TOG Artists

Darlene Bushue Photography

Patty Dwyer Oils and Pastels

George Epp Woodturning

George Epp uses his lathe to turn Colorado’s pine and aspen into beautiful pieces of art.  After retiring he went back to an interest in wood turning that began in junior high wood shop classes. He has developed techniques for inlaying turquoise and abalone shell in the cracks and recesses in the wood he finds locally.  His forms often evoke the simplicity of Native American potteryand the patterns of inlay are a reminder of Colorado’s streams and lakes.

George has lived in Boulder County, Colorado since 1951.  His 30-year career with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, included 12-years as the elected county sheriff.  He also served a stint as Director of Emergency Management for the State of Colorado and four years as executive director of County Sheriffs of Colorado.

Lyn E. Ferguson Photography

Lyn has observed and photographed natural wonders and wildlife in Africa, Australia, Costa Rica, Peru, the Galápagos Islands, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, National Parks throughout the United States and now Estes Park. Her photography reflects respect and gratitude for the gifts of nature and an ability to pay attention to and appreciate the large and small in nature.

Lyn finds that “everything experienced by the senses is meant for the spirit.” Therefore, the visual art of photography, at its finest, is spiritual expression.

Lyn retired to Estes Park after a 34-year career as a counselor working with college and high school students. Lyn received her BA and MA from the University of Northern Colorado, and her EdS and PhD from the University of Florida.

Dawn Foster Jeffries Dye & Plant Artist

Dawn Foster Jeffries is a botanical dye and plant artist. She finds great joy in merging her passions for science, nature, outdoor exploration, and gardening through her work with dyes extracted from plants and eco printing. Eco printing is a remarkable technique that allows natural dyes, pigments, tannins, and textures found in plants to be transferred onto various surfaces like paper, fabric, and clay. This process involves careful arrangement of leaves, flowers, and other botanical materials onto the chosen surface.From a young age, she was fascinated by the scientific world, performing experiments with her mother,who was a microbiologist. Working with botanical dyes and plants has allowed her to continue herexploratory endeavors. 

All of her art is made using plants. Her art process includes growing and collecting plant specimens. Shecompresses and steams plant matter between paper or fabric to capture the pigments and patterns from the actual plant. She grows many of these plants in her ever-expanding dye garden. She also loves exploring Colorado’s trails with her Labrador Retriever, Link, gathering plant material to use to craft her prints. Her art is inspired by the mysteries and science of vegetation native to Colorado and throughout the world.

She is a Colorado native and lives in Littleton with her spouse and 3 children. In addition to creating art and shuttling her children from activity to activity, she enjoys working with children through Destination Imagination, a creative, problem-solving STEAM program.

Steve Goddard Printmaker & Photographer

Originally from Altadena, California, Steve made his first prints as a child at the Pasadena Art Museum. He studied printmaking at Pasadena City College, Grinnell College, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and the University of Iowa. His activities as a photographer began when he was given his first camera at age twelve. He continues to work in both analog (film) and digital formats. As a printmaker he works in etching, engraving, woodcut and linoleum cut.
For 35 years Steve was curator of prints and drawings at the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, where he specialized in the graphic art of sixteenth-century Northern Europe. He purchased a small etching press shortly after he retired, fulfilling a longtime dream. Steve and his wife Diane bought their year-round home in Estes Park in 2016.
His recent etchings and engravings have focused on the remains of trees observed in or near Rocky Mountain National Park. He does not think of these as stumps or logs since those terms conjure up human intervention with axes and saws. He considers them more as ruins or as horizontal trees, having succumbed to old age, disease, beetle infestations or fire, often revealing their complex biological structure and their interdependence with other life forms.

Malena Hirschfeld Oil Paintings

Malena is a contemporary western artist most inspired by horses and rocky mountain wildlife. Horses have been both a fascination and a major part of her life for as long as she can remember. They’ve played a role in teaching me independence, patience, responsibility, and creative escape. The individuality, intelligence, grace, and beauty of horses is what she captures in her work.

