First Friday Art Walk

Kerry Westlund is a local artist fascinated with light and color while exploring mystic and spiritual themes.

Jill Ferrington - Paintings by JF | Website| Instagram

Welcome to Paintings by JF. I paint in vibrant acrylics and playful mixed media, inspired by meaningful places, quiet moments, and the charm of everyday life. You’ll find pieces rooted in nature, local history, and personal memories—along with community canvases from First Friday Art Walks and the cozy, beginner‑friendly classes I teach at the Petrichor Collective. Feel free to wander, explore, and enjoy the artwork; I hope you find something that sparks connection and joy.

This month's show will include information about upcoming classes, pieces to purchase, and a community canvas for our Art Walkers to collaborate on!

This Month The Merchant Room at Walnut Creek is featuring a group of 5 potters from the Fort Collins Pottery Guild. As the leaves turn, we're celebrating all things earth and clay. Meet five talented potters from Walnut Creek FOCO and the NoCo Potters Guild — Nina Emery, Tamie Baggett, Michon Draper, Erin Bellos, and Alison Clarke — and find your new favorite handmade mug, just in time for cozy cocoa season. ☕🤎

See our Facebook event for more.

Monique Eckes - Silver Paw Studio

I work with businesses, entrepreneurs, and brands who know they need to be visible but feel nervous, awkward, or overwhelmed by the idea of photos or video. I always welcome families who want to celebrate the love they share of the entire family WITH their pets in a way that feels fun, relaxed, and genuine.

Through photography and video, I help people step out from the shadows and into the spotlight with confidence. For businesses, that means testimonial videos, branding photography, and content they can actually use to connect with their audience. For families, it means portrait sessions that feel like the best day ever, not another item on the to-do list.

Wolverine Farm presents Where You Stand: a group art exhibit inspired by literature of the earth.
Join us to celebrate the wild talent of our community through multidisciplinary arts, using Place-Based Literature as our jumping off point.

This art exhibit will include a handful of local artists’ works in a silent auction throughout the month of October to raise funds for literature in Northern Colorado. The fundraiser party is October 24th, from 6-9pm, and will include literary readings, live music, and more.

The Blue Moose Art Gallery will be in Old Town at the Fort Collins Welcome Center and will be featuring 3 artists! Come see LIVE artist demos and learn more about the gallery. You may also see some fun Tour de Corgi art!

Beth Liggit

Beth is an interdisciplinary artist creating jewelry, mosaic, stained glass, sculpture, and anything else that catches her attention! As the daughter of an artist, creativity is in her blood. She started working with metal as a teenager, later incorporating glass and everything else into her practice. She is driven by the belief that art connects us. In addition to art, she creates spaces for community - sharing her creative process in hands-on workshops.

Beatrice Rudolph

Beatrice has been drawing and painting animals for as long as she can remember. Her passion for horses and art went hand-in-hand as she grew up and continued her education at Colorado State University. Beatrice likes to feature animals from her own experiences in her paintings and drawings. As an equestrian, pet owner, and former Rocky Mountain Raptor Program volunteer, she often portrays horses, cats, birds and raptors that she owned or knew personally. Depicting the animal’s personality and expression is something she takes particular pride in. Inspired by the plight of endangered species, Beatrice also chooses to feature them in many pieces. Reimagining them as constellations, she alludes to their future as legends should we fail to act in time. Some pieces combine spray paint and oils, some pieces charcoal and graphite pencil. She’s also exploring sculpting in polymer clay and resin casts using rubber molds.

Mike Fischer

Mike’s art is both precise and loose, and his affinity for both styles first appeared when teaching automotive custom paint at WyoTech, an automotive technical school in Laramie, Wyoming. Mike often would demonstrate painting automotive panels with a strict format for students to follow. He also would create a “for fun” panel. Pearls, metal flakes, transparent colors, and blends drive Mike’s love of automotive art. With just airbrush or spray gun, Mike can make an art piece come alive, without ever touching the surface. Mike developed his art through many years as an auto body paint technician, running a sign business with his wife Mary, and the many workshops and classes he has attended to develop his art.

We're excited to feature Loveland artist Carrie Lambert (@hurricanecarriecretions) this October. Carrie creates intricate crocheted wire art. Combining wire and beads into beautiful, one-of-a-kind designs. Her work ranges from wearable pieces like necklaces, earrings, and bracelets to sculptural creations like trees and flowers. Stop by any time during the month of October to discover the incredible detail and creativity in this unique art form.

