ALPINE CREATIVE TOURS
Painting Workshops in Europe since 2018
ABOUT US
We are located in beautiful Keystone, Colorado in the middle of four, world-class ski and summer resorts. Our teachers come from all parts of the world and are all experienced educators. Please read on about all our amazing art and writing instructors.
TEACHERS & STAFF
Sarah Bracco,
art instructor
Sarah Bracco has been an art teacher for more than 30 years, teaching in public schools (nominated twice for Teacher of the Year), at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, MO., and teaching a variety of workshops. Sarah has participated in many watercolor workshops with well-known artists, enriching her own painting skills, and loves sharing her experiences and knowledge with others!
Comments from students:
“Very fortunate are the students that have experienced your joy, excitement and enthusiasm for art (and life)…. Many times I have seen the grateful look in people’s eyes for what you give them.”
Vicki
“I want you to know how much I enjoyed the workshop… you were so enthusiastic, full of energy, information & encouragement!”
Gadine
As an artist, Sarah’s true passions are watercolor and “the Traveling Sketchbook”, using mixed media. Whether working on location (plein air), from personal photographs, or observation from everyday life, each painting truly becomes a new discovery filled with color and light. She paints with watercolor groups in Kansas City and Colorado and is involved in several Kansas City sketch groups. She always takes her sketchbook on trips capturing “visual memories”. Sarah has been accepted into many juried shows and exhibits her work in solo and group shows. Her work is in many private collections.
Sarah lives in Leawood, Kansas and loves spending time with her family, traveling and painting! She is grateful to all those who have encouraged her art and treasures all the art friends she has made along the way. She looks forward to the art adventures ahead, keeping the color fresh and her brush wet!
Amy Evans,
art instructor
Amy Evans is an award winning nationally recognized artist who works in oils, and whose paintings are in galleries and shows throughout the US. She has received many awards for her paintings, including the acceptance of a painting into a past Art for the Parks National exhibition as well as two honorable mentions in that exhibition. Amy is also an art instructor and conducts regular workshops in the Breckenridge Colorado Arts District as well as other art centers throughout the country. She is a juror for art shows and has served as one of the jurors for a past International Snow Sculpture Competition in Breckenridge.
Amy holds a B.A. with Distinction in Art from Rhodes College, Memphis, TN. She has also studied at the Art Students League of Denver, CO. and the former Taos Institute of Art, Taos, N .M. She has studied with some of the top artists in the country including Doug Dawson, Frank LaLumia, Fran Larsen, and Kevin MacPherson. She is the Co-Chair of the Women Artists of the West 50th Anniversary National Exhibition, Past President and a Master Signature Emeritus member of Women Artists of the West, a Signature Member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado, associate member of American Women Artists, and a charter and founding member of the Piedmont Outdoor Painting Society, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is a resident of Breckenridge, Colorado.
RECENT SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS:
2019
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Invited Artist, “Inside Out/Outside In”, PACE Art Center, Parker, CO.
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Master Signature Artist Division, Women Artists of the West 49th Annual National Juried Show, Mary Williams Art Gallery, Boulder, CO.
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Plein Air Artists of Colorado Juried Show, Signature Artist., Studio 8369, Grand Lake, CO.
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Solo Show, Breckenridge Art Gallery, Breckenridge, CO.
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Featured Artist, Two Old Crows Gallery, Pagosa Springs, CO.
2017
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Master Signature Artist, Women Artists of the West 47th Annual National Juried Show, McBride Art Gallery, Annapolis, MD.
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Invited Artist, Artist Showcase, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX.
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Plein Air Artists of Colorado National Juried Show, Signature Artist, Mary Williams Gallery, Boulder, CO.
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Invited Artist, Plein Air Exhibition, Florence Thomas Art School Gallery, West Jefferson, NC.
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Invited Artist, Douglas Land Conservancy Plein Air Exhibition, Castle Rock, CO.
“ My paintings are windows into the beauty of our world for our homes and workspaces. They create a sanctuary of beauty wherever they are placed. That is why I create them. “
-Amy Evans
John Keeling
art instructor
John Keeling is an award-winning watercolorist who lives and works in Kansas City, Missouri. He is enjoying a second chapter as a freelance artist, after retiring as a Creative Director from Hallmark Cards in 2013.