She attended Colorado State University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in fine art with a concentration in painting. She continued painting as a hobby while she pursued her master’s degree in education from the University of Northern Colorado and became an elementary school teacher. Though she remains passionate about early childhood education and the role of art in children’s lives, Malena decided to leave the classroom to pursue her dream of becoming a professional artist.
She is currently a member of The Old Gallery, Thompson Valley Art League, Longmont Artists Guild, Firehouse Art Center, Cowgirl Artists of America, and the East Boulder County Artists, and enjoys attending local art festivals. Her work is currently on display at Western Stars Gallery in Lyons, Colorado and Lincoln Gallery in Loveland, Colorado.

Robin is a retired veterinary pathologist with a passion for wildlife. During the past 15 years she has combined her love of animals with her interest in photography into an all-consuming hobby. Robin and her husband, Wayne, split their time between their home in Loveland and their cabin in Allenspark, where they enjoy watching the many birds they attract to their property. She finds birds particularly challenging and rewarding to photograph. Robin and Wayne have traveled extensively together to photograph birds and other wildlife in their natural habitats. Spending time in nature and sharing a quiet moment of connection with animals while capturing images is a source of great joy.

https://www.instagram.com/robinjasperwildlife/
https://www.pictorem.com/gallery/Robin.Jasper.Wildlife.Photography

Heather Kegel Ceramics

Heather graduated in June 2015 with a BFA in studio art from the University of Denver. After graduation, Heather slowly began assembling her own studio, purchasing a wheel and installing a kiln in her sun-porch. As a regular studio practice emerged, she dedicated more and more time to her craft, finally transitioning to a full time artist in August 2021.

Heather is a member of the Boulder Potters’ Guild and East Boulder County Artists. She participates in Guild shows and sales and EBCA studio tours and events. She is also a ceramic instructor at Wheelhouse Clay in Longmont, and the Boulder Potters’ Guild.
Heather has shown in a number of local and national galleries, including Plinth Gallery, Redline, Muse Gallery, Pottery Northwest, the Firehouse Art Center, Flower City Arts Center, Pirate: Contemporary Art, and Charlie Cummings Gallery.

Susan Krauth Acrylics

Born and raised in Northern Indiana, I wanted an indoor hobby to occupy my time during the long, cold winters and hot, humid summers. I picked up a paint brush at the age of 10 and haven’t stopped painting since.  I became serious about painting in 2001 and traveled the country doing art shows for about 10 years. After settling down in Estes Park in 2016, I began to focus on painting wildlife. I paint out of my home in downtown Estes and have my art displayed in many establishments throughout town.

Diane Kremer Jewelry

Diane Kremer has been making jewelry for over fifteen years.  She primarily works with polymer clay, metal clay, leather, and gemstone beads.  She loves the rustic, natural beauty of Colorado and strives to capture this aesthetic in her work.  Her goal is to create art jewelry that is as inspired as its wearer. Diane says “Polymer clay is a miraculous material that can do just about anything.  It is compatible with so many art products from across the mixed-media spectrum that the sky is the limit for my creations.”  

Diane began her professional career as a computer engineer and worked in high-tech for 20 years. After leaving the computer industry and becoming an empty nester she embarked on a second career as a jeweler.

Diane is now a full-time working artist who sells her jewelry at juried art fairs all along the Front Range.  She is thrilled to be exhibiting at Lincoln Gallery in Loveland, 3 Square Art in Fort Collins, the Firehouse Art Center in Longmont, the OpenStudiosDowntown Gallery in Boulder, and the OpenStudios Boulder Junction Gallery in Boulder.

Her work was included in the Museum of Boulder’s exhibit “Drawing Parallels: Community Art and Artifacts from 2020”.  Diane is an active member of the East Boulder County Artists Association, the Mile High Polymer Clay Guild, Open Studios, and is a former president of the Rocky Mountain Bead Society.

dianekremerjewelry.com

“I believe in letting the metal find its way, the gemstones speak to me, and pull inspiration from nature often.   All my pieces are hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind. I want people to have an organic personal attraction to the pieces…something that speaks to you. Being “imperfectly perfect” is all part of the process.”

