2026 Artists

Pietro Accardi 

(Studio 7)

Paper & Fabric Marbling

Pietro is native to the northwestern Italian city of Turin where his father  Gaetano founded and operated a commercial printing press. His youth spent in the press led him to  paper marbling, restoration and bookbinding. Pietro in 1997 established "La Legatoria del Sole," an artisanal and  production-oriented bookbindery in Turin. It served Turin’s Municipal  Archives, public and university libraries. After coming to the U.S. he started teaching paper and fabric marbling at the "San Francisco Center for the Book" and at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno.

Together with his wife Vanessa he  has founded Accardi Book Arts: a book arts studio and bindery in Gardnerville to follow his passion of marbling fabric/paper and to preserve the tradition of handmade books and boxes

www.accardibookarts.com

Leah Andrews 

(Studio 8)

Oils Landscape Realism 

Leah’s paintings are akin to listening to a storyteller weave tales that transport listeners to distant lands. Each brushstroke serves as a narrative thread, inviting the viewer onto a journey. Much like a skilled storyteller captures attention with vivid descriptions, her paintings evoke scenes that beckon the mind to wander and explore. Viewers of her paintings find themselves drawn into the atmospheric landscapes and intimate scenes depicted on canvas, guided through a journey of emotions and memories.

“In my work, I strive to evoke not just visual beauty, but a sense of narrative depth. Each painting is a chapter waiting to be explored, inviting the viewer to become an active participant in the story. Whether it's a serene countryside bathed in the glow of twilight or the magnificent power of a raging river, my aim is to capture moments that resonate with human experience.

Just as a storyteller's tale lingers in the mind long after it's been told, I hope that my paintings leave a lasting impression—a visual narrative where each viewer can find their own story to inhabit and cherish.”

Leah is a native to the art loving Pacific Northwest where she gets her experience and inspiration. Now she is inspired by parks and hiking with her husband. She has had her work exhibited locally in Nevada and California.  

www.ShopLeahAndrews.com

Linda Baxter

( Studio 3 )

Lanscape Acrylic

Finding the beauty of nature and creating colorful renderings from the inspiration!

Stacie Clark

( Studio 2)

Watercolor, Wine Boxes, Beaded Art Work

Cancelled due to illness

Mya

Crawford

( Studio 11 )

Jewelry

Based in Genoa, independent artisan Mya Crawford handcrafts one-of-a-kind wearable art. Her vast range of style spans diverse aesthetics, consistently delivering timeless designs infused with a nostalgic, vintage flair. Every semi-precious gemstone and luminous pearl is selected entirely by hand, ensuring that each raw material brings its own unique character to the design. Working with sterling silver and gold, Mya meticulously shapes custom settings around the natural contours of the stones, meaning no two pieces are ever identical. Her small-batch collections seamlessly blend refined elegance with organic textures, offering timeless, heirloom-quality treasures for those who appreciate the beauty of slow-made, handcrafted jewelry.

Kristy Dial  

(Studio 10)

Gourds

Kristy Dial a native Arizonan, has called Minden, Nevada, home for the past 14 years, arriving via San Diego. After a successful career owning a graphic arts business and working extensively in the printing industry, she expanded her creative credentials by becoming a nationally certified judge for gourd competitions. Bringing her entrepreneurial spirit and artistic vision to Carson Valley, Kristy went on to found the annual Silver State Art Festival in Carson City.

http://www.geckogourds.com

Tina Forkner 

(Studio 10)

Watercolor

Tina began painting in watercolor in 1997. Over the years she has developed her own personal style that can be described as detailed and representational. I like to think of myself as a storyteller artist. I am fascinated by subjects that are old and forgotten, especially objects that continue to display their history, character and charm. This is particularly evident in my ongoing Bodie series where my goal is to capture the passage of time as old vehicles become part of the landscape, weathered buildings that lean from years of neglect and doors open to the past, filled with untold stories. Additionally, her paintings include landscapes, wildlife, animals and even portraits. 