Two features this month at Bas Bleu!

From 5-7 PM, there will be a mural unveiling this First Friday created by Chelsea Gilmore. You can learn more about this project at:

Poudre River Mural at Bas Bleu: Community-Based Art Connecting People to the River

In addition to the mural event, there will be new artwork hanging in Gallery Bleu created by Grace Zach:

Grace Zach was always a mountain girl. She grew up near Cotopaxi, Colorado, at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. After her teaching career in Fort Collins, Grace lived on Black Mountain in Crystal Lakes. She hiked the many trails and her paintings were inspired by the mountain wildlife and flowers, and she developed a particular fondness for weathered wood. Grace, an avid fan and supporter of theater, would have been honored to display her paintings in the gallery. All paintings are for sale, all proceeds will be donated to Bas Bleu Theatre.

At Big Al’s, supporting local goes beyond the food—we’re proud to showcase a rotating lineup of local artists right here in our space. Our walls feature a constantly changing collection of work from talented creatives in our community, giving guests something new to discover with every visit. Whether you’re stopping in for a burger or meeting up with friends, you’ll find original pieces that reflect the character, creativity, and spirit of Northern Colorado. It’s one more way we stay connected to the place we call home and the people who make it special.

Amy Powell | Artist Amy Powell has been creating for nearly 20 years. She began her professional journey creating large scale oil paintings, but has become known for her intentional experimentation and is always evolving. Among her paintings, you can find a variety of portraits and animals as well as an array of abstract work. Her most recent creations have moved into an illustrative vein inspired by folk stories and mythology.

Amy’s art is all about expressing the depth of human emotion. Whether it’s a figure that depicts sorrow or mirth, or a non-subjective piece conveying grief and hope, she uses each brushstroke as an expression of her heart. Her themes are most commonly feminine energy and the serenity of nature. There is a story behind every piece, but also room for the viewers’ experiences to be brought alive as well. When asked about the inspiration behind a piece, Amy prefers to hear the story that the viewer wants to tell. She loves to feel the connection between herself and her audience when they bond with a piece.

Because of this, Amy loves collaborating with her collectors to create pieces that speak to their particular experiences. If you have an idea you'd love to see brought to life, please reach out and connect!

Heidi Robertson | I’m an artist inspired by nature, animals, and the quiet moments that often go unnoticed but stay with you. My work is rooted in emotion, the kind you feel more than explain.

I’m drawn to texture, soft color, and the feeling behind a moment rather than trying to make something perfect. Whether it’s a field, a flower, or an animal, I want each piece to feel like it has a story and a sense of calm to it.

Art has always been a way for me to process life and connect both with myself and with others. It’s also what led me to start sharing that experience through classes, creating space for people (especially kids and families) to slow down, create, and just be present.

Everything I create comes from that same place. Connection, meaning, and a love for the simple beauty in everyday life. ​You can also find my work in local galleries, including Homestead Fine Art Gallery and
Sanderosa Art Gallery.

Imani Samuel | Like many others, I've been creating art since I could properly hold a pencil! I didn't know how or when, but I knew that one day I would be calling myself an Artist!

It wasn't my path at first. I've been through a handful of careers - from retail to dental administration to social media management. But my love for creating art had NEVER gone away. I knew that this is what I'm meant to do!

There's nothing like imagining something and being able to create it out of nothing! There's no feeling like seeing a client see my work and watch a huge smile come across their face! There's nothing like giving others the chance to dream - to allow themselves to dive into imagination!

Bookstore On The Square is hosting local author Ian Patterson (@ianpattersonauthor) in celebration of his newly published novel "Fruits Of Our Labor." His debut novel "Transference" won the Colorado Book Award in 2025, and is now part of a complete science fiction series.

We'll have new author, Junalyn Nicdao, with her debut "Veya and the Arcane Trials" a YA dark fantasy novel.

The bookstore will also be featuring a returning artist, The Sacred Cauldron, with spell kits and more for the start of a beautiful, witchy autumn season!

Join CC’s Flowers in Old Town on Friday, October 2, from 6–9 PM for First Friday Art Walk! Enjoy local art, live music, and fresh flowers while exploring downtown. Award-winning contemporary folk singer/songwriter Emily Barnes will perform in the shop from 7–9 PM, and local artist Michelle Smith will have her artwork on display throughout October. Come enjoy an evening of music, art, and flowers with us at 153 N. College Ave.