Rachel has a fine arts metalsmithing degree from Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, PA. She has created her own line of jewelry for over 20 years and have been in many hand-crafted shows over the years. She works from her home studio in Longmont, Colorado, with her faithful studio dog Mara by her side. The other half of her business name is from Mara’s cousin Luna in Santa Barbara, CA.

maralunajewelry.com

Mary Morse Fiber Art

A nature enthusiast at heart!  Mary, a neighboring resident of Allenspark, grew up in the east, where she enjoyed gardening and hiking the Appalachian Trail.  Mary taught kindergarten for 9-years, during which time the classroom crafts inspired her passion for Dyeing, Fiber Arts and Felt Making.   

Over the course of 12-years, Mary traveled the county; teaching Felt Making while marketing her exquisite creations.   Her remote studio in the Mountains, offers an abundance of materials (example; leaves, foliage and flowers), which she uses to naturally dye and create botanical prints on silk.

We are thrilled to display Mary’s original, “Mother Nature Inspired and Incorporated” hand crafted scarfs, hats, bags and other fun apparel at The Old Gallery.

Julie Neri Ceramics

Growing up on the Connecticut shore gave Julie Neri an appreciation for sea life, trees, leaves and the patterns found within nature. You will see many of these patterns reflected in the texture of her clay creations: the veins in a leaf, the bark of a tree, the shell of a sea turtle, and the rambling stones of a rock wall.

Julie began her relationship with clay through the need for a non-intellectual pursuit after obtaining her Masters in Public Administration. That was 30 years ago and clay has since become an essential part of her life.  She started by throwing on the wheel and took many years of adult classes.  She later started her studio in her house, began exploring hand building and found that hand building is what she craves.  Julie’s work is based in texture, inspired by nature and infused with a touch of whimsy.  She is known for her leaf trees, houses, sea turtles, painter’s palettes, planters and vases.

Julie is the Sale Treasurer for the Boulder Potter’s Guild (BPG), and Communications Coordinator for The Old Gallery Artists.  You can find her work on Etsy, at the BPG sales in Longmont, CO twice a year, at The Old Gallery, Allenspark and The Aspen & Evergreen Gallery, Estes Park year-round. 

julieneripottery.com

Amy Okubo Jewelry

AOArts features the metal-smithing creations of Amy Okubo and represents the manifestation of my lifelong love of jewelry. After a long career as an attorney, my metal-smithing journey began in 2019 when I took my first silversmithing class. From that one class, my love of creating jewelry was born. I studied for six months and then began building out my own studio; I still create in this studio today and I have been consistently honing my craft since then.

Each piece of jewelry is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind. My art is organic and imperfect, yet perfect to me! Sterling silver, copper, and brass are combined with gemstones  to create unique and organic rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

Creating “pretty little things” brings me great joy and happiness. I hope you will feel the same way when wearing my jewelry creations! Amy

Cheryl Pennington Photography and Hand Tinting

Cheryl was born in Emporia, Kansas and received her B.A. from Emporia State University. She taught physical education and coached gymnastics, swimming, tennis and track in Niwot and Longmont, Colorado. Upon retiring, Cheryl rekindled a long time interest in black and white photography and, for a different look, began to hand color black and white images with oil paints and colored pencils. Black and white photos were often hand colored before the advent of color film. She hand colors her own images as well as historic photos. She has been involved in hand-coloring photos for numerous books and articles about Colorado including Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s book, Rocky Mountain Rustic, YMCA OF THE ROCKIES, Reflections, Traditions and Vision, Rocky Mountain National Park – Historic Places by William B. Butler, and Rocky Mountain National Park – Pictorial History and Estes Park – Beginnings, both by Kenneth Jessen. She was recently chosen for the Hall of Fame at Emporia State University for contributions made in the teaching profession during her 30-year career.

