Traveling between the Rocky Mountains and desert Southwest, plein air painting or spontaneous field sketches initiate the unfolding creative journey… a collection of visual shorthand, emotions and sensations that are completed on-site or later translated and recast in the studio. A metamorphosis or reconstruction of the landscape evolves through exuberant, tactile brushstroke; the slip-slide, scrubbing, layering and flow of paint that create patterns and pieces of kaleidoscopic color and light.

Whether a 5-day pack trip into Canyon de Chelly; hiking to timberline to capture a painting of late spring snow; braving the desert sun of Saguaro National Monument; or tucked out of the wind behind scraggly, alpine evergreen, high on Trail Ridge Road, the extraordinary diversity of terrain, climate, seasons and light of the Rockies and desert, provide never-ending sources of adventure and inspiration.

Originally from Oak Park, Illinois, many childhood summers were spent exploring the Chicago Art Institute and experiencing feature exhibits by Andrew Wyeth and Monet. Traveling to Paris offered the opportunity to further immerse Peet in the art of the Impressionists. The teeming color, energy and endless dance of light and atmosphere, remain today as vivid and enduring influences… likewise, the directness and spontaneity of the Plein Air movement in California and the West; the bold light, shadow and architectural form of Caravaggio, Edgar Payne and Carl Rungius; the fresh, fluid work of Russian-American Impressionist, Nicolai Fechin as well as contemporary painters Richard Schmid, Oleg Stavrowsky and C. W. Mundy.

Education and Work Experience
Drawing and painting since grade school, Peet has had a multi-faceted business career in fine art and design including teaching, and positions in the fields of graphic design and advertising. After more than twenty years in advertising and graphic arts, Peet returned to graduate school for an M. A. in Interior Design. Prior to the introduction of C.A.D. (Computer-Aided Design), when development and presentation illustrations were done by hand, here, the intense study of architecture, color, form, composition, scale, spatial relationships and speed drawing left an indelible mark on her painting. Over twenty creative awards have been achieved, including an Award of Excellence from the U.S. Industrial Film Festival for co-production of a documentary film; and she has served as a Project Design Team Member at the Children’s Museum, Denver, Colorado. Many years of volunteer creative and design work have been devoted to various Chambers of Commerce and health care facilities.

         B. A. (Fine Arts-Painting): Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado

         M. A. Interior Design: University of Colorado, Denver, School of Architecture
                Nominated to Who’s Who in American College Students, Award of Scholastic Excellence
                Elected to the Honorary Society for Architecture and Allied Arts, Tau Sigma Delta

        Additional Fine Arts Education and Study with Noted Artists
                 - Wayne Wolfe and Ralph Oberg, Juried Master’s Workshop - Ouray, CO
                 - Skip Whitcomb, George Strickland, Kenn Backhaus, Joe Abbrescia, John Budicin, Howard Carr
                 - Matt Smith, Jove Wang
                 - Roger Shimomura (Univ. of Kansas) - Split Rock Fine Arts - Duluth, MN
                 - University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (Painting and Art History)
                 - Fresno State College, Fresno, CA (Painting)
                 - Carnegie Mellon Institute, Pittsburgh, PA (Drawing)

Affiliations:
         Oil Painters of America (OPA)
         Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters—Signature Member
         Tucson Plein Air Painters’ Society-Juried Artist Member
         Laguna Plein Air Painters Association

Select Shows and Juried Exhibitions
         2008-2007 Oil Painters of America - National Juried Exhibition
         2008-2006 Salon International - Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio,TX
         2008 Settlers West Gallery of Fine Art - The American Miniature Show - Tucson, AZ
         2008-2007 Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art - Anniversary Show, San Antonio, TX
         2007-2006 Oil Painters of America - Western Regional Juried Exhibition
         2008-2006 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters - National Event - Elk Horn Gallery, Winter Park, CO
         2008 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters - The Seasons Show - Loch Vale Fine Art, Estes Park, CO
         2008-2003 Empire 100 Western Art Show and Sale, Tucson, AZ
         2008-2006 Best of Plein Air - Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
         2008-2004 Summer Round-Up Show - Big Horn Gallery, Cody, WY
         2009-2008 Nomadas del Arte - National Plein Air Show
         2008-2005, 2003 Tucson Plein Air Painters' Society-Juried Show, Tubac and Tucson, AZ
         2007 Sedona Plein Air Festival - 3rd Annual - Sedona, AZ
         2007-1999 Mountain Oyster Club Western Art Show - National Juried Exhibit, Tucson, AZ
         2007-2004 Fall Classic Show - Big Horn Gallery, Cody, WY
         2006-2001 Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Association Juried Members Annual Exhibit
         2006-2004 Group show and painting demonstration - Big Horn Gallery, Tubac, AZ
         2006 Arizona Plein Air 2006 - Wild Wild West Plein Air Show, Scottsdale, AZ
         2006 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters - 3'd Annual Signature Members Show, Steamboat Springs, CO
         2006 Tucson Museum of Art - Ready Set D'Art Benefit-Invited to participate
         2005, 2003 Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Plein Air Show-National Juried Exhibit-Tucson, AZ
         2005 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters– Estes Park Fall Colors Paint-Out and exhibit
         2005 Miniature Show Invitational-El Presidio Gallery, Ruidoso, NM
         2005 Arts for the Parks-Top 100
         2005 Two artist show - Cogswell Gallery, Vail, CO
         2005 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters-Feature Artist Show - Snowfire Gallery, Estes Park, CO
         2005-1999 4-Artist show - El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
         2005 Rocky Mt. Plein Air Painters– National juried paint-out and show-Jackson Hole, WY
         2005-2004 Two-artist show - Big Horn Gallery, Tubac, AZ
         2005-2004 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters - Invited guest artist - La Mariposa paint-out show, Tucson, AZ
         2004 Featured Artist Show and painting demonstration—El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
         2004 Vail Wine and Fine Arts Faire-Featured artist and painting demonstration-Cogswell Gallery, Vail, CO
         2004-2003 Estes Park Plein Air Exhibition– Painting the Parks—Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
         2003 Plein Air Artists Show - El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
         2003-1999 American Plains Artists – Juried Invitational - Midland, TX
         2003 Summer Art and Music Show - El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
         2002-2000 Miniature Show – El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
         2001 Visions of Canyon De Chelly - 5 artist-5 day plein air painting expedition - El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
         2001-1999 Best and the Brightest-Scottsdale Artist's School Juried Exhibit, Scottsdale, AZ
         2001-2000 Plein Air Tucson
         2000 Anniversary Show – El Presidio Gallery, Tucson, AZ
         1999-1996 Solo Show, Upper Midwest Regional Shows - Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, Grand Marais, MN

