The KC Auction & Appraisal Company is honored to work with Symphony in the Flint Hills again. We fully support their mission to: "Heighten appreciation and knowledge of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie." Only through appreciation and knowledge of this incredible ecosystem can we preserve and protect one of the planet's largest stands of tallgrass prairie. Enjoy this beautiful selection of works celebrating the tallgrass prairie. Visit symphonyintheflinthills.org to learn more.

Bidding is pretty simple, particularly if you've bid in an online auction before, but here's a quick rundown on some features that may be unfamiliar: Each lot in the auction is scheduled to close 60 seconds apart. For example, Lot 1 is scheduled to close at 7:00.00 pm central time. Lot 1a is scheduled to close at 7:01:00, Lot 1b is scheduled to close at 7:02:00, Lot 2 is scheduled to close at 7:03:00, Lot 3 is scheduled to close at 7:04:00. Soft Close The auction software has a "soft close" feature so that if a lot is bid on in the final two minutes before that particular lot is scheduled to close, that lot extends for another two minutes. For example, say Lot 10 has one minute left before it closes and a bid is placed on it: Lot 10's time will extend to three minutes. Then if Lot 10 ticks back down to thirty seconds remaining and another bid is placed, then Lot 10 will extend to two and a half minutes. As long as active bidding is occurring in that final two minute window, it will keep extending that lot's time. This does not affect any other lots in the auction, just that particular lot. High Bids and Maximum Bids Bidders can place maximum bids which remain secret; the system will only bid up to the competitive bids and show that number as the high bid. For example, if your maximum bid is $100 and the next highest bidder's maximum bid is $50, then you would be the high bidder at $55. If bids go past your maximum, you'll be notified by email that you've been outbid and can then bid again if you choose. If two bidders happen to have the same maximum bid, then the first bidder at that value is the high bidder.

Artwork can be picked up at the Symphony in the Flint Hills Gallery in Cottonwood Falls. Shipping can be arranged by calling 620-273-8955 or email, sandy@symphonyintheflinthills.org.

"Summer is a time to travel the backroads with the endless rise and fall of the Flint Hills. The grasses are at their premium and the skies are the main attraction on a breezy summer day!" Oil on High Profile Wood Panel. Unframed, 12H x 9W. Patricia Adams paints landscapes that focus on the Kansas Flint Hills. She mostly paints in oil, but you may also find her watercolor work. She starts in the traditional manner but often strays from this representation into unseen colors, shapes, and shadows, creating a new and different perspective characteristic of her work.

"My work celebrates all the things of nature that bring joy. My paintings are contemporary, highlighting simple shapes, movement and vibrant color. I hope that you see them, smile and think of all the good things outside. Several years ago, I got tired of looking at other artists' work and thinking I should do that, or I could do that, and realized that the only difference between those working artists and me was that they were trying, and I was talking about it. I've since found my stride, selling my work and tapping into a creative space that has brought me immense joy. I've found my place in a world that I thought had long since passed me by, and now I understand that the journey that brought me to this has been the goal all along." Acrylic on Canvas. Framed, 25H x 25W. Dianna Bartel is a contemporary landscape painter inspired by the Kansas landscape's wide-open spaces and skies. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Science. After working professionally with public schools, museums and university environments for many years, she has now embraced her calling to create through painting. Her work is vibrant and gestural in nature, intended to represent the joy inherent in creation.

"The towering compass plant is a sight to behold in the Flint Hills landscape. With roots that extend deep into the earth, its sunflower blooms brighten the hillsides. The lower leaves are said to orient themselves north and south as an adaptation to retain moisture. In this watercolor painting, I wanted to celebrate standing tall under a cloudless Kansas sky surrounded by vistas of grassy hills." Watercolor. Framed, 31.25H x 14.25W. Susan Bartel is a Kansan, both by birth and by choice. She feels an affinity with the vastness of the prairie and the vistas of the Flint Hills. Following work as an illustrator and librarian, Susan now paints for her own enjoyment. Landscape and botanical stories told in watercolor are her passion.