Mary Purdy Gmuender  

( Studio 6)

Mary Purdy Gmuender is an award-winning artist known for animal portraiture, mountain landscapes and florals. Living in the beautiful Carson Valley of Nevada with her husband and two sons for over 30 years, Mary enjoys exploring the Sierra and scouting new painting subjects and locations. "Growing up as both an Air Force brat and a member of the Caddo Indian Nation of Oklahoma, as well as working in the ski industry for several decades gave me an appreciation of the beauty everywhere, but especially in high places. “The shadows of the trees on snow, the line of the mountain ridges and the high-altitude cornflower blue skies were always inspirational." 

Since 2012, Mary has honed her oil painting skills by studying under many well-known artists, taking classes and workshops, both locally at the Brewery Arts Center and throughout the country. She loves to paint the wild and free places and faces of the natural world. Lake Tahoe, Hope Valley, Carson Valley, Northern Nevada and Yosemite have become common subjects and provide endless creative influence. Inspired by color and reflected light, her landscapes and wildlife are interpreted in an impressionist style using knives, a bold palette and loose brushstrokes. 

MaryPurdyGmuender.com

Mark Harris  

( Studio 12)

Painter Mark Harris. Drawing inspiration from different American landscapes stretching across Nevada, the Sierras and northern California Coast, Harris transforms his carefully chosen vistas into abstract, energetic, colorful realms. 

With the vast cumulus clouds occupying most of the skies, the horizon line obscures and illuminates the scenery below. The focus in Harris’ work is to capture and transfer the energy of specific places from his memory onto the canvas. The carefully chosen colors -which contrast, compliment, and clash with each other all at the same time- give life to Harris’s paintings and create the dynamism that viewers find so compelling and relatable.

Award-winning artist Mark Harris received his BA in Fine Art at the University of South Florida / Florida Center for the Arts with his life experience in the Publishing Industry has reinforced a keen eye for aesthetic composition. His work has been appreciated in many private collections throughout the United States. 

Cyndy Kelso 

(Studio 9)

My name is Cyndy Kelso.  Art had been a part of my life as long as I can remember.  Anything to do with horses, wildlife, and the western landscape has been my passion to paint.

I frequently travel across the west, taking photos for references to paint from in my studio.

I work in Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, and pencil. Often times going up to the mountains or into the desert to paint plein air, and/or sketch a scene for a future painting. 

Recently I began painting on ceramic pieces. This has been another fun outlet in my creativity. 

I have won state and county art shows in California and locally in Nevada. I like to teach others who want to learn new skills or those who have never painted before. It is a joy to watch someone get excited about art as much as I am.

cyndykelsoart.com

Roger Kinneman

(Studio 14)

   Roger Kinnaman is an artist proficient in a number of mediums but drawings in pastel on black paper represent the majority of his output at this time.  His subject matter varies from landscape to still life to the figure. Drawings of animal skulls juxtaposed with flowers allow Roger to comment on the circle of life and death. An artist can have a different, non-morbid reaction to a skull and appreciate the sculptural form as complex and beautiful.  The reference to our western heritage is probably the third level of meaning inherent to this work.

  A major influence responsible for the emphasis on color, design and composition of these pastels are a reflection of decades spent teaching at the University and College level. 