Recognition, Awards and Honors:
         Signature, lobby painting, Arrabelle Hotel, Rock Resorts, Vail, CO

         Pearce Museum, Corsicana, TX, permanent collection

         Arts for the Parks
                 2005 Top 100
         Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
                 2008 Award of Excellence - Quick Draw
         Nomadas del Arte, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
                 2008 Award of Excellence
         Salon International, San Antonio, TX
                 2008 - 2006 Jury's Top 50 Award
         Tucson Plein Air Painters' Society - Juried show - Tucson, AZ
                 2008 Third Place
                 2007 First Place and Honorable Mention
                 2006 Artists' Choice Award
                 2005, 2003 First Place
         Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Association "Best of Plein Air"
                 2007 Honorable Mention
         Rocky Mt. Plein Air Painters - National juried paint-out and show
                 2006 Award of Merit -Winter Park, CO
                 2005 Best of Show -Jackson Hole, WY
         Rocky Mt. Plein Air Painters - Painting the Parks - Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
                 2004 Artists' Choice Award
                 2004 Collectors' Choice Award
                 2003 Award of Excellence
         Laguna Beach Plein Air Painters Association Juried Members Annual Exhibit
                 2003 Honorable Mention
         American Plains Artists – Juried Invitational - Midland Texas
                 2003 Honorable Mention and paintings selected to travel to the Ellen Noel Art Museum, Odessa TX
                 2002 One of 27 paintings selected to travel to the Ellen Noel Art Museum, Odessa TX
         Plein Air Tucson
                 2001 Best Floral

Publications:
         2008 Southwest Art, "Exclamation Points Darcie Peet," P.86-91, p. 164, July 2008.
         2008 Vail Valley Magazine, STYLE: "Darcie Peet: Exploration and Discovery," Style p.62-63, Summer 2008.
         2007 Sedona Red Rock News, The Scene,, "Plein air artists paint live and on deadline," p. 3, October 19, 2007.
         2007 Cowboys and Indians, "Gallery Tour-Darcie Peet," p. 68, January 2007.
         2006 Steamboat Today - 4 Points, "Quick Draw" -
                   "Plein air painters have one week to capture the Yampa Valley on canvas" P.10-11, July 7, 2006.
         2005 Southwest Art, "Peet Wins Top Award," p. 42, October 2005.
         2005 Art of the West, "Darcie Peet Wins Best of Show," p. 95, September/October 2005.
         2005 Vail Daily, "Cogswell Gallery Hosts Artists, Darcie Peet, Melissa Cooper," B6, August 27, 2005.
         2005 Summit Daily News, "Local Artist Wins Best of Show," A10, August 9, 2005
         2005 Southwest Art, "Water in the Landscape-Darcie Peet," Feb. 2005
         2005 Cultural Times, "Darcie Peet-Plein Air Painter," Jan-Feb 2005
         2004 Southwest Art, "On the Scene, Rocky Mountain Plein Air Event," P.30, Nov 2004.
         2004 Art Talk, Art Buzz, P. 10, Nov/Dec 2004.
         2004 Vail Daily, "Cogswell Shows Darcie Peet," B2, September 14, 2004.
         2004 Vail Daily, "Local Artist Garners Big Award," Front Page and B1, September 7, 2004.
         2004 Art Life-Arizona, "Artist Profile-Darcie Peet," Key 27-28, Vol. 17.
         2001-2002 Art Life-Arizona, Fall/Winter, "En Plein Air," One of a 5-artist group on Canyon de Chelly painting trek.
         1997 Lake Superior Magazine, "Five Artists of Vision," P. 21, May 1997.