162 South Wolcott St, Casper, WY

Come Support Your Local Casper Artists! 

Art is a pleasure that is shared by all and reserved for none. Looking at art in all forms has been a joy throughout my life, looking and wondering how in the world an artist is able to accomplish such amazing feats of pleasure and insight. I have looked at and enjoyed all mediums, but watercolor captured my heart and imagination. The magic of water, pigment, and white paper creating the kaleidoscope of colorful shapes and lines intrigued me. Watercolors are, in some instances, quite capable of almost painting themselves and many times, if the artist pays attention, on their own will assist the artist. The beautiful pigments of watercolor, along with the ability to blend and manipulate them, are what keep me coming back for more. In the last couple of years I have fallen under the spell of plein air (in the open air) painting. For a nature lover like me, sitting on a rock by the river or looking at the beautiful western vistas of Wyoming is mesmerizing and transports me to a place where it seems it is just me and Mother Nature. I find comfort and peace in this and it is an honor to share the wonderful gifts of nature.

https://www.instagram.com/wyoming_plein_air_painter/

Composition, design and content dominate my visual expression. Inspiration abounds with all I have experienced – at home, travel or family. Internal and external forces effect my artistic statements. My representational watercolors have been my preferred media for most of my life. However, when I learned to make my own paper, the abstract and non-objective entered my creative realm. My collages feature artifacts and additional papers to compliment the naturally textured surface of the handmade paper. Then when I was reintroduced to ceramics, which led to a combination of clay and handmade paper. I continue to strive to make the combination a viable piece of art

Mark is an artist who's enjoyed an outdoor life; hunting, fishing, and packing into the Wyoming wilderness. Painting "en plein air" , that is, painting outdoors and representing a direct response to the scene or subject in front of him, is another extension of his outdoor lifestyle. Painting on site he strives to capture the effects of natural light and atmosphere. His work in plein air informs his studio work, and vice- versa. He works in both watercolor and oil. As an artist he feels it is important to balance the drawing-centric, design oriented pursuits of studio painting with the liberating spontaneity of watercolor.

He strives for authenticity in artwork that not only evokes an impression of a time and place, but implies a story that connects them to ourselves. He likes to incorporate western history, mountain lore, and cowboy mythology in his work.

A graduate of the University of Wyoming, Mark returned to his hometown of Cody, Wyoming where he worked with acclaimed artist Harry Jackson, his mentor and friend. In 2002 he accepted an art teaching position with the Natrona County schools. Now retired, he enjoys more time to paint and explore the natural wonder of his home in Wyoming.

https://www.marklarsonartstudio.com/

Michele McDonald is a Wyoming native, born and raised in Sheridan. She now lives in Casper where she teaches watercolor and mixed media classes at the Casper Rec. She also operates her studio "Studio Michele" in the Wolcott Galleria (the historical Odd Fellows building) in downtown Casper.

Michele has been accepted into many national and international shows including, the National Watercolor Society, International Society of Acrylic Painters and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists in Birmingham, England. She holds signature memberships in the Northwest Watercolor Society, the Montana, Wyoming and Northern Plains Watercolor Societies and the International Society of Acrylic Painters.

https://www.facebook.com/michele.mcdonald.90/

I have been painting watercolors since retirement and it’s been my salvation.   I treasure the relatively rare opportunities to paint and just really enjoy turning out paintings that I like.  I try every subject imaginable, but prefer buildings, street scenes, and landscapes.  My new passion is “plein-air painting”, which has revived my interest in watercolors.