B. J. McKinney

I work primarily in watercolor, but occasionally work in acrylics, alcohol ink and pastels.  I love the fluidity and unpredictability of watercolor. Most of my life was spent on the farm and in the mountains and I paint the things I see around me – domestic animals, farm life, flowers and scenery. However I love experimenting with almost any subject in watercolor.

As a child I attended a country school where I found time to sneak in quite a bit of time drawing. I loved horses and horseback riding. A friend and I would spend hours drawing horses.  I took a few art lessons, but then as a teenager photography became my passion. That taught me a lot about composition, lighting, and values. Keeping with the creative side but neglecting art, I was employed in journalism, publicity, writing, and publishing and did not take up painting again until nearing retirement. Since then I have taken numerous workshops and lessons and I find that one can never stop learning. Painting is as exciting and challenging to me today as it was when I first began!

B.J. is a signature member of the Western Colorado Watercolor Society and a frequent exhibitor in area art shows. She has completed workshops with Tom Lynch, Steven Quiller, David Smith, and Feeling Lin among others.