your heart, and the places on this earth you cherish.

In that way, it inspires, and even keeps the excitement of returning to Colorado ever-present on a daily basis. It’s a dream-maker, in a sense, both transporting you back to wonderful times and acting as a quiet muse that whispers in your ear: Come back to your center, to your happy place.

Additionally, it forms a connection between you and the artist — whether you’ve met the artist or just resonate with the work.

The Colorado landscapes you choose to collect might be more traditional, or they might be more contemporary.

The Rozenvain family is a perfect place to look for energetic, vivid and textural depictions of wild animals and the environment. Check out Barak Rozenvain’s textural, mixed media triptychs, or his sister, Miri Rozenvain’s wildlife, which often incorporates natural stones and sand within the canvas. And, take in the colorful, as well as the monochromatic, portrayals of High Country wildlife — and even skiers — their father, Michael Rozenvain, creates.

Doyle Hostetler’s wild animals and horses draw you in through the power of their eyes, bringing you up-close and personal with the four-leggeds who roam Colorado’s forests.

Or you might fall in love with the moody, cool mountains of Jared Hankins’ “Piney Lake.”

If you’re looking for photography with depth and intriguing artistic value, consider Pete Zaluzec’s collection of both large and small wildlife. He reaches far beyond traditional photography by setting his pieces against Japanese Gampi paper, which greatly enhances the two-dimensional quality of his mostly monochromatic photographs.

There are so many more intriguing painters in the more “traditional” sense, and then there’s the work of Sushe Felix and Tracy Felix.

Inspired by the American Regionalist and Modern Art movements of the 1930s and ’40s, Sushe Felix layers brilliant colors of paint with collage and other mediums, resulting in a distinct, stylized interpretation of nature.

Tracy Felix reflects the light of the Colorado sky using layers of oils to create shadows and blocks between colors to portray vast snowfields, aspen trees, rivers and Colorado’s iconic peaks.

These are just a sampling of artists who masterfully depict the beauty of Colorado. We love introducing you to our nature-inspired, Colorado artwork, so feel free to stop in on your next visit, or contact us to explore all of the options we offer.

The Allure of the Aspen Tree October 18 2024, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

The aspen trees in Summit County and the Vail Valley are past their peak now, with glorious golden hues having swept across the mountainsides over the past few weeks. The brilliant display only lasts a few weeks — and that’s where art comes in. A number of our artists depict aspen trees throughout all of the seasons, so adding their paintings to your home can connect you to nature all year-round.

“I truly believe that when we step into nature, we become our truest selves. It connects us to the core of our being,” says artist Rolinda Stotts, one of the artists we represent. “It reminds us of our own humanness and that we are alive. That’s what we’re all trying to feel, is alive.”

Gazing upon paintings of aspens allows us to recall the feelings of walking through green aspens in the summertime, coming upon a golden grove in the fall or snowshoeing, skiing or riding among the barren but brilliant white trunks, with their black eyes seemingly peering at us, in the winter.

Aspens hold a special allure because they represent connection. Every tree in an aspen stand is connected to a single root system, so one tree is part of a larger organism. As a result, they’re considered one of the largest organisms on Earth.

“The big, overarching story of aspens is the relationship of community. In today’s world, with climate change and global (conflicts), we need to remember we are all connected,” Stotts says. “We are planted in a specific place with our own purpose, but underneath, we are all the same. I don’t ever have to say that in my aspen paintings — we all instinctually know it.”

"Kisses and Hugs" by Rolinda Stotts

Stotts creates her “liquid trees” using a palette knife to scrape and move paint around, blending colors.

“It almost becomes their own little energetic playground,” she says. “It feels like a dance. It feels like I become partners with this paint and this expression and identity of an aspen tree.”

The titles of her aspen paintings are very playful — like “Tutti Frutti,” “Playing Red,” “Disco Darlings,” “Opening Night,” “Liquid Daze” and “Wind Chimes.”