A dog lover and owner of three beagles, John has built a successful custom pet portrait business, painting the majority of dog breeds over the past seven years. His design won the 2020 Purebred Dog Day Fine Art/Poster contest.
John is represented by MHS Licensing and his watercolors can be found on a range of products, including calendars, fabric and home décor. He is a member of the Watercolor USA Honor Society, having had his work accepted to the national show for three consecutive years.
He enjoys teaching watercolor to all ages and skill levels, from private lessons with a nine-year-old to a group of 80-somethings at a local senior living community. He has given workshops at local galleries, art centers, and in his home studio and gardens.
For more information about John and his work, please visit his website at www.johnkeelingpaintings.com.
Kathleen Lanzoni,
art instructor
Kathleen Lanzoni grew up in Montreal and California but moved to Colorado 28 years ago. She was formally trained at the Art Institute of Boston and the Massachusetts College of Art, receiving a BFA.
Kathleen is an award-winning signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society, the Western Colorado Watercolor Society, the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Society and the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies. She divides her time painting between the studio, Plein Air (outdoors on location) and on-site murals.
Kathleen's Awards:
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Georgetown Plein Air Festival 2020 – Best Georgetown Train Painting
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Rockies West National 2020 – Best Colorado Artist
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Colorado National Monument 2019 – People’s Choice
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Estes Valley Plein Air Festival 2019 – Director’s Gold Award
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Georgetown Plein Air Festival 2019 –Best Historic District Award
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Plein Air Artists Colorado 2019 – Honorable Mention
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Boulder Plein Air Festival, 2019 – Third Place
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Plein Air Artists Colorado, Durango, CO, October 2018 – Honorable Mention
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Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Longmont, CO, October 2018 – Second Place
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Estes Valley Plein Air, Estes, CO August-September 2018; 3 awards – Award of Excellence, Second Place Quick Draw, Award for Marketing Material; poster, wine labels, articles, etc.
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Georgetown Plein Air Festival, Georgetown, CO, August 2018 – Best of Show
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Boulder Plein Air Festival, Boulder, CO June 2018 – Best of Show
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Colorado Watercolor Society State Watercolor Exhibition 2018, Colorado Springs, Fourth Place
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Red Brick Plein Air Festival in Aspen, Aspen, CO August 2017 – First Place Quick Draw Competition & First Place People’s Choice Award
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Telluride Plein Air Festival, Telluride, CO July 2017 – First Place Quick Draw Competition & Third Place People’s Choice Award
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Boulder Plein Air Festival, Boulder, CO June 2017 -First Place Quick Draw Competition & Third Place Exhibition Body of Work
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Governor’s Art Show, Loveland, CO, May 2017 – Award of Merit
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Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Eugene, OR, April 2017 – Honorable Mention
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Boulder County Parks and Open Space, Outdoor Creations Plein Air Exhibit, October 2016 – Second Place
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Plein Air Artists Colorado, September 2016 – Award of Merit
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Red Brick Aspen Plein Air Event, Aspen, CO, August 2016 – Honorable Mention
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Colorado Plein Air Arts Fest, Denver, CO, November 2015 – Second Place
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Red Brick Aspen Plein Air Event, Aspen, CO, August 2015 – People’s Choice, Second Place
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Red Brick Aspen Plein Air Event, Aspen, CO, August 2015 – Quick Draw, Second Place
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Why Not Niwot Exhibit, Niwot, CO, May 2015 – People’s Choice Award
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Colorado Watercolor Society State Exhibit, Lone Tree Arts Center, March 2015 – Third Place
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Colorado Plein Air Exhibit, November – December 2014 – Honorable Mention
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Rockies Plein Air at CAC Gallery, August – October 2014 – Gold Award
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Colorado Watercolor Society State Exhibit, Foothills Art Center, March 2014 – Honorable Mention
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Boulder Art Association -Colorado Chautauqua Art Exhibit, September 2011 – Third Place
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CAC Random Works of Beauty, Women’s History Month , February 2011 – Artist’s Choice Award
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Boulder Art Association, Colorado, Chautauqua Exhibit, September 2010 – Third Place
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Boulder Art Associations Second Chautauqua Juried Show, September 2009 – Best of Show Award
