The Hockaday invites everyone to the second session of its 2016 Winter Art Maker Series featuring renowned colorist painter Rachel Warner. On Wednesday, February 24, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Rachel will set up an easel and paint in the Hockaday's main gallery for this illuminating and engaging session of live art making. Attendees observe a work in progress and benefit from the artist's commentary and insight. There will be plenty of time during the 90-minute session for guests to interact with the artist.

Rachel is a fifth-generation Montanan now living on her grandparents' ranch property in Columbia Falls. She has been drawing and painting since childhood, and, of her life in art she exclaims, "The old saying is, 'When did you become an artist?' I didn't become an artist, I just didn't quit!" Early years living in Havre, Montana exposed her to Native American culture. The influence on her art has been profound.

One of the greatest impacts on her life has been her decades-long relationship with one of Montana's most famous artists, Russell Chatham. His support over the years has guided her growth as an artist. Their shared tonalist painting styles often encourage comparison, although Warner pushes back at the use of the word tonalism. "The more proper phrase would be colorist. Basically, the tonalist painters in American Art history, at least that I look at, were much more concerned with capturing the mood than anything else. She continues, "How one does that is by playing around with different palette opportunities. It really is about something ethereal that you might see at dusk, something unusual that you might catch when there is a lot of humidity in the air. Yes, it is very romantic for me. I'm after a fantasy; it's the magic I chase as a painter."

Painting in Glacier National Park puts things in perspective for her, "We can come out here and remember our smallness. It gets us aligned and just visually, from an aesthetic point of view, it's more to work with than any artist could ever handle." This summer, Rachel will be returning as an exhibiting artist for the Hockaday's second A Timeless Legacy - Women Artists of Glacier National Park show and sale. Her 2015 participation in the inaugural A Timeless Legacy exhibit, book, and documentary film is still well-remembered.

The Hockaday encourages everyone to arrive early as the Winter Art Maker sessions tend to fill up quickly. Hockaday members are admitted free of charge and non-members will be asked to contribute an admission fee of $15. Memberships to the Museum start at $35/year for Seniors and College Students.

The Hockaday Museum of Art is located in the cultural district of downtown Kalispell at 302 Second Ave East. It is housed in a 1904 Carnegie Library building that appears on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum is a private nonprofit organization, open year-round, Tues-Sat from 10am-5pm. The mission of the Hockaday is to enrich the cultural life of our community and region, and preserve the artistic legacy of Montana and Glacier National Park. For more information, please visit www.HockadayMuseum.org or call 406-755-5268.