We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gail Pederson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gail below.

Gail, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I think I’ve actually been an artist since childhood. Growing up as an only child, I would spend hours coloring and drawing. My favorite subject in school was always art, however I don’t remember ‘learning’ anything about how to draw, paint or any specific techniques. Starting with finger painting, then crayons, then paint in a tub, it was just whatever was available and painting however I wanted.

In high school there was more instruction and I remember one assignment where we could only use ink dots to make a painting of our hands. That piece was one I used in an application for a college art scholarship – which I ended up receiving!

There was a variety of instruction methods in college, but nothing that really stuck with me, so after one year I changed majors and put ‘art’ on the backburner.

It wasn’t until after I finished a 20-year career at the University of Colorado that I was called back to painting. I was still searching for what technique was in my heart. I tried a multitude of workshops and classes. I then discovered the term ‘mixed media’ and keep looking for artists and their work to see if anything inspired me. I eventually came upon a class called ‘Zen Painting’ by Jodi Ohl (a mixed media artist). I took an online class and loved it so much that I traveled from Colorado to Florida where Jodi was teaching an in-person workshop. The technique sang to me, and I’ve incorporated it into almost all of my work to date.

Gail, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

After I I had my artist mind on the shelf for so long, and when my all-consuming career was modified so that I wasn’t working 7 days a week, I challenged myself to get back to some form of painting.

In 2017 I took a local painting workshop and when asked, since I didn’t yet have a lot of confidence, I was reluctant to even put a piece of my work in the ‘student show. I did have a few pieces and at that show I met a wonderful woman who runs a community art center in nearby Nederland, the “Art at The Center”. She invited me to enter my work at an upcoming show at the Center. Again, not having confidence in my work, I was hesitant, but I did enter. I attended the community opening of the show and was overwhelmed to see my pieces on display and hear from the attendees how much they liked my work, and even received a third place “Peoples Choice” award! The following year I continued to show my work at the seasonal shows at the Center.

It was at one of those shows that I met Rob Lanz, the owner of RGallery in Boulder, and in 2019 I was invited to enter a piece for the opening of his gallery in a show entitled “Showcase: Boulder Artists”. That was the impetus of my future as an artist as 30 of my pieces were sold that opening year! I continued to create and explore my “zen painting’ technique, focusing on my love of aspens and the Boulder Flatirons. In 2022 I had my best year as 54 pieces of my work were sold through the gallery! In addition, I have participated in many Boulder Art Association shows, an exhibit at the Boulder Museum and various local art shows. I’ve also been fortunate to receive several commission requests.

Having found my artist voice late in life, it’s been rewarding to be able to channel my creative mind into my paintings and I finally have confidence in my work.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Local galleries and art associations are critical to the cultivation of creativity. I would encourage everyone to attend a local art festival, gallery, or art display of any kind. Also make sure to stop by any galleries and events that are happening wherever you might travel. Just by attending, it gives important encouragement for artists to continue with their work. I love seeing other artists’ works and truly get inspired any time I am exposed to so many talented artists!

I have been fortunate to participate in doing demonstrations of my technique at various art events. It’s special when someone who doesn’t consider themselves and artist actually take part in trying their hand at painting!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to create self-joy by channeling my desire to find new ways to make my favorite subjects in my paintings inspire positive emotions in anyone that sees them. It’s such a great feeling to see someone take the time to look closely at a painting and appreciate the thought and work that went into it. I have such a deep love of aspen trees and get such joy from starting and finishing a piece featuring them. My other favorite subject is the Flatirons in Boulder – the mountain range that is iconic with Boulder.
I am very involved in our local humane society and my goal is to be able to use my sales to help donated to the great mission of animal care in our community.
And, I am truly grateful when someone likes a piece enough to buy it and display it in their home or office.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.puppiehugs.com
• Instagram: @puppiehugsart4u
• Other: https://rgallery.art/collections/gail-pederson