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Denver Plein Air Exhibition, Denver Public Library, November 2009 – Fine Art Connoisseur Award
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Spirit of Chautauqua Juried Exhibit, September 2008 – Founder’s Award and People’s Choice Award
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National Watercolor Society, All Member Juried Exhibit, April–May 2008 – Third Place
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Colorado Watercolor Society, Member Exhibition, Lapis Gallery, 2005 – Third Place
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Colorado Watercolor Society, Botanical Gardens Exhibition, 2005 – 2nd Place, Favorite Painting
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Colorado Watercolor Society, Member Exhibition, 2004 – Second Place
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Colorado Watercolor Society, Botanical Gardens Exhibition, 2004 – Award of Merit
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Colorado Watercolor Society, Botanical Gardens Exhibition, 2003
Kathleen's Publications:
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Southwest Art Magazine, September 2019
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Practique des Arts- January 2019- cover image and 2-page article
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Practique des Arts – October 2016
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Longmont Times-Call – May 2017 Governor’s Art Show exhibition article- interview
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Splash 17:The Best of Watercolor, Inspiring Subjects, Published by North Light Books 2016 – Quote in Introduction and painting “Pastoral Afternoon”
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Longmont Times-Call, Review of Old Firehouse Art Exhibit, September 2009
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Fox News TV, interview for mural paintings at Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center, 2006
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Foundation Magazine, Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center, Review of Kids Trek, public art installation, 2006
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Boulder Daily Camera, Review of Kids Trek, public art installation, 2006
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Boulder Daily Camera, Review of Art, 2003
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Dena Peterson,
art instructor
Dena Peterson was honored to be selected as one of 120 international artists out of 5000 applicants for the Academy Award-nominated film, “Loving Vincent”, truly a labor of love and tribute to the life and struggles of Van Gogh as told through his paintings.
“As artists, many of us can relate to Van Gogh’s struggles, which is why his life strikes such an emotional chord with us.”
Dena’s small-town roots prompted one of her art professors to comment that her work expresses a love of intimate, quiet, and peaceful spaces. She enjoys the richness and texture of painting with oils in her Colorado Springs studio.
An award-winning artist, Dena’s paintings have been exhibited in regional, national, and international shows. She received her training at the Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, the Art Students League of Denver, and the Scottsdale Artists School, where she was selected for the prestigious Wade Fairchild Memorial Scholarship.
She was invited to be an opening night speaker about her work on “Loving Vincent” at the Plein Air Convention and Expo 2017 in San Diego, CA and has done many other talks and seminars about her work on that film. Her instructional videos, “Loving Van Gogh” and “Portraits Van Gogh Style” can be purchased at http://lilipubsorders.com/Dena-Peterson
Among her teachers and mentors are Kevin MacPherson, Kevin Weckbach, and Mark Daniel Nelson. She is a signature member of The American Impressionist Society. She teaches locally at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Bemis School of Art at Colorado College and also teaches workshops across the country and internationally.
Karen Ramsay,
art instructor
Karen Ramsay, celebrated Colorado watercolor artist, devotes her time to capturing the beautiful landscapes around her, and teaching students the techniques and joys of her favorite medium. She is thrilled to be planning this very exciting workshop in Provence. Connect with Karen on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ karenramsayartist.
From an early age, Karen enjoyed a love for drawing and painting. Encouragement to pursue this passion came from her parents and artists in her family: her grandmother and cousin. She has been featured in the Big Sky Journal as an "Artist of the West”. Other accolades include: Paint The Poudre: People's Choice Award, Wild About Colorado: Best of Show and the Colorado Watercolor Society: Member Show Award.
Karen is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art in Denver and has studied under some of her favorite artists, including Charles Reid, Burton Silverman, Frank Webb, Eric Weingardt, Thomas Schaller and Iain Stewart.
Karen is a member of, WOW • Women of Watercolor, Colorado Watercolor Society, PAAC • Plein Air Painters of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, where she paints and teaches in Rocky Mountain National Park. Another way Karen enjoys the outdoors is cycling, whether at home in Colorado or most recently in Scotland.
Student’s praise:
“Thanks again for your tremendous class. You are such a great teacher, positive and encouraging! You have a true gift in teaching, not to mention in painting.”
Barb
“We had the best two days ever in your class!! You’re a great teacher and we feel so blessed to have connected with you!”