She layers paint so that if you look closely, underneath the white barks you can see different colors and notice that what looks like black is really a combination of blue and brown.

Kate McCavitt also loves hidden or partially revealed things in her paintings. She wants people to connect with her work — even touch it — and then find their own magic within it. Her unique mixed-media techniques employ fluid acrylics to enhance, exaggerate and embellish the beauty of her muse: Nature.

"The Curtain Call" by Kate McCavitt

Kristof Kosmowski takes a bit more of an abstract approach, but his aspens are still recognizable. “Van Gogh’s Grove” presents a more warped perception, while “Among the Aspens” conveys a more realistic winter view. His works combine oils and Venetian plaster on his hand-built wood panels for a captivating take on aspens.

"Van Gogh's Grove" by Kristof Kosmowski

Robert Moore has passed on his passion and knowledge of painting to his son, Robbie Moore, and now, both create inspiring aspen paintings. Robert Moore is the top impressionist painter in the western half of the United States, and Moore himself bets that his son will ultimately exceed his talent. Robert Moore’s use of color and the various tools and techniques he uses (including painting with both hands), make his vibrant aspens immediately recognizable. Meanwhile, as Robbie Moore hones his skills, he currently tries to replicate what he sees before he leaps into interpretation. 

Thane Gorek is captures the mystery of a landscape. He does this by beginning with a black-and-white underpainting using gouache and then adding color with glazed oil paints, which reveal the small details of the underpainting. His aspens often convey a rich, cool and very captivating mood.

"Watering Hole" by Thane Gorek

We hope you got to spend some time soaking in the golden hues of the changing aspens this fall. Either way, know that you always can immerse yourself in the wonder of aspens — in all seasons — at our galleries.

A special father-son show with Robert Moore and Robbie Moore September 14 2024, 0 Comments

Robert Moore is one of the top impressionist painters in the Western United States, and now his son, Robbie Moore, is following in his artistic footsteps. Our latest exhibition features both of them, including new works they finished just before the show.

Robert’s ability to create striking, impressionistic paintings has left a distinctive mark on the art world over the past few decades. His signature mark making, with its layers of compelling textures and patterns, cause him to stand out within a long and notable lineage of internationally-renowned impressionist painters.

From his rich use of color, no one would believe he’s color blind. But, he sees the world in only blues and yellows. As a result, he works with an assistant, who arranges an ordered system of color progression on his palette.

“I don’t know what the colors are, but I know they’re beautiful,” he says.

Though he became a renowned artist — and mentor — decades ago, he says it’s just been in the last five years or so that he fully understands what leads to natural beauty on the canvas. “That beauty is out there in nature,” he says, using the example of color progression within the trunk of an aspen. As sunlight hits the tree, warm light reflects onto the shadow side of the trunk near the ground, but as you look up toward the top of the aspen, the sky affects the trunk’s hues. “There are a thousand steps between the warmth down by the ground and the blue up at the top,” he says. And it’s those steps, or subtle color progressions, that he has mastered. “I’ve trained myself to look for the stepping of harmonious colors that are related but that clearly produce the variety of what we see in nature,” he says.

Both father and son have remained in Idaho, where Robert originally grew up, surrounded by glorious mountains and forests. Robert exposed all of his six kids to the artistic lifestyle, but Robbie, the fifth child, seems to have soaked it up the most. “He was right there in the mix, either with me painting or going to shows,” Robert says, adding that he’d even paint with Robbie in a backpack when his wife had her hands full with the other kids. “He’s got the genes, and he’s got the gift.”

“Growing up I was like a fish in water. I was totally saturated (in art),” Robbie says. “I didn’t know anything else. There was paint on clothes, paint in cars, paint everywhere.”

