Stop by and enjoy the artwork now displayed on the first and second floor through October.

The Library is pleased to showcase the work of artist Jill Hardman, now through October. Hardman began painting by attending Charlotte Lloyd’s watercolor classes at the Estes Park Art Center.  A love of flowers, instilled by her grandfather, led Jill to first paint cultivated flowers and then focus on wildflowers of the Estes Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park.  The public is invited to visit and see Hardman’s work on both the Library’s first and second floor.

She credits the Rocky Mountain Conservancy’s wildflower classes, particularly those by Leanne Benton, Kevin Cook, and Marlene Borneman, with teaching her where and when to look for subject matter.

Jill’s paintings begin as a collaborative effort with her husband Pat, who is an avid photographer. Together they visit the Park and other locations several  times a week to explore and photograph whatever is blooming. Pat takes thousands of digital flower photographs each summer, and from those Jill selects 10-12 with detail, color and composition that lend themselves to paintings. The process begins with a transfer of the image to watercolor paper; followed by layering paint to capture the image as accurately as possible.

Jill and Pat donate their paintings and photos to the Estes Park League of Women Voters and various charities for their fundraising.