Kelli Lien - Paintings, Collage & Book Arts
Kelli Lien is a visual artist; a painter, collagist, and also a book artist.
Her love of art began as a young child. She has painted since she was a pre-adolescent. While in her early 20's and working, she found time to focus on batik and also on calligraphy. Later, as a mother of two young sons, and living in Rapid City, SD, she aspired to learn to paint in watercolor. She spent years learning, from local and regional watercolorists, and also from books. She considers herself primarily self-taught. Kelli has been an award winning watercolorist for over 20 years, earning top regional awards. She is a signature member of the Red River Watercolor Society.
Her years in Rapid City found her taking part in local artist groups and exhibitions, and taking the occasional big painters' workshop. She taught watercolor to adults and children in a variety of venues, including the fine arts center, senior centers, elementary schools, and private lessons in her home studio.
Kelli and her family relocated to northwestern Minnesota in 2015, after having spent 25 years in the Black Hills of SD. In 2017, she received the Artist Fellowship Award, presented by the Region 2 Arts Council, in Bemidji. Kelli is also an Enrolled Member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
The pandemic ended up being an unforeseen opportunity for learning. The major book arts centers, as well as other artistic entities, began to offer both live and recorded workshops online. With only one class left to take, Kelli will receive her Core Certificate in Book Arts from the Minnesota Center for Book Arts in spring 2024.
Artist Statement: I am an artist by nature and possess a daily need to be creative. I happily work among a variety of mediums and genres, in both two and three dimensions, in projects both large and very small.
Selected Shows, Awards & Special Events
2023 15th Annual Illustrated Accordion Exhibition
Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, Kalamazoo, MI
2022 San Diego Book Arts
Presented a watercolor & collage demo to a live national audience via Zoom.
2021 Duluth Art Institute Annual Members Show, Group Exhibition
The Depot, Duluth, MN
2019 First Place, Transparent Watercolor - Intermediate
Artists of Minnesota Spring Show - May 2019, Pier B Resort, Duluth, MN
2019 Fellowship Exhibit - Solo Show
February & March 2019, The Wild Hare, Bemidji, MN
2019 Group Show - Lake Superior Watercolor Society
Duluth Pottery, Duluth, MN
2018 25th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition
Red River Watercolor Society, Moorhead, MN
2017 Artist Fellowship Award, 2017-2018
Region 2 Arts Council, Bemidji, MN
2017 25th Annual Juried Art Exhibition
MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
2014 Bronze Medal, Member's 18th Annual Exhibition
Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD
2014 Golden Award, 21st Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition
Red River Watercolor Society, Moorhead, MN
2012 Silver Medal, Member's 17th Annual Exhibition
Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD
2011 18th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition
Red River Watercolor Society, Moorhead, MN
2008 Recognition Award, 15th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition
Red River Watercolor Society, Moorhead, MN
2008 Merit Award, Member's 13th Annual Exhibition
Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD
2008 Honorable Mention, Member's 13th Annual Exhibition
Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD
Certification
2021 Certified Zentangle® Teacher (CZT)
Signature Membership Achieved
2014 Red River Watercolor Society
Other Memberships Include
2023 Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Publications
2017. National Collage Society
2018 National Collage Society