As he earned his bachelors in business administration, he realized how important art was to him, so he began to paint and study the subject, working as one of five or so apprentices his father has at any given time. Though the two paint similar subject matter because they tend to take the same outdoor trips, Robbie is focusing on replicating what he sees before he takes the leap to interpret it. “I want to build a solid foundation for a lifelong career,” he says, adding that learning and understanding art fuels a desire to learn even more. “I just take a lot of joy in the pursuit of craftsmanship.”

On Sept. 10, he completed the last of a series of paintings representing the transition from late summer to fall, in sizes ranging from 10x8 to 48x60, with the smallest depicting summer and the largest portraying late fall with snow-covered peaks. “The energy and the color just ramped up with the size,” he says.

Meanwhile, his father worked on “Down the Road,” a new 72x60 painting depicting fall colors within the Rocky Mountains. “I was attracted to this scene during a trip in the Rockies because of the brilliant fall colors. With the aspen trunks being backlit, there are beautiful progressions of color in the reflected light,” he says. “Also, I appreciate how the road is such a welcoming element in the composition, leading the eye into the distance and home.”

Other works within the show include Robbie’s bright fall foliage and mountains with moody or clear skies, while Robert’s works showcase color bursts of garden and wildflowers, as well as wintery and fall scenes. The exhibition offers a great chance to witness the budding of a new artist and the mastery of an established one within the same family. “I have no doubt that Robbie’s going to be better than I am in time, because he can see color, and he’s good with color,” Robert says.

So go see for yourself!

Kate McCavitt on Caring for an Artist’s Legacy August 31 2024, 0 Comments

Kate McCavitt on Caring for an Artist’s Legacy

By Kimberly Nicoletti

Here at Raitman Art Galleries, we not only represent artists, we also work with and care for them for a lifetime and beyond, sometimes managing their art estates.

We’ve known Kate McCavitt for nearly a decade, and in that time, we’ve gotten to know her as an artist, and a person.

“We’re just enamored with her,” says Brian Raitman. “She’s like family to us, and she has asked us to represent the art side of her estate when the time comes. Of course, we’re in no hurry to do that, but we are very honored that she would choose us to take care of something so precious and personal to her.”

McCavitt’s landscapes reflect the beauty of the environment, which she embellishes though lustrous layers and intense pigmentation that compel further exploration of her intricate detail.

Her story of developing a flourishing art career is an inspirational one — just like her paintings. It wasn’t until about age 50 that she began thinking about switching careers. She originally worked in telecommunications sales and customer service and then launched her own consulting business as a contractor for huge projects like universities and medical facilities. About 20 years ago, around age 57, she became a full-time artist.

“It doesn’t really matter when you start,” she says. “Starting late only means that you have a steeper learning curve.”

She began painting in her late 30s and spent 10 years training in Sumi-e, or Asian brush, with a contemporary Zen-style master. From there, she added color washes and metallics. As she evolved, she visited galleries, fairs and museums throughout the nation and studied with top artists.

"This Crimson Autumn"

“In addition to taking workshops, the only other way is to practice, practice, practice and continue asking yourself, ‘I wonder what if …,’” she says, adding that you can learn as much from failure as you can from success. “You start down a path, take many, many side paths, and find that the ground is getting firmer and firmer to (create) an aligned path.”

By displaying four times at the annual Artexpo New York, considered the world’s largest fine art trade show, she found representation in galleries worldwide; from Dubai to Hawaii, and, eventually, when our paths aligned, our galleries in Colorado.

She chose us to represent her art estate based upon both our business and friendship relationship.

“The Raitman’s check all the boxes for the type of gallery they have and the individuals that you would want to be guiding your life’s works after you are gone,” she says. “They are smart, they are sensitive and they treat their artists well. They honor the artwork: They hold shows, and they promote their artists all the time.”

McCavitt’s granddaughter, who’s currently 23, will also work with us to ensure the work doesn’t become orphaned.