   His work is in the permanent collection of The Carter Foundation in Atlanta Georgia, Indiana University Fine Arts Museum and The Nevada Fine Arts Museum.  He has also exhibited at the Nevada Institute of Contemporary Art, Wilber D. May Museum and the St. George Museum of Art. Renown Medical Center has collected almost 50 of his pastels.  His resume lists 130 single and group exhibitions and he is in a number of public and private collections.

www.rlkpastels.com

PK Klein 

(Studio 1)

Artist (in multiple media – watercolor, acrylic, monotype and copperplate prints, silversmithing, beaded jewelry), retired corporate/international lawyer, lifelong resident of the Chicago area until relocating to Minden, NV in 2019, traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, southeast Asia, South America during legal career, lived and worked in London, UK for 3 years.  I have been involved in the arts (drawing, oil painting, watercolor, printmaking, silversmithing and ceramics) as long as I can remember (from childhood), but began watercolor painting in earnest about 25 years ago.  While still employed as a practicing attorney, I took multiple art classes and workshops whenever possible in painting, silversmithing, printmaking, was active in my local arts organization in Highland Park, IL, exhibited at various art fairs and sold one-of-a-kind paintings and jewelry.  Since moving to northern Nevada, I have been very active in our vibrant local arts community and have participated in numerous shows exhibiting and selling my unique paintings, prints and jewelry creations.

https://pksway.com/

Lee Lewis  

(Studio 5)

Watercolor, Silk

Lee started doodling her way through life at an early age. Lee has lived in Douglas County for 40 years and worked as an art framer in a gallery and a shop. She saw a silk watercolor painter at a show and fell in love with the medium. after many classes, reading and learning   about it, silks painting became her passion. Lee aslos works in acrylic watercolor and jewelry making. In 2009 she start the Heartstrings gallery which featured many local artists.

Rosemary Littleton

(Studio 11)

Clay Slab Work

Alanna McDaniel

 (Studio (4)

Alanna McDaniel is a retired art teacher from Southern California. She taught art at Santa Clara Catholic High School, and was the art teacher for then chain of parochial Pinecrest Schools. She has lived in Northern California for the past decade; she now resides in Minden, Nevada, enjoying teaching art lessons from her home art studio. She earned her degree in Art History and Studio Art, and certification in Early Childhood Education from California State University Northridge. 

Alanna began a love of art early, receiving a big surprise first prize for a Girl Scout collage art project. Art prospects broadened while working in the art department of Hughes Aircraft Company, and the media department of Paramount Pictures while raising her two sons and many dogs. She went back to school to teach art to young students. 

While enjoying the full spectrum of subject matter and mixed media with students, she paints commissioned portraits with acrylics, mixed media, and oil. She enjoyed creating a great collaborative mural which can be seen in front of the garden at Gardnerville Elementary. She hopes to do this again for the community. 

Art Work

https://www.facebook.com/alanna77551/media_set?set=a.101049739911367.2467.100000190251461&type=3

Art for Life art studio

https://www.facebook.com/Art-For-Life-Art-Studios-1693800570832216/

Anne Mitchell

 (Studio (8)

Multi Media

Creative art is an important part of my existence. For more than 70 years it has defined me, and infused me with energy and enthusiasm to push me forward to engage with the next challenge it presents. Rarely do I plan a picture. I let the picture dictate where I should go. It has rewarded me with the pleasure of making hopefully interesting art.

Although raised in the Bay Area, most of my life has been in Nevada in Carson City, Yerington and Gardnerville area with my family. I was involved, teaching art to children at the Carson City Art Alliance long before it became Brewery Arts. I worked as a teacher's assistant in the Carson City School district with special needs children and taught art to them for 27 years and also taught art at the Community Center in Carson.

During this time, I have developed as an intuitive self taught painter of many media including watercolor, acrylic, oil, pastel, ink, charcoal, graphite and others. Works include traditional style, abstract and non objective techniques often using mixed media in my pieces. I've had the privilege of exploring subject matter including landscapes, still life, life study, portraiture, florals and just shapes and textures on a page. Painting on computer is a recent addition and also exploring printmaking on gelli plate with collage. Quilted Fabric pictures also have married my art and experience with sewing.

Although I studied with a teacher and artist from New York who opened many doors to explore, I also have learned much by studying other painters and styles and continue to do so today.

There have been art shows along the way and a few ribbons and publications but my main focus is to have enjoyment in the exploration of making art.

