August Artist of the Month

 

Ramona Lapsley is a print-maker and a retired art teacher. She earned her degrees from Concordia University in Nebraska and the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Her teaching career began in Green Bay, WI where she taught high school students. As she is originally from Brighton, CO, she found her way back home and taught at Mountainside Elementary School in Fort Carson, CO. 

 

Lapsley’s pieces reflect her interest in Colorado nature including sport fish, flora, and fauna. She is also inspired by her garden and backyard in Manitou Springs, mountainous landscapes, Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, The San Juan Mountain Range and Moab. 

 

As insight to her creative process, Ramona creates her prints by drawing her design in reverse on the surface of linoleum. Then she carves the image into the linoleum, applies oil-based ink with a roller, then proofs these prints with additional carving as needed until her image is to her standards. The final edition is printed on the Takhach press. She hand-colors each print with a combination of watercolors and liquid inks. 

 

More of her work can be found at her studio at The Manitou Art Center or at RamonaLapsley.com