Longmont’s Village at the Peaks has a new mural behind Nothing Bundt Cakes thanks to Denver artist Sandra Fettingis.
Fettingis’s art is defined by intricate geometric patterns, a style she’s practiced since she was a kid using a coloring book that followed that design — she still has that coloring book with her.
“It is a color in the patterns type book. I’d fill in the colors with the same kind of meditative, repetitive, formulaic method that I use in my work today,” Fettingis said.
She’s always been methodical in the way she approaches the world and her art.
“Organizing and repetition have always been of interest to me even from when I was a kid. I remember growing up with artists as parents, I had art supplies at my disposal. I had huge boxes of markers and I would organize them by colors and then draw shapes,” she said.
Fettingis has found that those who view her work also find some peace and meditative attributes as they experience it.
“I’ve heard from people passing by that they find a piece very calming or soothing. That’s great to hear,” Fettingis said, “I gravitate towards that. I’m a meditator. I’m always looking for things that are just kind of calming. It’s found its way in my art-making.”
One thing that stands out to Fettingis is that art is not simply a finished piece. It’s that she views it as a representation of who an artist is as a person. She encourages those who want to pursue art to keep that in mind and reach out to their communities.
“Art is about much more than the work. You are bringing your personality and your experience to the table. People are interested in forming communities,” Fettingis said.
She moved to Denver from Chicago 16 years ago and made it a priority to get to know her community. At that time, it had a much smaller-town vibe with only a few galleries and a couple of museums with one just beginning to expand.
She encourages aspiring artists to take a chance and get to know their communities to find opportunities to get their art out into the world.
“A person might already be making art but has the canvases just sitting in their studios unseen. My advice for changing that is to get to know your community. Get away from your screen and meet people in person. That is huge: presenting yourself,” Fettingis said, “the metro area is a very friendly place. Over time that community just builds. It’s a really cool thing to be a part of and watch.”
From longmontleader.com. Click here to read the full article