Meet Nora Bushong Larimer | Painter, Gallery Owner, World Traveler

I am a landscape painter in watercolor and oil and I found my audience in Colorado when we decided to move from the midwest to Colorado in 2008. We were able to build an art gallery with living space and studio above, in an up and coming neighborhood in a small town in the mountains. I didn’t know it then but we were at the front end of a development with higher end homes where people began flocking for vacations. I had been painting in the west for several summers already when we made this change. We lived above the gallery and there was studio space above too. Being that close to work, along with the tax benefits made for an efficient and profitable business. A great decision!

They say to paint what you know. I had a learning curve for painting western light and mountains, but once I got that down the collectors were there. (I also paint flowers and fish). The gallery contained 30-40 three-dimensional artists and craftsmen as well, but since I was the only painter, I did well in that market. Another dimension to the gallery was a custom frame shop.

This area became a destination for many who love the outdoors. In their down time those who visited the gallery, if they weren’t in the market for a painting, usually had to have something else. My vast experience doing art shows to that point helped me curate a collection that buyers loved.

I would call myself a contemporary impressionist painter of landscapes, flowers and fish. Best known for colorful watercolors, I hope to inspire the viewer to see colors in the landscape that they normally wouldn’t. I like to work in complements (purple with yellow, red with greens, blues with oranges, for instance). I’ve been painting in watercolor for decades, but have lately added oils to my portfolio and often paint on location (en plein air). Most of my studio paintings are in a large scale- up to 60 inches in width. I’m excited and happy to have many followers and collectors.

Part of my success is due to finding ways to diversify to give customers a less expensive choice. I not only offer reproductions on paper, but also dye-sublimation prints on tiles. These can be used in backsplashes, installed in furniture, or just used as coasters.

My journey started in college learning the basics of drawing and painting, but it really took lots of hard work to get to mastery. That’s the most important part of being a successful artist. I also had to learn to be a professional framer in order to present my work well and to make it affordable. Since I had kids too, it took awhile to get to the point of opening my own gallery and frame shop. I had lots of fun along the way, though, traveling to many states for shows. I also taught many watercolor workshops and classes. So, while it wasn’t easy, it was worth it!

If I had a good friend coming to Buena Vista in the fall, I would definitely take them on a “leaf peeping” ride around the area. This mountainous area is known for it’s spectacular fall color with the gold aspen trees and purplish willows in the wet areas. Nearby in Leadville there is an open air train that goes into the mountains for viewing too. The next day could be spent hiking some of the areas, including near Aspen at the Maroon Bells, Snowmass Wilderness. Follow that up with dinner at the Eddyline Brewpub down by the Buena Vista Riverpark on South Main St.

The next morning we walk down to the Buena Vista Roastery for coffee and the best breakfast pastries around. in the afternoon we take a 10 mile ride to the Mt Princeton Hot Springs for a dip in the pools. Later, a good place to eat good food with an outside patio if the weather is good, is the House Rock Kitchen for a variety of heathy foods and burgers. Across the street for dessert is the best ice cream in town, but be prepared to wait in line!

On Sunday, you can partake of the best breakfast around at reasonable prices, and sit on the porch of the Surf Hotel right by the Arkansas River. (My favorite is the homemade french toast or eggs benedict with fresh squeezed o.j. and an espresso drink). A couple nights a week, the “Lawn” of the hotel has a stage with high-quality, professional music. And if you likes art, across the street is the Rock Run Gallery, where my work is located, and the work of 30+ other crafters! Nearby Salida, 25 miles away, has many art galleries and some shopping too!

If you like river sports, there are a myriad of rafting companies around in the summer, and places to rent kayaks and standup paddle boards. Many people also mountain bike or use e-bikes to explore.

I would love to thank my husband, Preston. He has been by my side encouraging me for decades. He supported our family while I was learning to be a better artist, learning the custom framing business, teaching workshops and classes, along with raising two boys. Always up for an adventure, he has also traveled with me around the world to paint en plein air.

Before that, I had some really great instructors in college and beyond: James green, Glen Felch and Jim Schmidt from Principia College, to name a few.

And Dave McGarvey from Williamsport, PA who sold me my first framing vise and encouraged me to learn the framing business. He also gave me a show early on in his gallery that sold some of my first paintings.