FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grand Lake Creative District Announces Inaugural “Faces & Places Grand Lake” Fine Art Event
Three-day interactive event, Oct. 1-3, brings acclaimed Colorado portrait & plein-air artists to Grand Lake for public demonstrations, workshops & portrait sittings.
Grand Lake, CO – The Grand Lake Creative District(GLCD), in partnership with Colorado ambassadors for the Portrait Society of America and Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge & Retreat Center, will host the inaugural Faces & Places Grand Lake from Thursday, Oct. 1-Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.
Designed to support Grand Lake’s shoulder-season economy while expanding regional access to fine arts education, the three-day event brings nine featured artists from across the state – including renowned sketch artist Paul Heaston and oil painters Crystal DeSpain, Stephanie Hartshorn, Cristian Mora and more – to create art live in the community, interact with the public and offer original works for purchase.
“This is a great addition to Grand Lake Creative District’s ever-expanding offerings that expose the community to a variety of cultural and educational opportunities,” says Alan Walker, GLCD Board President. “We’re thrilled to welcome these esteemed artists to Grand Lake and look forward to seeing what they create.”
Event Schedule
- Thursday, Oct. 1: Plein-Air Painting & Artist Presentation
- 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Artists will paint live outdoors (plein-air style) on the grounds of Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge. The public is invited to observe and interact with the artists.
- 7-8 p.m.: Artist presentation and Q&A at Shadowcliff featuring national recognized sketch artist Paul Heaston, who will conduct a live demo on sketchbook techniques. Free and open to the public.
- Friday, Oct. 2: Boardwalk & Downtown Grand Lake
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Artists will set up along the Grand Lake boardwalk and along the shores of Grand Lake to paint live. Specially marked flags will guide visitors to artist stations to watch the creative process and discuss techniques.
- Saturday, Oct. 3: Community Portrait Marathon & Pop-Up Sale (Grand Lake Community House)
- 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Groups of artists will paint live portraits of four prominent community members.
- 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Completed portraits – along with original pieces created throughout the event – will be available for purchase.
“Colorado is home to a world-class community of portrait and figurative artists who are truly pushing historical boundaries,” said event co-organizer and Portrait Society of America co-ambassador Lisa Manzo. “This event not only demystifies fine art and introduces portraiture directly into the heart of the Grand Lake community, but it also allows people to experience the creative process up close.”
Featured Artists
- Crystal DeSpain: Oil painter and educator whose work explores character, agency and narrative tension.
- Stephanie Hartshorn: Nationally recognized fine artist known for architectural portraits of rural America.
- Paul Heaston: Acclaimed sketch artist and illustrator known for intricate detail and perspective sketching.
- Erin Jones: Painter and printmaker focusing primarily on watercolors and oils with an emphasis on subject authenticity.
- Kim Leversedge: Visual artist specializing in expressive watercolor and oil compositions.
- Lisa Manzo: Multidisciplinary fine artist working across watercolor, oils, pastels, charcoal and pencil.
- Heather McGarey: Realist artist rooted in the classical traditions, capturing the character and spirit of her subjects.
- Christian Mora: Fine art painter working in oils, focusing on simple subjects with complex compositions.
- Kirsten Savage: Contemporary realist oil painter who executed the official Colorado State Capitol portrait of President Joe Biden.
To learn more about the artists and the event, go to www.facesandplaces.art.
About Grand Lake Creative District (GLCD)
In 2025, Grand Lake Creative District broke ground on a brand-new Space to Create and Grand Spirit Makerspace, which will open in 2026. GLCD is on a mission to enrich the community and enhance the creative, cultural, and economic vitality of Grand Lake. GLCD does this by celebrating the people, places, and partnerships that support an authentic, family-friendly, and inclusive year-round creative economy to provide opportunities for creatives of all levels and mediums to work, live, and create. To learn more, go to www.grandlakecreativedistrict.
About the Portrait Society of America (www.portraitsociety.org)
Established in 1998, the Portrait Society is committed to providing educational resources to anyone interested in technical information, traditional aesthetics and the history of figurative art and portraiture. The Society uses a State Ambassador Outreach Program to connect members and foster local community. Learn more about the Colorado Portrait Society members at @Colorado.psoa.
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Media Contact:
Christy Nielson
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206-399-1914