"The process of creating these paintings brings me closer to nature. The spirit of life happens when we are willing to destroy and re-create something new. When I create these paintings, I use only my fingers and sticks to loosen up and capture nature's chaotic energy. My paintings celebrate nature in all stages and seasons. It's important to remind people that the beauty in nature is fragile. We need to protect it as much as possible. In an effort to further spare our environment from unnecessary waste, I frequently use discarded/donated house paint that would otherwise be thrown into the landfill. I hope my work is loud and makes a statement: we need to celebrate nature and protect this land before it's too late." Mixed Media. Gallery Wrapped, 18H x 24W. Charles Baughman is a nationally known, contemporary, abstract expressionist painter and a long-time art educator. He received his bachelor's degree in studio arts and art history from Kearney State College in Kearney, Nebraska, and his Master of Fine Arts in painting & sculpture from Wichita State University.

"I've always liked the perspective that roads convey in a photograph—the sense of distance, maybe some mystery wondering where the road goes, as well as the meaning that a road can convey. This scene was taken at a moment when the light was shining through the clouds perfectly. I took this photo at the end of a difficult year, and I think to me, it represented the way forward through a new year, new challenges, and new opportunities." Photography. Framed, 25.5H x 37W. Scott Bean has been photographing the Flint Hills for over twenty years and finds the prairie is both comforting and peaceful. The quiet and solitude of the Flint Hills provide a chance to let the chatter of the world quiet down, and the wide-open spaces help keep everything in perspective.

"Transitions often create the most interesting moments to photograph. The transition between seasons, the transition between clear skies and a storm moving in, and the transition from day to night can all create unique moments. I made this photo in late summer, right as the day moved to night and the cloudy skies moved to clear." Photography. Framed, 21.25H x 31.25W. Scott Bean has been photographing the Flint Hills for over twenty years and finds the prairie is both comforting and peaceful. The quiet and solitude of the Flint Hills provide a chance to let the chatter of the world quiet down, and the wide-open spaces help keep everything in perspective.

Benyshek's son, Hans, is disabled. On February 1st, he asked his mother to take him for a drive in the country. They went into the Flint Hills. They enjoyed a magnificent sunset as they returned home, driving towards Wichita. Benyshek asked Hans to photograph the view as she was driving. This painting is based on that photograph. Watercolor and Gouache. Framed, 20H x 23.5W. Denita Benyshek's career highlights include a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wichita State University and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Washington. She was also an artist in residence at Botanica Gardens and Ucross Foundation, Wyoming. Her collections are housed at the University of Washington Medical Center, King County Ethnic Heritage Collection, and Harborview Medical Center. She has also had solo exhibits in Wichita, Seattle, Santa Fe, Sun Valley, and Portland. Denita lives in Wichita. Her paintings provide a beautiful celebration of nature's wonders.

"I always pause to appreciate a Kansas sunrise or sunset. Loud colors and magnificent cloud formations paint a glorious view above the horizon. But when there is a blanket of snow on the ground, and the quiet colors of winter define the landscape, the beauty whispers." Oil on Canvas. Framed,18.75H x 24.75W. Carrie Bernauer grew up in Southeast Kansas in a small town on the Verdigris River. She grew up in a tight-knit family with land they have farmed and ranched for generations. She roamed fields and pastures on foot and horseback, which instilled a deep appreciation for nature and rural life. The rural setting of her childhood inspires Carrie's paintings which features the rolling hills, native grasses, and big skies of the Kansas Flint Hills. Her work has recently been exhibited in the Buttonwood Art Space, the Prairie Village State of the Arts show, and the 2022 Symphony in the Flint Hills Art Exhibit and Auction.

"Observing nature has inspired me to find my creative path in documenting the unique and ethereal beauty I find everywhere. Evening primrose can be found throughout Kansas, growing wild just about anywhere. These blooms are delicate and papery thin, lasting only a day or so. Yet the plant is sturdy, a survivor. It is my pleasure to share this beauty in my creative pursuits." Cyanotype on Watercolor Paper. Framed, 14.5H x 11.5W. Becky Brinkley is an interdisciplinary artist who lives and works in Kansas. Her work encompasses ceramics, textile and fiber and photographic processes. Recent works include alternative photo processes in which Cyanotype is included.