Sue and Mike
Cheryl St John,
art instructor
Cheryl St John is a fourth generation Colorado native, with a great appreciation of nature and the environment and the preservation of both. Born and raised at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Cheryl got introduced at an early age to the beauty of the Colorado mountains and developed her love for the outdoors that influences her artwork today.
Working as a plein-air and studio landscape artist, Cheryl’s inspiration comes from the wide, open spaces of Colorado, New Mexico and Europe. She states “Painting en plein-air, (her favorite way to work), is always a challenge, and a never-ending routine! The changing light and weather conditions create a sense of urgency that translates to a spontaneous and loose interpretation of the scene, something that is very difficult to achieve in the studio.
She works both in oil and watercolor. Each medium has its own characteristics which, when using clean vivid colors and as few brush strokes as possible, makes for a loose impressionistic finished work of art.
Cheryl studied fine art and design at Rocky Mountain College of Art and at the Colorado Institute of Art. She has won numerous awards and is currently in many collections around the world. Cheryl is a signature member of American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and Plein Air Artists of Colorado.
Lo Peyron Mathews
art instructor
Lo Peyron Mathews has an extensive background in art management and over 15 years’ experience in the travel industry, working for a prominent European tour operator, for travel agencies, for the airlines and she has organized vacation trips to many international destinations. She excels at coordinating all the details involved in planning and executing creative vacation tours and travel.
Lo is our instructor for the Beginner's Travel Journaling workshop in Bonnieux, France.
Born and raised in Sweden, she has always been drawn to art. Growing up, she took every chance she had to create, and painted just about anything, anytime. Her ancestry is French and she draws inspiration from three countries in her art: the vast landscape of Sweden, the stunning and scenic mountains of Colorado, and the picturesque villages of Provence.
Her art style is representational, and she paints uniquely in watercolor. The unforeseen and unplanned nature of this medium is challenging, and she believes that is a major part of its appeal. Her favorite objects are landscapes and people.
She has had the opportunity to show her art at exhibits at the Historic Museum in Breckenridge, the Art Stroll in Silverthorne, the Red Buffalo in Silverthorne, the Villa Ingeborg in Cagnes sur Mer, France, and at the Ventimiglia Tourist Information Marketing Expo, Italy.
Anita Winter has been interested in art since childhood. She was the student who embellished every paper. Growing up in Michigan and Mexico City enabled her to experience diverse cultures and environments. Consequently, she enjoys painting both landscapes and cityscapes. She is a long time resident of Colorado and avid hiker and backpacker.
Anita paints almost everyday, both outside on location (plein air) and in the studio. She paints in watercolor and more recently in oils, continually seeking to grow. She has studied with many talented artists such as Alvaro Castagnet, Kevin Weckback and Marc Hanson. She has also learned immeasurably from her local community of artists.
She paints to celebrate, explore and give thanks.Her goal is to capture a moment in time and hopes you enjoy sharing her vision.
What Anita's students are saying:
I have had the pleasure of knowing Anita for almost 15 years!
In that time I have developed a wonderful relationship with Anita, far beyond her expertise in
painting and teaching! She is a wonderful soul. Besides being an amazing Artist.
Every workshop we have ever hosted with Anita has truly been an amazing experience for the
students, who come away with more knowledge and understanding of the medium of
watercolor.
Anita is patient, kind and so supportive to each and every student no matter their ability. They
all love her, and the workshop! You will find the same students taking her workshops over and
over. That speaks volumes in who Anita is.
If you ever have the opportunity to experience a workshop with Anita, you should take it.
Anita Winter is an excellent teacher! I attended her plain aire class for over 1.5
years—-until she moved away. I had never painted outside before. Anita is able
to both teach and demonstrate painting for a group of students, but also
understands each individual’s needs. She knows just what a painting needs—-
how to fix it. I really like and admire her paintings. Anita is also a nice and
delightful person.
Besides being a great artist, Anita is a wonderful instructor. I have been painting plein
air weekly with her for two years and have taken an in class two-day workshop. We
have painted a wide variety of subjects including landscapes and buildings. Her
demonstrations are very detailed and she provides a lot of clear information. Being
brand new to painting, she has helped me immensely. She is extremely patient and
helpful. Anita is able to look at a painting and offer suggestions that really make the
painting switch from being just mediocre to one to be proud of. In addition, she is fun
to paint with!