Each day brings a new opportunity to give myself to the process.  

Michelle Mulligan (Studio 15)

Pottery

After being a painter all my life I wanted to re-explore making pottery that I loved many years ago.  I love the endless possibilities of form, decoration, use and the feel of uniqueness of being hand made.  I try to imagine each piece in the hands of the user. Pottery helps us keep in mind our history, permanence and impermanence as a satisfying use of the earths resources. 

Michelle Mulligan

Michelle Mulligan Potter

michelleMulliganPottery.com

Suzy Musil

 (Studio 13)

Bead embroidered Jewelry

Suzy’s addiction to the world of beads began with a trip to the Gem and Mineral Show in Tucson Arizona. On arrival a new world opened up; her inner magpie was captured by the myriad of bright, sparkly objects. She was determined to do something crea,ve with all those gemstones and jewels.

After some trial and error, she discovered that her forte is bead embroidery: crea,ng wearable art using beads, needle and thread. Each piece is stitched one bead at a time; designs that spike, swirl and swoop. Her goal with each piece is to bring a smile to the wearer. Suzy has a particular affinity for Day of the Dead, creating commemora,ve jewelry each year to celebrate the holiday. Suzy hopes her pieces bring a smile and sense of joy to the wearer.

Her work has been at the Bead Museum in Glendale Arizona, 2016 Spotlight Ar,sts at the Northeastern Nevada Museum in Elko, NV and in the permanent collection of the Museum of Beadwork in Portland, Main.  

facebook.com/sz.musil

Constance Peters (Studio 6)

As a child, I loved drawing and painting. I shared my love of art with my students when I taught third, fourth, and fifth graders in a regular classroom setting and even more so in the ten years when I taught art as a single subject, all in southern California. As a teacher, I created a lot of art projects that related to a variety of subjects that my students were studying.  Meanwhile, I also worked on my own paintings at home. 

During this time, I also developed a passion for photography and sharing what I had seen with others as I did more traveling in and out of the U.S., including 3 African photo safaris, visits to China, Peru, and many other countries. Besides our amazing wildlife and landscapes in northern NV, I especially love Yellowstone, even in winter.

When I retired from teaching, I joined a local art association that also had a photography group. I worked more on improving my paintings and continuing to learn techniques from some very talented artists. It was then that I really began sharing my art and photos with the rest of the world.  I had won the honor of being the association’s “Photographer of the Year” several years. I’ve won numerous awards for my photos and paintings in numerous galleries and art events. One of my stagecoach photos was used for the posters for the Gilman Springs Wild West Festival & Art Show.

While I was still teaching, I had taken a several of workshops on Silk Painting. Using watercolor techniques with silk dyes was right up my alley.  I had so much fun doing this that I started selling my scarves and giving workshops on silk painting.  I find it’s a good way to loosen up when I paint these.  Many are abstract designs.

About 6 years ago, I took a couple of Calligraphy classes.  I really enjoyed learning both Gothic and Celtic calligraphy styles.  I’ve written a number of Irish blessings in Celtic form.  I use Gothic calligraphy, including Illuminated Letters, to write other sayings, poetry, and signs/cards for holidays.  It’s a good thing to work on in our wintry weather.

My husband and I moved to Gardnerville in 2016.  I’d been visiting and photographing the area since my brother and his family had moved here about forty years ago. Now that we are here full time, I am enjoying being a member of Nevada Artists Association, Carson Valley Art Association, and Carson Valley Photo Club. I currently show my work at shows sponsored by these groups.

I remind myself when I’m doing any kind of art (including photos) that it’s “experimental.”  I have fun with it and learn from it. I like to try new things. I hope my art helps people appreciate the beauty of the world around them.

https://www.facebook.com/constance.peters1

Laurie Ricardi 

(Studio 11)

Photography, Jewelry

Finding creativity after a life of business, motherhood, and entrepreneurship.  Still unable to settle down, I alternately make jewelry (mostly necklaces), express social commentary in the form of wreaths, and work in various forms of photography—Cyanotype, platinum/palladium, traditional black and white, and lately, digital.  