“My number one priority is that I don’t want it to be a burden. In the last few years, I’ve been accepting things as they are and just adapting and initiating change, and this is part of it. It’s the best way to move forward. We have no formal contract because of our mutual trust. We’re just working off of a memorandum of understanding that’s not full of a lot of legal language, but it works. Now my focus is simply to play my best game in my overtime,” says McCavitt, who turns 77 on Nov. 25, 2024. “I just want to convey that I was here and that I added beauty to the world. That’s all.”

"The Curtain Call"

Experience neuroaesthetics through Kristof Kosmowski’s rich landscapes August 16 2024, 0 Comments

By Kimberly Nicoletti

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Following is the first article in a bi-weekly blog series by esteemed writer Kimberly Nicoletti! Keep your eyes out for new entries to the series on our website every other week!

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Our new show in Breckenridge north features the modern, expressionistic landscapes of Kristof Kosmowski. The Polish-born painter is known for his work in neuroaesthetics, a field that studies the way beauty impacts people when they view art.

Drawing inspiration from nature, he mainly focuses on his color palette. Research indicates that the human brain notices colors first, and that evokes an emotional response.

“That affects our entire process of viewing a painting, as color immediately informs our mood. From there, we start to recognize shapes and ultimately the subject matter — if there is one — of the artwork, and so on,” says Raitman Art Galleries co-owner Brian Raitman.

"Misty Vista"

Masters like Monet, Klimt and Cezanne have deeply influenced Kosmowski. In fact, you can see Monet’s profound influence on Kosmowski through the master’s “Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect” showcased at the Denver Art Museum. Both “Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect” and a plethora of Kosmowski’s paintings are excellent examples of neuroaesthetics.

Both Monet and Kosmowski’s paintings place a greater emphasis on the colors than they do the details of a landscape. In fact, Kosmowski believes that clusters of colors convey a different viewpoint. He likens his paintings to an out-of-focus photo and designs many of them to hang on the wall in four different orientations, providing an even richer perspective.

Kosmowski views abstract art as a mindset that involves subtracting details, which actually stimulates the imagination.

“When you look at my paintings, you have to think a little bit. Then you see something — and some people see different things,” he says. “It’s like the human brain. First you see colors, then shapes, then you participate in meaning. In my case, the colors are interesting first.”

His mountains, aspens and bodies of water — some more abstract than others — convey a poetic energy, as he blends layers of colors with Venetian plaster.

For example, the fiery red, orange and yellow hues of “Through the Valley” tend to invigorate or rev up viewers, while the cool tones of “Misty Vista” encourage more contemplative, calming emotions.

"Paradise"

His more realistic portrayals of classic Colorado scenery, such as “Paradise” or “Morning Mountain,” draw viewers into relationship with nature in a different way than their own experience would allow.

Works like “The Perfect Place,” which like all of Kosmowski’s paintings was created on a hand-built wood panel, result in a dreamlike view of mountains and trees, in which some might see ski-village-like structures hiding in the background, while others’ attention might just drift off into the peaceful mountains.

And that’s the beauty, and intrigue, of Kosmowski’s paintings: They provide their own, unique experience to each viewer.

"Morning Mountain"

“His mastery of color-theory and composition, his engaging use of textures and color shifting pigments — everything he does comes down to exploring how we are impacted by beauty,” Raitman says. 

Of course, you don’t have to understand neuroaesthetics, or even fine art, to appreciate the impact of his work; simply stop into our north Breckenridge gallery to experience it for yourself. The show will be up until at least Sept. 15.

"The Perfect Place"

The Making of a Masterpiece May 17 2024, 0 Comments

The result is a divinely inspired piece titled “Things Lost That Can Never Be Found.” Knowing that he would be spending much of the winter skiing and snowboarding (he is equally skilled at both), Cantwell set to work on a composition inspired by the curves of the mountains he loves to ride. Little did he know that as he started to work on the piece a beautiful flood of memories would overwhelm him.