"My painting "Ridin' Point" was inspired by my many years of experience herding cattle. While riding point, you are responsible for pointing the herd where you want them to go. In this painting, the cattle seem to be cooperating." Acrylic. Framed, 21H x 25W Bruce Brock is originally from Chanute, Kansas, but has lived in the heart of the Flint Hills for over thirty years. He enjoys painting scenes of the people and places where he works.

The full title is "Your Fields Will Flower in Fullness" "Having grown up in the Flint Hills, I truly appreciate their beauty, colors, wildlife, movement of the wind through the tall grass, and the down-to-earth people who live and work there. Through my art, I want to draw attention to the beauty of the hills. I'm drawn to color, pattern, and texture in nature and enjoy incorporating these things in my prints. The title of this entry is a line from a hymn we sing at my church. The work reminds me of warm summer days populated by this rugged, reliable, resilient little flower of the prairie, the Black-eyed Susan." Reduction Linoleum Printmaking. Framed, 12H x 18.75W. After graduating from Kansas State University with a BFA in 1976, Jennifer Callaway continued to study printmaking with Peter Johnson at Butler Community College. She worked as a freelance graphic designer while raising a family. She was employed as a graphic designer with El Dorado, Inc., an economic development organization for the City of El Dorado, from 2005 to 2021. She is a member of the Society of American Graphic Artists.

"The tallgrass prairie is home to a wide variety of native plants whose roots extend deep into the soil and are a vital part of this extensive ecosystem. These deep roots bind together those connected to the Flint Hills. The farmers, ranchers, Indigenous People, and animals living in this breathtaking landscape depend on this unique area of land. The leadplant, Kansas gayfeather, and compass plant are wildflowers that contribute to the health of the Flint Hills. Their roots grow to 14 feet and help sustain this important ecosystem. I used fused fabric, raw-edge quilting, hand embroidery, and thread painting to create a unique art quilt." Fiber: Wool, Cotton, & Embroidery. Framed, 25H x 13W. Leslie Campbell is an art quilter from Lawrence, Kansas. Since 2005, She has been experimenting with fabric, fiber, and quilting techniques. As a retired high school librarian, she naturally seeks order and discipline. Conversely, quilting provides a means for exploring creativity and gaining a new perspective on the world. Leslie's work can be viewed on her website at modernartquiltsbyleslie.com.

"The Flint Hills never fail to deliver with their natural beauty. Any time of year, any weather, any lighting, they draw us in, asking us to stop and drink it all in. If you don't happen to connect with what you see, wait a minute, move a few feet, and try again. Let the Flint Hills speak to your heart and mind. Let the sound of the ever-present wind take you away from your everyday life, if only for a little while. Let the Western Meadowlark brighten your day with its melody and vibrant yellow chest feathers." Photography. Framed, 13H x 19W. Mark Clarke's most significant artistic influences are his experiences with local and international travel, his fondness for impressionist art, his love of nature, and a genuine desire to share with others. Mark values connecting with the natural world and strives to communicate its beauty through his photographs.

"I intentionally left this canvas more impressionistic. I'm not necessarily referring to the art style here but the overall feel of the viewing experience. I often find the Flint Hills so elusive and rapidly changing that, at times, I just want to capture a sense of light and form. It's clearly still a landscape, but one that is so washed in light that it loses some sense of space and distance." Oil. Framed, 19H x 23W. Rob Compton is primarily a self-taught painter who has learned to paint by studying past masters and contemporary artists, by close observation of the natural world, and most importantly, by working with the medium on a near daily basis. He lives and works in College Hill, a historic neighborhood of Wichita, KS. He has exhibited in numerous solo and group shows regionally, including a solo exhibition at The Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg, KS. He has shown in juried competitions around the country, where he has earned several special recognitions. His work is in dozens of private collections nationally and is owned by several Midwestern businesses and organizations. Additionally, Rob teaches art history at East High School and through Newman University.