Lois Rentz Fused Glass

I have always had a passion for glass.  My love for this art started over 40 years ago with stained glass learned during high school, glass blowing in college, and fusing for the past dozen years. My interest in this art medium has not slowed down.   

I grew up in Illinois, received a bachelor degree in Business Administration and a minor in Art at Illinois State University.  I married, moved to Colorado in the early 80s, continued with a paralegal certificate and fully immersed myself into glass after raising our three children.

Glass is fused using one of my three kilns located in my home studio.  Temperatures for a full fuse might go as high as 1500 degrees, the whole process taking 8-15 hours which is determined by the thickness of the glass.  Depending on the outcome desired, some pieces may be in the kiln two or three different times.  There is rarely a day when one of my kilns are not running.   There is something special about taking a flat sheet of glass, cutting it into various shapes, and programming a kiln to mold it into something new and interesting.  I am currently having fun making my mid century modern panels, most featuring cats.  

I’m a member of the Glass Artists of Colorado and the Boulder County Arts Alliance.  I’ve exhibited, sold items, and won awards at the Echters Glass Art Show, 40 West Gallery, and the Cheyenne Botanic Garden Show, among others.  I currently have work at galleries in Georgetown, Central City and Lyons, Colorado.  

Eli Roehl Jewelry

Eleanor (Eli) Roehl works in the pristine beauty in the shadow of a 14,000 foot peak in the Colorado Rockies. In this remote studio, her appreciation for Nature is reflected in unique one-of-a-kind jewelry.

Very concerned about protecting our environment, she uses hand-built, recycled metal in abstract and expressionistic designs.  Her designs compliment the stones she personally selects making each truly unique. The colorful, semiprecious stones in her designs, often draw from the vibrant colors of the Caribbean, where she once lived. Recent additions to her collection, Eli is incorporating Native American spirit and power fetishes in many of her designs.

Her elegance of style translates into highly collectible jewelry that appeals to an upscale, sophisticated market.

MaryLynn Schumacher Clay Tiles

While earning a Bachelor’s of Environmental Design, emphasizing architecture, from the University of Colorado, Boulder, MaryLynn Schumacher became fascinated with clay while taking a recreational pottery class at the Pottery Lab, also in Boulder.  After college, MaryLynn focused full time on becoming a professional clay artist. Largely self-taught, she has acquired skills and learned techniques working with talented potters and artists in shared local cooperative studios and organizations, including Mud-luscious Studio, the Boulder Potters’ Guild, and Centercraft Studios. Living and working in Boulder, she has been an exhibiting artist since 1989, participating 24 years in Boulder’s Open Studios Tour, 19 years in the Boulder Potters’ Guild Spring and Fall sales, and 15 years in Loveland’s Sculpture in The Park show.

About the bird tiles:

This series of tiles features birds regularly seen throughout the Front Range: goldfinches in gardens, chickadees in wooded areas, ravens and crows spying on and commenting on human behavior throughout the metro area.  Each handmade tile starts by pressing soft clay into plaster molds designed and cast by Schumacher. Additional details are sculpted to refine the bird. Once the clay stiffens, the background design is stamped or drawn by hand. This process of hand sculpting and drawing makes each tile unique.  Once dried, the tiles are bisque fired.  After this initial firing, layers of slips, stains, and glazes are applied to give each tile a rich and varied finish. The tiles are then fired again in an electric kiln to melt the glaze and fuse it to the tile. A wire hanger is added so the tile is ready to display. Protect tile from wet, freezing weather.

Debra Stanger Acrylics, Oils, and Pastels

“Boldly Beautiful” is how a collector of Debra’s work describes her art.
Debra is an award-winning artist who taught art for much of her career. Debra’s passion is for painting animals, nature, and intuitive abstracts. She enjoys exploring the relationship of colors, expressive brush strokes, and luscious texture. Debra works mainly in acrylics, oils, and is currently painting in pastels again, but loves learning from and experimenting with all mediums.
Her goal is to connect to the viewers soul in a positive way bringing smiles and joy to people’s life. Debra resides in the beautiful front range of Colorado where she enjoys gardening and just meditating in the peacefulness and beauty of nature.