Cantwell has fostered many children over the years. He has adopted two, a brother and sister duo named Eben and Jamie. Eben passed away in 2021 in a tragic hit and run car accident while he was out skateboarding. One of Cantwell and Eben’s favorite activities together was snowboarding. Creating this new piece hit Cantwell hard. He knew that he wanted light to emanate from the top of the composition. He didn’t know that the light woods, in this case a combination of holly, satinwood and maple, would ultimately represent the heavenly light that he pictured Eben ascending into.

The focal point is the cliff. It represents the sheer joy of adventure found while pursuing snow sports. Life is challenging, a fact that Cantwell found too poignantly while creating this piece given its connection to Eben. Cantwell’s mastery of marquetry has seen him overcome the challenges present in working with wood for five decades now. He knows, and represents in this piece, that overcoming challenges can be thrilling. This is why he expertly brings our eyes to such a steep feature in the composition. His use of holly contrasts nicely with the ebony used to create the darks just above the cliff. The distinct change in value brings your eye right to it.

“Things Lost That Can Never Be Found” is created from 300 different types of wood. A variety of about a dozen types of shells are used in the piece as well, with their shimmering effects wonderfully serving to mimic the effect of glittering snow. Cantwell is a master of movement and beautifully used highlights within the piece to make his viewers eyes dance around the work as they study it. The highlights amplify his aim of giving the artwork the appearance that it is snowing. Details are the foundation of his work. With 300 different types of wood present, and Cantwell’s unrivaled skill of shaving the wood down to the point it almost dissipates to dust, there are countless tiny pieces of wood filling in every gap between the largest slices used within the work. In many places throughout the piece there are over a dozen tiny of pieces of wood within a couple of square inches. The natural patterns found within each piece of wood, regardless of its size, are mesmerizing. It makes each part of the work seem to undulate with a radiant, natural energy.

Cantwell’s art has been shown around the world and featured in the collection of more than 10 museums, including the Smithsonian, the Laguna Art Museum, the Long Beach Museum of Art, Orange County Museum of Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, the Museum of Art and Design in New York, New York, the Craft and Folk Art Museum in Los Angeles, California,  the Mobile Museum of Art in Mobile, Alabama. Perhaps most prestigiously, Cantwell designed two pieces for the White House’s art collection. This led to a realization while he was in Breckenridge for his exhibition over the winter: Christopher Cantwell is here at our house. His art is in the White House. We are blessed and excited to share his masterful works in wood.

A Day at the Denver Art Museum January 08 2024, 0 Comments

Houston Llew...How It Began December 15 2023, 1 Comment

Jared and Nicole Davis, A Feature in Vail Valley Magazine February 15 2022, 0 Comments

Art Around the World, A Commission with David V. Gonzales December 05 2021, 0 Comments

The Story Behind Kate McCavitt's "Primal Elegance" Series March 07 2021, 0 Comments

Roger Hayden Johnson: Inspiration Behind the Paintings August 16 2020, 0 Comments

Thane Gorek Interview June 13 2020, 0 Comments

A Colorado Landscape in Your Non-Colorado Home May 21 2020, 0 Comments

Collecting Sculpture May 08 2020, 0 Comments

Do I Have Good Taste in Art? May 01 2020, 0 Comments

Finding the Perfect Work of Art for Your Home April 23 2020, 0 Comments

Marty Goldstein Interview April 16 2020, 0 Comments

The Benefits of Art in the Home April 09 2020, 0 Comments

Kay Stratman Interview March 26 2020, 0 Comments

Judy Greenan Interview February 07 2020, 0 Comments

Rolinda Stotts Interview January 13 2020, 0 Comments

Scy Caroselli Interview November 07 2019, 0 Comments

The Sushe Felix Interview October 02 2019, 0 Comments

Spotlight on Pete Zaluzec : Wildlife Photographer February 01 2018, 0 Comments

Pete Zaluzec has worked in mediums across the board, including wood carvings of detailed life-life birds to less representational bronze sculptures of bison.  He has always researched his subjects firsthand in the wild, all the while taking extensive photographs.  This collection of skilled photographs lead t his own unique photographic process. The intriguing image compels the viewer to look more closely and inquire about the process of creating such eye-catching imagery.