Affiliations:
Plein Air Artists of Colorado
Signature member Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Society
Signature member Western Federation Watercolor Societies
Signature member Colorado Watercolor Society
Cathy Goodale is a dedicated, persistent, and educated artist whose style reflects her individuality. “If you pay attention, art transcends all parts of life and makes the ordinary things in life “a painting”. Her career has been filled with painting, teaching and learning. The demand for excellence, painting in oil and watercolor, continues to drive all of her endeavors and her imagination pushes her to paint past her "artistic safe places".
Growing up in Denver, Colorado, with an early introduction to art classics through her grandmother was instrumental in leading Cathy to Stephens College in Missouri and to a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. She continued her art training at Denver University, studying commercial art under William Sanderson.
The opportunity to study with the best has been a gift. She has studied with Charles Reid, Richard Schmid, Burt Silverman, Carolyn Anderson and Zolton Szabo, to name a few master artists.
The opportunities of travel and teaching workshops in different cultures such as Russia, Mexico, Africa, Spain, France, Ireland and Costa Rica will always be one of her greatest learning experiences.
Cathy’s Galleries include Columbine Gallery in Loveland, Colorado, The Art Estate, Fort Collins, Colorado and Estes Cultural Arts Gallery in Estes Park, Colorado.
Jim Biggers
art instructor
James Biggers is never satisfied painting the same subject in the same way. He forces himself to learn and see more while constantly searching for inspirations and techniques to give his paintings essence.
James graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree before moving to Colorado where he now resides and pursues his passion for painting. A strong sense of design that is evident in his paintings was developed during his work as a graphic artist.
Biggers discovered, "at some point you have to put something of yourself into your work, without this element you will never have a great painting. Design and the subject may attract people to your painting, heart is what keeps them there." The best way to capture the heart of a subject is to paint from life and to continually search for new subject matter. Extensive travel has fed this desire.
Wanting more than a breathtaking scene to paint, Jame's goal is to portray the essence of emotion. He strives to give his paintings depth so that the viewer can go beyond what initially drew them into the work of art. "Capturing a frozen moment in time with great emotion is what we do as an artist."
Jill Murphy Long, author of the award-winning Permission to…book series and novels. She is a professional writer, filmmaker, and teacher. She loves to inspire others and has assisted more than 35 writers, who have become authors and screenwriters whose films are now produced.
Her best-selling Permission to…book series was published by Sourcebooks. Permission to Nap received the Excellence Award, a distinguished recognition presented by the Chicago Book Clinic and the Benjamin Franklin Award by the Publishers Marketing Association for being a finalist in the category of New Age (Metaphysics/Spirituality). Her other titles Permission to Play and Permission to Party also give busy adults ways to find balance in life.
The Conduit is a time-travel novel about a missing mother and Skiing With God is a humorous story about the 8,143 ski resorts in Heaven.
Her stage play, MADE IN CHINA that highlights generational racism, won at national and international playwright festivals and was produced.
Her screenplay, Wedding Belles, co-written with Lyn Wheaton was a finalist in the national screenwriting contest, Scriptapalooza.
Since relocating to Portland, Oregon, Jill has written, directed, and produced more than 25 short films. Her film company, JML Films, stands on the ethics of Justice, Mercy, and Love.
Through her creative vision, authentic voice, and efficiency, Jill continues to spotlight environmental and societal injustices. She writes “green” scripts and runs “green” film sets.
Her scripts are also female-centric; evident in the two, feature films now in development: Chance Day and MELTDOWN Based on True Events.
Currently, JML Films is being recognized on the national and international film festival circuit.
Her creative and diverse experience includes:
Director/Member Film Fatales, Portland, Oregon
Film Festival Judge 2017 & 2018 Breckenridge International Film Festival, Colorado
Creative Writing & English Professor Colorado Mountain College, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Ski Patroller CPR/AED certified
PSIA Ski Instructor: Steamboat, Copper, Kirkwood, and Seven Springs Ski Resorts
Creative Director/Owner at The Ad Group, Newport Beach, California
Creative Director/Partner at Murphy & Watt Advertising, Irvine, California
Freelance Copywriter at Foote, Cone and Belding, ADWEEK, and The Advertising Center
California State University, Fullerton Bachelor of Arts in Marketing/Communications