"Every year in late March and early April, thousands of acres of grassland in the Kansas Flint Hills are burned. Plains Indians started fires to attract game to new grasses. They sometimes referred to fire as the ""Red Buffalo."" Today, Ranchers start fires to improve forage for their cattle and play an extremely important role in maintaining the prairie ecosystem. The benefits of fire are enormous. Sunlight warms the blackened ground and stimulates dormant plants to sprout and grow. Fire is as natural as sunshine, rain, and wind and is nature's way of starting over." Oil on Canvas. Gallery Wrapped, 15H x 30W. Louis Copt graduated from Emporia State University in 1971 with a degree in art. Louis began his career as a full-time artist in 1985 after returning from a summer of study at the Art Students League in New York City.

"Every year in late March and early April, thousands of acres of grassland in the Kansas Flint Hills are burned. Plains Indians started fires to attract game to new grasses. They sometimes referred to fire as the ""Red Buffalo."" Today, Ranchers start fires to improve forage for their cattle and play an extremely important role in maintaining the prairie ecosystem. The benefits of fire are enormous. Sunlight warms the blackened ground and stimulates dormant plants to sprout and grow. Fire is as natural as sunshine, rain, and wind and is nature's way of starting over." Oil on Canvas. Gallery Wrapped, 36H x 24W. Louis Copt graduated from Emporia State University in 1971 with a degree in art. He began his career as a full-time artist in 1985 after returning from a summer of study at the Art Students League in New York City.

"From 1998 to 2009, I ran a program for high school kids called Run Across Kansas. We would run in a relay fashion from the CO border to Topeka in four days. Along the way, we were hosted by KS VFWs, and we heard many stories from WWII through the present. On the fourth day, we would run through the Flint Hills. It was always strikingly beautiful to see the various cemeteries all dressed up to honor the veterans. The memory is etched in my mind, and I often think of the beauty and am thankful for it." Latex on Canvas. Framed, 18H x 24W. Lisa Cowan is a painter living in Leawood, KS. Her landscapes and portraits are created through an exploration of materials and methods that call viewers to focus their attention on the how and the what of that which is being portrayed. With painterly applications ranging from paint rollers and hardware store paint swatches to expressive brush strokes that build three-dimensional surfaces, her paintings work to suggest particular moods that match their methodologies. Largely focused on the landscapes and faces of people she knows well, her work illuminates the powerful presence of those familiar with her life. As a self-trained artist, Lisa focuses primarily on color and emotion to generate powerful memories in those who observe her work.

"This life-size decorative decoy of the Canvasback Drake is hand-carved out of tupelo wood, with lifelike detailed feathering, and hand-painted using oils." Tupelo Wood and Oils. 6.5H x 13W. Tom Davis is a retired minister who recently moved to Manhattan, Kansas. In the 1980s, he was introduced to wildlife art and decorative decoys that migrate down the five flyways. The central flyway is important for migrating waterfowl that come to the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge for a winter resting spot. Since retiring, he has become more involved with studying the wildlife that makes the Flint Hills their habitat. Tom hopes that his artwork will bring awareness to the variety of waterfowl the Flint Hills draw.

"This life-size decorative decoy of the Canvasback Hen is hand-carved out of tupelo wood, with life-like detailed feathering, and hand-painted using oils." Tupelo Wood & Oils. 8H x 13W. Tom Davis is a retired minister who recently moved to Manhattan, Kansas. In the 1980s, he was introduced to wildlife art and decorative decoys that migrate down the five flyways. The central flyway is important for migrating waterfowl that come to the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge for a winter resting spot. Since retiring, he has become more involved with studying the wildlife that makes the Flint Hills their habitat. Tom hopes that his artwork will bring awareness to the variety of waterfowl the Flint Hills draw.

"My pastel, Flint Hills Glory, is one of many dramatic early evening sunset storms I've witnessed. The light from the sunset as the evening arrives creates warm lighting on the storm in contrast with the deep shadows on the gently rolling Flint Hills landscape and the dark sky above. I painted this pastel on smooth paper and blended the pastels verses using individual strokes of color." Pastel. Framed, 25H x 31W. Michael Duane has had a compelling interest in the weather since he was seven and witnessed his first tornado. Following storms through the Flint Hills, he appreciates the contrast between the breathtaking beauty and the incredible power of the storms. His paintings of this subject matter are done in bold, pure pastel colors.

