We had the good fortune of connecting with Beth Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Beth, how does your business help the community?
After moving to the Front Range in 2024, I fell in love with the prairie dogs I saw running around open spaces in Longmont and Boulder, so I was inspired to use my art to give them a voice. Through my series of pen and ink drawings of prairie dogs pictured in famous Colorado spots, I am passionate about raising awareness around saving these special creatures. They are a keystone species that is critical to our ecosystem, but as more land gets developed across this part of the country, they are being pushed out of their homes. So far, the response to my art has been positive and I think it’s because the pieces are happy and make people smile. I’m also donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of my prints towards prairie dog preservation in Colorado and hope to inspire others to do the same!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love creating art that captures memories of the most meaningful parts of life – family, pets, and home. For over 20 years, I’ve specialized in custom pen and ink house and pet portraits. Whether I’m drawing a pet portrait that embodies the quirky personality of a beloved fur baby, or a classic house drawing for a first-time homebuyer gift, I love working with clients to create something unique that will last forever. Most recently, I’ve started creating and selling a series of Colorado Prairie Dog pen and ink prints through local small businesses. Coming from the custom commission world where I know the client will be happy with the result because the piece is personal, it’s been a fun challenge to experiment with what pieces will resonate most with shoppers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a tough one because there are so many amazing spots! I’d definitely start out with coffee and a breakfast wrap at Cavegirl Coffeehouse in Longmont. Then would head to Boulder for a gorgeous hike looking at the Flatirons. My favorite spot these days is the network of open trails near Flatirons Vista off 93. Then I’d keep heading south into Denver where we would check out the art galleries in the Santa Fe district and grab dinner before heading back to Longmont.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to give a shoutout to the women owned small businesses in this area who were incredibly supportive about my art and have done an amazing job featuring it in their stores. I love when women support other women in their passions! Thank you to Tumbleweed Art Collective, Adorn, and Cavegirl Coffeehouse in Longmont, Bliss in Boulder, Tree Huggers Trading Co. in Allenspark, and Period Six Studios in Golden.

Website: https://www.bthomasstudios.com

Instagram: bthomasstudios

Other: https://bthomasstudiosshop.etsy.com

Image Credits
None – All art is my original art

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.