Michelle Smith | Instagram | Website

It started, bored, in a high school. The closest subject was my hand, so I drew. I remember being surprised at what I had accomplished. From there, I floated in and out of other art mediums. Photography, jewelry making, acrylic painting and pours... Eventually, I came full circle. Back to drawing. By this time, I realized the comfort and peace felt through nature. Pen and watercolor have become my connection with nature and glorifying God for his majesty in creation. I live happily, in Fort Collins with my husband and 5 kids.

Emily Barnes Joined by Chris Koza | Original Contemporary Folk Music

Emily Barnes is an award winning contemporary folk singer/songwriter based out of Denver CO, whose music breathes life into the characters and stories of everyday people. With the release of her fourth album, Mint Condition, she continues to carve out a space that is wholly her own in the modern folk landscape.

Exhibit Title: 2026 Northern Colorado Artists Fall Show
Where: Gallery A & B
When: Sept. 30–Oct. 4 | noon–6 p.m.
Reception: Friday, Oct. 2 | 6-9 p.m.

"The Northern Colorado Artists will be showing their paintings, cards and prints in this community art exhibition. Featured art will range from pastels, oils, acrylics and watercolors to plein air pieces, prints and cards by 13 artists. Inspired by the plains, mountains and people of Northern Colorado, the artwork will showcase familiar landscapes, landmarks and scenes that reflect the character of our region."

Exhibit Title: Formed by Fire
Where: Gallery C
When: Sept. 23–27, Sept. 30–Oct. 4, Oct. 7–11 | noon–6 p.m.
Reception: Thursday, Oct. 1 | 6–8 p.m.

"Featuring work from the four artists selected for our inaugural Artist-in-Residence Program. After spending time immersed in the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, each artist created work exploring the connections between Colorado’s forests, fire, community, and resilience."

Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative Artist in Residence Program

Crystal Joys is proud to feature Amy Mathews of Impasto Art for this month’s First Friday Art Walk.

Originally from Southern California, Amy Mathews has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, and now Colorado. After moving to Colorado in 2004, she discovered her artistic voice, inspired by the state’s natural beauty and the vibrant colors, textures, and everyday moments that surround her.

Amy finds inspiration in the simple things that bring joy—bright scarves in a local shop, vegetables growing in a garden, colorful cars lined along a street, and Colorado’s ever-changing landscapes. Through bold color, movement, and texture, she transforms these observations into expressive works that reflect her personal and emotional interpretation of the world.

Working primarily in the impasto tradition, Amy creates richly textured original metalwork with an emphasis on texture and physical depth.

@Impastoart on Instagram

October Art show welcomes visitors to experience autumn-inspired works by Andrew Madison with new modern themes celebrating shifting colors, human form and reflective moods of autumn.

Elena Vance is a contemporary abstract painter in Colorado, who creates large-scale modern paintings exploring the physical interplay of color, texture, and gesture.

Working primarily with oil and mixed media on raw canvas, Vance builds her compositions through an intuitive process of layering, scraping, and fluid mark-making. Her work bridges mid-century abstract expressionism and contemporary minimalism, focusing on the emotional resonance of space and pigment rather than literal representation.

Vance studied fine arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago before returning to the Mountain West. Her paintings have been featured in regional galleries and independent art spaces across Colorado and the broader Western United States. Her work is held in private collections in Chicago, Denver, and Santa Fe.

In her current studio practice, Vance is developing a new series of monochromatic works that examine light and shadow through dense, tactile surfaces.

First Friday is one of our favorite times to celebrate community, creativity, and connection here in Fort Collins — and we can’t wait to share it with you. Whether you’re here to shop, snack, admire local art, or just soak in the atmosphere, this night will be packed with good vibes.

📍 October First Friday Art Walk at Edge Optics – 121 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins, CO

Stop by, bring friends, and let’s make this First Friday one to remember!

Featuring:

• Voulez Vous Bonbon
• JES Creations
• William Pilch
• Solana Studios
• Mark Jordan
• Corah Zadie
• Chloe Wommack
• India Thomas

Experience the creativity of Downtown Fort Collins during ArtWalk! The Emporium is proud to partner with Blue Moose Gallery to showcase the work of talented local and regional artists. Stop in, explore the featured artwork, and enjoy an evening celebrating art, community, and the vibrant culture of Old Town Fort Collins.

In 2010 Cynthia Danielle, a Colorado artist, decided to trade in her brushes for palette knives. The popularity of her new style captured the attention of art collectors and commission work. The charm of the city in which she and her family live inspired her to paint her popular, richly textured, and colorful oil palette knife cityscapes and landscapes.