"Everything we do leaves an impression. Whether intended or not, our actions affect our environment and relationships. I set up a composition so that over time, the ENVIRONMENT, including rain, snow, ice, sun, animals and accumulated debris, creates an EXPOSURE on the medium. This piece is created on copper; the frame is made from reclaimed oak shipping timber, and exposure was five months." Exposed Copper. Framed, 46H x 15.25W. Glen Ediger is an artist, designer, inventor, award-winning writer, lecturer, and a native Kansan who has always lived in Harvey County. He is a 2012 Bethel College Outstanding Alumni Award recipient. He is an industrial designer who worked for 30 years as the Director of Design at Vornado Air in Andover. He is listed as an inventor on 133 US Patents.

"By incorporating written language into my visual compositions, I aim to merge the linguistic and the visual realms. I seek to invite the viewer to explore the connection between the visual aesthetics and the underlying narrative conveyed by words, thereby stimulating a dialogue between the seen and the spoken. In "Breathe," I intend to evoke the sensation of deep breathing. To me, the Flint Hills evoke a profound sense of relaxation and tranquility, where one can catch their breath and become acutely aware of being alive." Mixed Media (Acrylic and Bass Wood on Panel). Framed, 25.5H x 25.5W. Clive Fullager settled in and fell in love with the Flint Hills in 1988. The prairie and the Kansas landscape continue to inspire his art. Although he has no formal training, his art can be seen in several collections and museums, and he is represented by the Strecker-Nelson-West Gallery.

"The Flint Hills Area is vast, covering approximately four million acres in Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma. This painting is an amalgam of some of the trails we've explored. Whether we're gazing at herds of cattle or buffalo, gently rolling hills, homesteads with outbuildings, deserted one-room schoolhouses, stands of cottonwood trees, or masses of wildflowers in a prairie, one thing is constant – the magnificent skies. The hiker of today no doubt experiences the same emotions as settlers of this area: a humble appreciation for the beauty of this region." Water-soluble Oils on Canvas/Canvas. Framed, 13.5H x 17.5W. Katrina Garner moved to Iowa in 1994 and was immediately captivated by the beauty of the Midwest's rolling hills. She regularly paints with local artist friends, primarily using water-soluble oils and pastels. Her work is shown in local galleries and featured in several special exhibits.

"I am struck by every detail the Flint Hills have to offer. A horizon line bends under an open sky; grasses unfurl, and crickets fly. I utilize monotype, a painterly printmaking process, to capture the feeling of a particular moment or season in this place I call home. A brayer, scraper blade, and oil crayons are my main tools for creating sharp edges juxtaposed with drawn lines and hazy fields of color. The submitted pieces are part of an ongoing series I call Shifting Landscapes, observations of land and sky through layers of ink and mixed media." Monotype, Printmaking. Framed, 9.5H x 11.5W. Mary Gordon McFall is an artist and instructor based in Manhattan, Kansas. Working in series using various printmaking processes, Mary explores her natural environment, everyday interactions, and overlooked happenings through a lens of play. She holds an MFA from the University of Georgia and a BFA from Kansas State University.

"I am struck by every detail the Flint Hills have to offer. A horizon line bends under an open sky; grasses unfurl, and crickets fly. I utilize monotype, a painterly printmaking process, to capture the feeling of a particular moment or season in this place I call home. A brayer, scraper blade, and oil crayons are my main tools for creating sharp edges juxtaposed with drawn lines and hazy fields of color. The submitted pieces are part of an ongoing series I call "Shifting Landscapes", observations of land and sky through layers of ink and mixed media." Monotype, Printmaking. Framed, 12H x 15W. Mary Gordon McFall is an artist and instructor based in Manhattan, Kansas. Working in series using various printmaking processes, Mary explores her natural environment, everyday interactions, and overlooked happenings through a lens of play. She holds an MFA from the University of Georgia and a BFA from Kansas State University.