Teri Sweeney 

(Studio 13)

Oil & Watercolor

Teri Sweeney is a nationally recognized watercolor and oil painter whose work has won acceptance and honors in various art venues throughout the West.  Along with showing in a number of galleries throughout her career, her work has also been included many prestigious shows such as the C.M. Russell Art Auction in Great Falls, MT; Cowgirl Up! in Wickenburg, AZ; and the Settlers West American Miniatures show in Tucson, AZ.

Painting in a realistic style, Teri’s primary subject matter depicts nature.  From landscapes, to close up views of flora and fauna, to ranches and cowboys, her work captures compelling views of the deserts and mountains she knows and loves.  Transplanted to Arizona from the midwest at a young age and then later relocating to Northern Nevada, Teri’s years of knowledge of the west helps her to create accurate and authentic images of any of the subjects she chooses to paint.

Teri teaches weekly painting classes in her home town of Gardnerville and workshops throughout the West. You can see her work at www.tsart.org.      

www.terisweeneyart.com

Irene Taylor 

(Studio 12)

Watercolor, Batik

I have called myself an artist even as a child, influenced by creative parents who surrounded us with the arts and the process of art.

I have a fine arts degree from San Jose State University with honors and have also trained at the Cleveland Institute of Arts, Cooper School of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, and Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. I am now an active member of the Carson Valley Art Association, Carson

Valley Arts Council and the Nevada Arts Association. I show at regional art shows and art events throughout the year.

I love to teach adults and children and awaken in them the idea of “seeing with their fingers” using contour and blind contour drawing exercises and giving them confidence that they can paint with watercolor successfully. For the past year and a half, I have been volunteering as an art teacher for developmentally disabled adults through the Arts for All Nevada program.

My professional career was as a graphic designer. I am now retired but volunteer my graphic talents to several art and church related events.  

Mark Tompkins 

(Studio 12

Mark Tompkins attended night classes at the Art Center Collee of Design in Los Angeles, where he studied life drawing and illustration. After working as a graphic artist, Tompkins moved to northern Nevada. He started teaching public and private painting classes to adults and children, through community college, Parks & Recreation,  Tompkins painting style is inspired by renaissance artists and painters like Andrew Wyeth and Maxfield Parrish. He prefers to paint landscapes, portraits and wildlife with oil, watercolor and acrylic . Tompkins has won numerous awards with his art.

Linda  Townsend 

(Studio 3)

Pastel and Watercolor

Linda is born and grew up in New York State. After graduating with  degrees in art education and ceramic design. Linda started her teaching career on Long Island.

After 30 years of teaching art on high school level in Southern California,  she and her husband moved to Minden. Linda continued her art which graces the homes of Carson Valley and Southern California.

Melanie Walters 

(Studio 6)

Watercolor

I have spent the last 20 years studying watercolor through various means – local classes, workshops, reading and rereading books by famous artists (Robert Wade, Tony Couch, Phil Austin, Ron Ranson, and Cathy Johnson are some of my favorites). I also had an exceptional mentor, Bill McBride, in Northern California, where I spent most of my summers.

Having lived in California, Arizona, and Nevada, I have painted a lot of desert, rural California, Lake Tahoe, and Sierra Nevada scenery. I like to paint landscapes, animals, vintage cars and trucks, birds, and old architecture.  I love doing commissioned work on any subject.

My husband of 55 years, Bill Walters, makes all my frames from old-growth redwood, fir, and old fence wood.  He also puts together the final product, adding hangers, dust covers, and wall pads.

We are both now retired from our 30-plus year careers in California – he in law enforcement and I, a nurse practitioner.

I absolutely love painting watercolors and hopefully will enjoy it for many years to come.

melaniewalters.net