November and December Gallery Exhibitions November 08 2017, 0 Comments

Experiential shopping is a big deal to us. When you visit our galleries, it ought to be an experience far more fun and informative than your visit to any other gallery or store. One of the best ways to experience the art world is to meet the artists that have excelled in their careers to the point that they are shown in prestigious gallery collections. Watching them work and hearing the stories behind their creations can be mind-blowing. Thus, we have packed our winter season with an exhibition and artist demonstration schedule that is sure to satisfy!

The Frontiers Collection - New Spiritiles by Houston Llew June 06 2017, 0 Comments

Moving Mountains - from The Catalogues Vail/Beaver Creek Summer 2017 Issue May 18 2017, 0 Comments

Colorado's landscapes are grand, beautiful, diverse and so much more. The state has the kind of views that so many of our visitors wish they could bring home with them. While it would be impossible to move the mountains, Colorado's artists are skilled at capturing their surroundings. Many of them are adept at doing so in ways that present far more than an exact representation of the landscape. They create works that capture the memories and emotions experienced while exploring Colorado's grandeur. And they do so with artwork that can certainly be moved from state to state, or even from country to country.

Kristof Kosmowski in the Breckenridge Gallery July 25 2016, 0 Comments

Kristof Kosmowski was a prodigy in the European art world. He was awarded with 25 one-man shows in the largest cities of his native Poland by the time he was 25. He was also honored to show his work in the countries of Germany and Finland at such a young age. Kosmowski's training at both the Escola Massana Centre d'Art in Barcelona, Spain and the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland intensified his focus and furthered his career.

Today, he resides in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We are a state fortunate to have such a skilled artist amongst us. This weekend, he will be making appearances in the downtown Breckenridge gallery, Art on a Whim on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm.

Casey Horn's Newest Bronze Sculpture June 15 2016, 0 Comments

Our bronze sculptor, Casey Horn, known for his incredible three-dimensional renditions of Chinese written characters, has created a new series of sculptures. The new series is called "The Heart." Currently, Casey has two pieces completed, "Heart" and "Mindfulness," and is in the process of creating others for the series. The pieces will be grass script - a simplified fluid way of writing the characters - and some will be kinetic. Typically "Heart" will form the base for each sculpture in the series, with another symbol on top to create an exquisite symbol and sculpture. Because edition sizes will be small (typically nine castings per piece), we will be taking pre-cast orders.

Vail Film Festival Events April 08 2016, 0 Comments

The Pro Cycling Challenge in Paint September 08 2015, 0 Comments

A bike race is intense. Adrenaline pumps through the rider's veins. Their pedals spin furiously with each push of the legs. Their faces are full of focus and determination. Viewers rarely catch more than a glimpse of the riders. Despite the fleeting moment they are left with an abundance of energy from the rush of flesh, metal and rubber that just flew by them. Translating a moment so quick, yet so powerful, into a work of art is a challenging endeavor. David V. Gonzales has built quite the fine-art career by mastering the motion and energy that makes bike racing so enthralling.

Cynthia Duff Showing in Vail April 05 2015, 0 Comments

Organic. Unique. Contemporary. Classic. Combined, each adjective perfectly sums up the work of Cynthia Duff. Her wooden canvases literally pop off of the wall. Each piece undulates with a perfect combination of form, color and composition. Duff's show, hanging at the Art on a Whim gallery, presents a wondrous experience of discovering what can be accomplished when an artist steps outside of the box and literally bends their medium in new directions.

