Aimee hails from the lakes region of central Maine. She grew up camping, swimming, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, gardening, and doing anything outdoors with her family. It is no surprise then, that when she packed up her car and headed out west in 2012 to see what all the hype was about, that she would fall in love with Colorado. It's a similar lifestyle with bigger mountains, more sunshine and fewer bugs. So, duh!

One of her favorite pastimes when she was not outside, was cultivating her love for making art. Some of her earliest memories were painting with her grandmother and drawing new outfits for her paper dolls. In 5th grade she took her first formal art class with the high school art teacher and continued exploring all things art all the way through college. 

Several years ago a co-worker had mentioned that she was in a local group called "Women of Watercolor." That sounded fun! Despite very little experience in that medium, she got out there and painted with the ladies weekly for a time. The group traveled all around Summit County painting "plein air" landscapes outside. Finally, a way to combine art and be outside! A few more classes later, and she started developing her watercolor style. The freedom yet challenge of trying to control the pigments, while embracing the "happy accidents" in this form of colorful expression never ceases to amaze her. 

Life and work had taken her into mom-hood and real estate as a career, but she still enjoys getting her brushes wet, and she hopes this view of Mt. Garfield in Palisade, Colorado's wine country takes you to a state of "happy place" that only art (and perhaps a little wine!) can. 

Follow her mountain life at www.AimeeStraw.com