David Stemler Box Maker

“Wood is my medium to transform imagination into reality.”

David Stemler is a self-taught artisan who specializes in crafting exquisite small wooden boxes. Inspired in the 70s by a transformative lecture on the soul of wood by James Krenov in Denver, David honed his skills under the guidance of renowned box makers Andrew Crawford and Doug Stowe.

David maintains an impressive inventory of over 50 different species of hardwoods. He often spends hours contemplating each unique board, waiting for its color, texture, or grain to reveal a design that deserves to be showcased. While a box is fundamentally a functional item, David’s designs elevate it into an art form, celebrating the natural beauty of wood and bringing joy to those who admire the fine details and harmonious combinations of various woods.

Hailing from Milwaukee, WI, David’s journey included serving in the US Army after high school, followed by earning a college degree. He then embarked on a 40-year career as an international geologist and geophysicist in the oil and gas industry. David and his wife first moved to Colorado in the late 70s, spent a decade overseas, and permanently returned to Colorado in 2004. They now reside in Longmont.

stemlerboxes@gmail.com

Linda Toukan  Jewelry

Linda Toukan lives and creates beautiful jewelry in Boulder, CO.

Linda’s jewelry reflects her love of metal and stone.  An artistic mix of Silver, Gold, Bronze, Brass and gemstones compose her work.  Her pieces often express a relationship to others or earth.  An elegant, organic look prevails.   Metals such as Bronze and Silver are often combined for contrast and beauty. Fusing and Soldering are predominantly employed and many times in collaboration with each other.  Linda often applies 24K Gold using Keum-Boo, an ancient technique for applying gold with heat and pressure.  Wire wrapping is sometimes combined with soldered and fused pieces.

Linda’s website is SanitasDesigns.com.

Sally creates stained glass art panels that are original designs embellished with fused glass. Her inspiration comes primarily from the beauty and vastness of nature, but also from the glass itself. Different from traditional stained glass, she utilizes large pieces of glass to take advantage of all the colors and swirls inherent in glass. These characteristics of glass become part of her designs. Many of Sally’s original designs incorporate a tree branch, which are found in the forests and glorious mountain trails of Colorado. Other embellishments are layers and bits of glass fused in her studio kiln. She has been a member of the Littleton Fine Arts Guild since 2011 and a member of The Old Gallery since 2015. Her work has been featured at the Lonetree Art Expo and The Depot Art Gallery in Littleton.

www.woodandglassartwork.com or to discuss email sjv3@comcast.net.

Dawn Wilson Photography

Dawn Wilson is a professional and award-winning nature photographer specializing in images of wildlife of high altitudes and high latitudes of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. Her images, which are frequently paired with her writing in editorial channels, tell the story of wildlife, their homes and the struggles, challenges and successes they experience. Her work has appeared in numerous regional and national publications, including Outdoor Photographer, Colorado Life, Colorado Outdoors and Nature’s Best Photography as well as galleries and private collections across the U.S. She resides in Estes Park, Colorado with her boyfriend, husky and two cats. You can learn more at www.dawnwilsonphotography.com.

Julia Zuniga Small Batch Pottery

Julia Zúñiga is a ceramic artist and educator whose work explores themes of ritual, heritage, and connection. Drawing on the bold patterns from Colombian and Ukrainian pottery and textiles, their pieces celebrate both cultural history and personal expression. She creates with the belief that ceramics can be both everyday objects and vessels of meaning—linking people to tradition, community, and the earth itself.
Originally from Miami, Florida, her work is also shaped by the city’s vibrant energy and layered cultural landscape. They earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics and a Bachelor’s in Education from Florida Atlantic University, where she was recognized with awards and scholarships for their dedication to her craft. These honors led to opportunities at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.