"These beautiful scenes of the Flint Hills intrigue artists as the hills embrace these beautiful pastures. The winding roads and rolling hills never fail to inspire! The colors are fantastic, and 2-dimensional paintings fail to do justice to the scenes effectively!" Oil. Framed, 30.75H x 42.75W. Virginia Grass Simmons is a member of Oil Painters of America. She has spent her life as a teacher and consultant for Wichita Public Schools. Virginia has taught oil painting at Mark Arts in Wichita for 14 years. Virginia paints en plein air in different areas of the country; however, they always love returning home to paint Kansas's beautiful Flint Hills and prairie. Mary has exhibited in many juried shows and was selected as the winner of the 2016 Symphony in the Flint Hills competition with her painting, ""Flint Hills Glory."" She is represented by Beauchamp Gallery, Topeka, and Strecker Nelson West Gallery, Manhattan.

"The beauty of the Flint Hills inspires me to be a better artist." Acrylic Paint, Resin on Cradled Wood Panel. Unframed, 10H x 10W. Amy Gray works out of her home studio in Lawrence, KS. She works in many mediums and styles, including geometric and abstract. Amy's work is currently in many private collections around the world and has been featured in the West Elm catalog.

"While driving home from a day in the Flint Hills, I am always awed by the beautiful sunsets. I especially like the fact that there are no trees to spoil the beauty of the Flint Hills!" Acrylic. Framed, 19.5H x 25.5W. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Hugh Greer attended the University of Kansas, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design. Hugh paints in a style that is easy for people of all ages to relate to. His landscapes are both nostalgic in their purity and realistic in their execution.

"I've been told the Flint Hills are less populated today than they were 100 years ago. It humbles me to see a well-preserved ranch house that has survived over the decades and actually looks like it was built yesterday. However, they have needed to replace the roof several times because of the Spring rains." Acrylic. Framed, 24.5H x 30.5W. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Hugh Greer attended the University of Kansas, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design. Hugh paints in a style that is easy for people of all ages to relate to. His landscapes are both nostalgic in their purity and realistic in their execution.

"I moved to this region in 1988, and my first encounter with the Tallgrass prairies forever changed the trajectory of my life and work. Painting on location in the expansive grasslands continually enthralls me, and my work has been an exploration of what it feels like to be in that space. This painting was done on location in the Konza Prairie Biological Station near Manhattan, Kansas, on the night before the winter solstice, 2023. The day was entirely gray until the searing red light burst through right before sunset." Oil on Canvas. Framed, 10.5H x 37.5W. Lisa Grossman is a painter and printmaker based in Lawrence, Kansas, since 1996, whose work focuses on the prairies and river valleys of Eastern Kansas. Lisa has had thirty-plus solo shows around the Midwest and on either coast, and over 1800 of her works are included in public, private, corporate, and museum collections. Lisa is a 2019 Phoenix Award recipient, an honor from the City of Lawrence for artistic achievement, as well as an eight-time artist-in-resident in our national parks. She has degrees from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the University of Kansas and is represented by Haw/Contemporary in Kansas City and SNW Gallery in Manhattan, Kansas.

"The origins of my art are organic and primitive, derived from the earth inspired by nature. My hope is that the energy of the earth continues to live within my creations. I would be proud to share it with those of you who would love it along the way. Art is communication, inspiration and education. I draw energy, wellness, and a sense of wonderment from the heavens, the earth, and nature. Join me and listen to the spirits of the prairie, embrace the soul of the plains, open your heart to the skies above, and you will soon understand." Limestone. 15H x 19W. Mark Hahn was born and raised in Topeka, KS. At an early age, he was exposed to all things Midwest: the beautiful rivers, lakes, prairies, farmlands, big blue sky, and, yes, the Flint Hills. Mark knows the benefits, the escape, and the fulfillment creating provides.

"A bison bull stands on an open prairie — this photo could have been taken this year or 200 years ago. A paragon of the prairie, this bison bull reminds us how close the species came to disappearing completely. We're all grateful to have them still with us." Photography on Aluminum. Unframed Aluminum Panel, 15H x 30W. Jill Haukos has been a prairie-dweller her entire life, and it's where she finds her deepest connection to nature. A native of South Dakota, Jill has been a Flint Hills of Kansas resident for 13 years and has discovered her passion – teaching others about the tallgrass prairie.