Ellen Woodbury Exhibition in Vail through February 1st January 20 2015, 0 Comments

Name a Disney movie between 1985 and 2005 and chances are Ellen Woodbury worked on it. Here are a few: Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and The Beauty and the Beast. Having been born in the early 1980’s myself; Woodbury spent her career bringing the stories that shaped my childhood to life. As a Directing Animator at the company that brought us The Magic Kingdom, Mickey Mouse and more, Woodbury’s career is marked with highlights and prestige. This weekend, she is meeting collectors while showing a collection of her sculpture at the Art on a Whim gallery in Vail Village.

David Gonzales' Exhibition, December 2014 December 10 2014, 0 Comments

Movement, energy and speed are intrinsic to skiing and snowboarding. The sports embody the spirit of interacting with nature. Combine their speed with big, pristine mountains and you will find an unrivaled sense of freedom and joy. David V. Gonzales seeks to capture all of the above in his lively acrylic paintings of skiers and snowboarders.

Cynthia Duff: Contemporary and Earthy Wall Sculpture October 13 2014, 0 Comments

Cynthia Duff’s sculpted wooden canvases embody the contemporary side of Colorado. Each piece undulates with a perfect combination of form, color and composition. Hailing from Grand Junction, Colorado, the artist’s work literally pops off of the wall. Her show, hanging at the Art on a Whim gallery, presents a wondrous experience of discovering what can be accomplished when an artist steps outside of the box and literally bends their medium in new directions.

The Pro Cycling Challenge in Art - Original Work by David V. Gonzales August 29 2014, 0 Comments

Vitreous Enamel: Luminous and Ancient Art Form July 31 2014, 0 Comments

Vitreous enamel is an ancient art form. The medium dates back thousands of years but it is rarely seen these days. This weekend, two of the artists chiefly responsible for keeping vitreous enamel alive are in Breckenridge to show off the wide ranging collections of their work. The stories of how they began working with such a unique process are as steeped in history as the medium itself.

Listen Hard, Walk Softly. A Work in Bronze by Ellen Woodbury July 22 2014, 0 Comments

I have been carving stone for 8 years.  It has happened during those years that I am struck with an idea for a sculpture that cannot be safely sculpted in stone because the possibility of breakage is too high.  Until now, I have simply abandoned those ideas and moved on.  However, the inspiration for “Listen Hard, Walk Softly” was too powerful for me to ignore.

Marty Goldstein and his Playful Bronzes Visit Vail and Breckenridge June 26 2014, 0 Comments

Playful only begins to describe the work of sculptor Marty Goldstein. The bronze dogs that make up his “Harvey Dogs” series are all full of personality. Every single piece is sculpted with one purpose: to bring laughter and joy to the lives of the people who collect his work. If a piece doesn’t bring a smile to his lips while he is sculpting the clay form, it doesn’t get put through the arduous lost wax process to be cast in bronze.

Houston Llew and Chris Lundy Shows in Vail January 26 2014, 0 Comments

This is a great article that ran in the Vail Daily over the weekend:

Art on a Whim in Vail: Our Background, Our Concept and Your Time to Party! December 26 2013, 0 Comments

The Art on a Whim Gallery has arrived in Vail with a unique concept. Art should be fun. It should make us smile. While beauty is ever present in the Art on a Whim collection, the gallery derives its distinctive presence from the belief that pushing the envelope and having fun while doing so is what makes art worthwhile. As a result, you would be hard pressed to leave their Bridge Street locations without a smile on your face.

Why a New Website? November 27 2013, 0 Comments

Why do we have a new website? There are many reasons for it, but the primary reason is security. Our new website allows us to provide the highest level of online shopping protection you can find on the web. With Level 1 PCI compliance, you can be assured your information is always secure. This allows us to offer something we've always wanted for our frequent online shoppers: the ability to create a customer account for our site. This will allow you to safely store your information and greatly reduce the amount of time you spend checking out of your online shopping cart by eliminating the need to retype your information for every purchase you make through our site. You'll be able to add multiple ship to addresses, select your shipping method and see shipping costs prior to checkout, use discount codes and more. It should make the online ordering process much, much easier.