Art Ala Carte is about Fun Art, not Fine Art.
After completing a few painting classes myself, and experiencing the simple and profound joy that a creative act can produce, I decided to start a unique organization that would allow others to share a similar experience. What began as an act of the heart has become Art Ala Carte.
My goal was to offer variety: paintings and instruction from many different artists. It’s all about inspiration . . . paying it forward . . . finding a way to ignite the flame within each of us.
I’ve had the privilege of viewing some amazing talent from hundreds of potential artist instructors. The select few that were chosen had exemplified such creativity and visual exploration that it sparked my interest in their artistic processes. Their work is unique, their talent unsurpassed, and they are here to share it with you!
Jerilee Peterson
Owner-Creator
Allison C. Barber
graduated with a B.A. in Fine Art and Art History from the College of Idaho. She works as a freelance artist creating custom murals, portraiture, jewelry, and graphic design materials. She has also held positions at two fine art galleries as gallery assistant and assistant curator. Currently living and working in Parker, she is inspired by an aggregate of vibrant colors and the everyday images that surround her.
Robin Smith
was born in 1985 in Denver, CO where she currently lives and works. She received a BA in English literature from Colorado College in 2007, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in fine art from the Burren College of Art in western Ireland in 2009. Since then she has been actively involved in the art community as an artist in residence (both domestic and international) and an assistant teacher of children’s art classes at the Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride, CO. Recent solo exhibitions include the "Genus" project (Ballyvaughan, Ireland), and "Elements" (Denver, CO). Her works are included in the collections of Eron Johnson and the Science Museum of Minnesota.
"My artwork occupies the space between myself and the world. I draw because I want to perceive and comprehend. My work is an act of reverence for the natural, the ephemeral, the fragile. Drawing is my primary practice; the observational nature of my work and the spare simplicity of my style lend themselves to this. My goal is not to simply depict, but to explore nuance and beauty. My drawing is precise, intuitive, and genuine—it is in accordance with the nature of the subject, as I perceive it. The world has a way of composing itself with perfect balance; it is my goal as an artist to recognize and pay tribute to this balance."
Molly Yamanaka
"Art is the thing that soothes my soul. It is the one thing that I can get lost in, no matter how tired/busy/stressed I am. The ironic thing is I spend most of my creative time thinking "this sucks!" And then I get to put the finishing touches on and get to thinking "Hey, this isn’t so bad!" Good or bad results, it truly is the journey of art that I love."
Dani E. Day – aka Ajai
"The artistic and creative force is within each of us…I just let it out when it scratches at the door. I look beyond the obvious. I find images in the spaces between and the areas overlooked by many. A bad photo to some becomes a grand painting to me and a dead branch with the aid of my tools becomes a walking sculpture. All I do is open my eyes and the images find me."