Cynthia’s work can be seen in many public, residential, and commercial buildings around Fort Collins. As a young artist, Norman Rockwell inspired her with his pictorial storytelling abilities. Cynthia Danielle’s cityscapes embody some of his characteristics by capturing a moment shared between people and the energy of the surroundings.

Follow your nose down the illuminated marble staircase into our 142bis gallerie this first Friday in October for an autumnal candle pour demo by Beth of Beldamia. She will be filling candle vessels from her cauldron of autumn’s signature scent (Lune d’Octobre)…come get witchy with Beth!

An ongoing show of new works featuring owls from Blossom Bird Studio will be available for viewing and purchase, as always. Forage through autumnal ephemera pacquets from Ute of Handarbeit and procure an assemblage of your own.

Save the date of Sunday, October 4th, 1-4pm for a five scent autumnal candle pour by Beth; bring up to 4 clean vessels of your choosing, and get refill pours for $2.50 per ounce. Details in store or on Instagram @esscentualsfortcollins & @beldamia

Elaine Ryan - TreeGirl Creations | TreeGirl Creations is the work of local Fort Collins artist, Elaine Ryan. She transforms natural elements inspired by nature and create one-of-a-kind pieces.

"I love to 'wood hunt' and find driftwood with character, bark and moss from Colorado, Wyoming and Moab."

TreeGirl Creations is all about seeing possibility in the unexpected and turning it into something that is original and is truly unique!

John and Saskia Taylor - J. Taylor Collection | The Gilded Goat Gallery proudly presents a unique collection curated by John and Saskia Taylor. The J. Taylor Collection offers a captivating glimpse into the past, inviting visitors to experience a world as it once was. Explore our eclectic mix of art, vintage advertisements, antiques, maps, books, and collectibles—all available for purchase at reasonable prices. Whether you’re searching for a distinctive gift, a personal memento from Fort Collins, or simply taking a nostalgic stroll, our Downtown location is the perfect destination to discover the ever-evolving catalog curated by John and Saskia Taylor.

Jim Dossett | Meet Jim! A lifetime family friend, retired teacher, and talented Tonka & Buddy L truck restorer. After retiring, Jim turned his passion for restoring vintage trucks into a hobby, with a special focus on creating restorations for police officers and their families.

We’re excited to feature a few of Jim’s beautifully restored trucks, available for purchase at both Goat locations!

As Jim puts it: “Just a workbench, a trusty Dremel tool, hand tools, lots of vinegar, spray paint and patience.”

Join us for First Friday Art Walk with free entry to experience our brand new exhibition "Exposure: Identity and the Evolving Image" and our permanent collection galleries, alongside live music and visual artists from Petrichor Collective.

This October, Hutch Home Co. is proud to welcome Melanie Damore to First Friday Art Walk. A Colorado-based oil painter, muralist, and educator (and owner of Denver Art Days, LLC), Damore's work is rooted in a deep connection to the outdoors - from Colorado's iconic 14er peaks to quiet alpine lakes and shifting mountain light. Using exaggerated color and atmospheric energy, she paints not just what a landscape looks like, but what it feels like to stand inside it.

Damore's path to painting wasn't a straight line - after a ski accident and a long recovery reshaped her relationship to the outdoors, art became her way back to the wild places she loves, and a way to share that sense of presence and awe with others.

Join us for an evening of art and community as we celebrate Damore's work at Hutch Home Co. during Fort Collins' First Friday Art Walk.

October’s Art Walk kicks off our annual Halloween Flash Event! We’re doing a shop-wide showcase featuring all-new, original Halloween designs created by our artists. All of the flash on display will be available to get tattooed!

Stop in to check out the new flash, meet our artists, grab a print to take home, or get a new tattoo. Whether you’re coming for the art, the tattoos, or just want to see what we’ve been working on, everyone is welcome. Come celebrate spooky season with us at Linden Street Tattoo Company in Old Town Fort Collins!

Featured Artists:

• Adam Fenner
• Adam Kooker
• Luke Ahonen
• Cullen Puffer

Come see the current exhibition All In with Deck of Art Fort Collins presented by Deck of Art and Cornerstone Gallery at The Masonic Event Center. All In is an exhibition highlighting works made by artists participating in the upcoming Deck of Art Fort Collins project.

