[Featured Artist]
ELIZABETH KINAHAN
L
ike most people who settle in Durango, featured artist Elizabeth Kinahan loves to spend time in nature, especially camping, hiking and rafting. However, Durango is much different than the suburban neighborhood of New Jersey where she grew up. Kinahan said she was always destined for the southwest. But while on her way to Arizona, Kinahan stopped for an overnight stay on a sunny day in September. She experienced the annual Autumn Arts Festival while strolling down Second Avenue, and she decided to stay. An opportunity to work at Art Supply House helped her to get settled. She worked there for six years, always sincerely inquisitive about a customer’s project and eager to help them brainstorm ideas while stocking inventory. She spent her time there building relationships with artistic people with varied interests. “(The job) really allowed me to get to know the art community here, make connections and get involved,” Kinahan said.
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Today, Kinahan is a full-time artist and co-owner of a local art gallery that represents a variety of creators. At Studio& Gallery, Kinahan curates exhibits and organizes special events with the team of member artists. She is responsible for different financial processes at the gallery, such as bookkeeping and compensating artists in addition to managing marketing and communication efforts. On the artistic side of operations, Kinahan is best known for capturing the emotions and expressions in painted depictions of barnyard animals. She starts the process by spending time with animals to create a narrative and highlight their existence through capturing the animal’s emotions and expressions. Using photographs she snaps while hanging out with the animals for reference, Kinahan creates detailed drawings of the subjects, then applies oil paints to enhance color and texture. The result is vibrant works depicting the unique personalities of these creatures. Kinahan’s work will appear at the 26th Durango Home & Ranch as the Featured Artist. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the artist and see her latest creations.
2021 DURANGO HOME & RANCH SHOW
