NEDERLAND — Join us on Thursday, April 16, 4:30–7:30 p.m. at the Nederland Community Center. The exhibition runs from April through September.

Each year, the Art at the Center Annual Demo Show offers something a little different from a traditional exhibit. Rooted in the creative spirit of our Nederland community, this show invites you beyond finished work and into the process—the sketches, studies, and moments of discovery that bring a piece of art to life.

This year’s exhibition highlights artists who generously share not only what they create, but how they create it. From watercolor and colored pencil to clay and beyond, the show reflects a wide range of approaches, techniques, and personal styles. During the demonstrations, you’ll see early steps, in-progress pieces, and how an idea evolves from first inspiration to finished form.

Painting flowers in watercolor

Lee Kennedy will offer an interactive watercolor demonstration, beginning with a pencil drawing and moving step by step through the painting process. She invites participants to follow along, and you may even leave with a piece you’ll want to frame.

A Nederland local, Lee studied watercolor with Annie Thayer and works in a variety of media, including watercolor, acrylic, pastel, watercolor pencil, and mixed media. Before retiring to focus on painting—and enjoying skiing, yoga, Pilates, and hiking—she had a successful entrepreneurial career, most recently as CIO of Webroot Software.

Quiet Tides by Annie Thayer

Photo courtesy of Art at the Center

Introduction to colored pencil

Join Jeanne Benson for an introduction to colored pencil techniques, a medium many find both approachable and surprisingly versatile—especially for botanical studies. Jeanne will demonstrate how to apply and layer pencil for accurate color and create delicate details such as leaf veining with resist methods.

In Its Own Shadow by Jeanne Benson

Photo courtesy of Art at the Center

Jeanne was first introduced to colored pencil while studying botanical watercolor. Initially used to refine edges, the pencils gradually became her primary medium. Today, colored pencil is widely appreciated in botanical illustration for its subtlety and range of effects.

She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) and the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists (RMSBA). Her work is currently featured in the RMSBA traveling exhibition Trees, which has appeared at the CU Museum of Natural History, Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia, and will be at the University of Denver’s Anderson Academic Commons from May through August of 2026. Large-format prints from the exhibit are also on display at Denver International Airport (Concourse A, Y Junction) through June 2026.

Jeanne has been exhibiting with Art at the Center for several years.

“Throwing” on the potter’s wheel

Back by popular demand, Andrew Morse will demonstrate throwing on the potter’s wheel at the beginning of each hour (5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m.), with each session lasting about 20 minutes.

Andrew threw his first pot at age fifteen and later earned a BS in Ceramics from Skidmore College. After working as a production potter in Virginia and as a sculptor at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, he moved to Gold Hill in 1990. He has since created functional ware and occasional sculptural pieces, and spent years crafting drums for Makhan Burt.

You can find his work on Instagram @andrew.morse.940. Andrew will also be teaching at the Gilpin Ceramics Studio at the Gilpin County Community Center this July.

Espresso by Andrew Morse

Photo courtesy of Art at the Center

The opening reception is a chance to connect—with artists, neighbors, and perhaps even your own creative curiosity. Many of the artists will be present to talk about their work, answer questions, and share insights into their materials and methods. Whether you are an experienced artist or simply someone who enjoys looking more closely, these conversations often open new ways of seeing.

One of the most meaningful aspects of this annual show is its spirit of generosity. Artists step slightly outside their comfort zones to reveal the “behind the scenes” of their work—something not often visible in a gallery setting. In doing so, they remind us that art is not just about the final image, but about exploration, persistence, and the willingness to begin.

Please join us—come spend some time with the artwork, meet the artists, and perhaps leave feeling a little more connected to your own creative spark.