Exhibition Dates: September 25 - December 12, 2026

All In brings together work by 30 of the 54 artists who made a card for Deck of Art Fort Collins (not the work used for the cards, which will be presented at Center for Creativity December 2–6, 2026). This exhibition is an opportunity to see the breadth of artwork being made and the astounding talent in Fort Collins right now. The exhibition includes paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, textiles, drawings, and digital artwork.

Deck of Art Fort Collins | @deck_of_art

Main Gallery

Free admission to our current exhibition, Art and Access: New Directions in Prints and Multiples. Spanning 1967 to 2026, this exhibition explores how artists around the world have worked to make their vital creations accessible to broader audiences. It features Banksy, Nick Cave, Judy Chicago, Mickalene Thomas, Rachel Whiteread, Kehinde Wiley, and many others. Curated by Dr. Lynn Boland and Katherine McQueen.

MoA for All Art Engagement Center (2nd Floor)

Get moving with Dance Express, a Legend of Dance in Colorado! Join them for a short, drop-in session exploring movement based on their "Sincerely Yours" project in the Community Curated Gallery. All ages and abilities are welcome, no experience needed. You'll also find local artists set up throughout the space.

10-minute sessions:
6:30
7:00
7:30

Come celebrate art, community, and over thirty local artists! We have a half dozen new artists in house since September's First Friday.

We invite you to come in to watch a live painting demonstration by Kate Dardine (who last showed at the Center for Creativity's "Driven to Abstraction 9 - When Words Fail"). Kate's work beautifully blends art, spirituality, and nature.

DJ Neil of Fortune will be on hand to spin together some musical vibes intentionally set to match Kate's groove.

We also host 10-12 of our resident artists for meet-n-greets.

Our Frame Bar is fully stocked with high-quality, ready-made frames and kits include glass, backing and hanging supplies. Want us to frame your art for you? OTAF offers the largest selection of frame mouldings in Northern Colorado.

• Shelly Hearne
• Clint Eccher
• Gregory Mayse
• Roger Funke
• Tara Parr
• Rozine

Travis Krause | Website | Instagram

Travis Krause's 20+ year artistic journey has been driven not by natural talent, but by relentless curiosity and a passion for learning. After rediscovering creativity through ceramics in college, he eventually found his true calling in painting, developing his skills through years of self-study, studio practice, and mentorship. His career led to work on some of the largest public murals in the United States, but his greatest breakthrough came when he combined his art with his love of nature and fly fishing. Today, he creates custom nature-inspired artwork for clients around the world and leads international workshops, inspiring others to reconnect with their own inner strength and creativity.

The Moments In Between Us is a photography exhibition by Todd McCarty exploring light, motion, expression, and the stories held within a single moment. McCarty describes himself as a visual storyteller, with work spanning live music, theater, dance, sports, and other shared experiences. Featuring photographs created largely between 2007 and 2019, the exhibition invites viewers to imagine themselves inside each scene, hearing the music, feeling the energy, and experiencing the moment alongside the Artist.

Join us for the opening reception on First Friday, October 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Petrichor Collective Studios, 131 E Lincoln Ave., Suite C, Fort Collins.

Artist: Todd McCarty | @got_light

Anjali MacDonald | Website | Instagram

Anjali is a watercolor artist whose work is shaped as much by life’s unexpected turns as by her brush. For more than 30 years, she built a career as an environmental engineer, grounded in logic, precision, and a deeply analytical way of seeing the world. But after an unexpected diagnosis of young-onset Parkinson’s disease, Anjali found herself opening a door she had never fully explored before—creativity. What began as a way to navigate change soon became a powerful new language for expression.

Her studio, Flutterbrush, takes its name from the tremor in her hand—a “flutter” that has become an integral part of her artistic voice rather than a limitation. Each painting carries not only its own story, but also reflects Anjali’s journey of resilience, adaptation, and rediscovery. Her work embraces movement and emotion, inviting viewers to find meaning in both the image and the process behind it.

We will be hosting Erica Bartell. She will be showcasing her lamps. See her work on Instagram @lam.shack.

Come see my NEW STUDIO at 155 N. College Ave., Studio 116! 

 I am so pleased to be joined by Henry Haynes, Craig Wentka, Jenn Rahn, America building studios, Sydney Tattoo, Night Owl Tattoo, Roots and Twigs Photography, and Pottori. I will also have information about NOCO Creative Network, and will be happy to answer any questions! Our building is located just north of CC's flowers. Check out the event on my Facebook page for updates!

Sheri Lauren Art

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Create Good Co. will not be participating in the October Art Walk.