"Captured at the beginning of September, this photo captures the grasses of the tallgrass prairie at their peak. The kings of the prairie, the warm-season grasses reach their maximum height in September and soon bloom and produce seeds. With mowing and grazing, it can be a challenge to find grasses that are allowed to reach their full potential. Here, we see just what the prairie can do when given the freedom to thrive." Photography on Aluminum. Unframed Aluminum Panel, 15H x 30W . Jill Haukos has been a prairie-dweller her entire life, and it's where she finds her deepest connection to nature. A native of South Dakota, Jill has been a Flint Hills of Kansas resident for 13 years and has discovered her passion – teaching others about the tallgrass prairie.

"This painting was completed from studies done on location in the Tallgrass Prairie preserve after a rain. The sun was barely visible behind the clouds and smoky haze in the sky from distant western wildfires." Oil on panel. Framed, 13H x 10W. A native Kansan, Mary Hipp received a BFA from the University of Kansas. She worked as a muralist and owner of Patina, Inc., a decorative painting studio, for over twenty years. During that time, Mary completed commissions for clients and interior designers and also taught studio classes.

"My earliest memory of the Flint Hills was as a young child looking out of the back window of my grandmother's Buick on one of our frequent trips between Wichita and Kansas City. This place seemed impossibly vast and beautiful to me. That first impression still returns on every visit. My work focuses on translating these unseen experiences into the visible." Oil on Panel. Framed, 12H x 15W. A native Kansan, Mary Hipp received a BFA from the University of Kansas. She worked as a muralist and owner of Patina, Inc., a decorative painting studio, for over twenty years. During that time, Mary completed commissions for clients and interior designers and also taught studio classes.

"Mother Nature explodes over the vastness of the Prairie. A road leads us home amongst the long shadows of late afternoon. I love to explore cloud formations, and painting allows me to enhance the color and drama of a thunderstorm. There is nothing more exciting than watching the amazing clouds roll over the Kansas Flint Hills." Acrylic. Framed, 32.5H x 26.5W. Kevin Hobbs received his B.A. in art from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1974. He also attended the Kansas City Art Institute. His career started as an elementary school art teacher in Eureka and Winfield, KS. He currently lives in Overland Park, KS. Kevin has been the featured artist for ""Kansas on Canvas"" at the Phoenix Gallery in Lawrence, KS, and ""Kansas Landscapes"" at the Prairiebrooke Gallery in Overland Park, KS.

"A familiar site in the Flint Hills, a sign of ownership sometimes welcoming. I love the vastness of the Prairie, and I love to include architectural features that show our impact on the land. Acrylic allows me to enhance color and drama. And I usually incorporate diagonal lines to guide the viewer through the work." Acrylic on Canvas. Framed, 41H x 31W. Kevin Hobbs received his B.A. in art from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1974. He also attended the Kansas City Art Institute. His career started as an elementary school art teacher in Eureka and Winfield, KS. He currently lives in Overland Park, KS. Kevin has been the featured artist for ""Kansas on Canvas"" at the Phoenix Gallery in Lawrence, KS, and ""Kansas Landscapes"" at the Prairiebrooke Gallery in Overland Park, KS.

"My passion for photography took root in 2004 thanks to an inspirational workshop leader, the late Nancy Rotenberg. I predominantly shoot cars from the first half of the 20th century and landscapes. Initially I was drawn to intimate compositions of both. But since volunteering for the Kansas Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, I've learned how to capture broad landscapes, such as the abundance of those in Kansas. My overall goals are to create compositions that show the viewer a point of view they have yet to consider and to share images of places they're not familiar with or even unaware of." Photography. Framed, 19.25H x 25.25W. Bruce Hogle continues to develop his wide-angle photography skills, thanks to his volunteer work with the Kansas Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, capturing the broad landscapes of Kansas. He enjoys the subtle beauty of the Flint Hills. Bruce feels most at peace when immersed in Kansas landscapes.

"My passion for photography took root in 2004 thanks to an inspirational workshop leader, the late Nancy Rotenberg. I predominantly shoot cars from the first half of the 20th century and landscapes. Initially I was drawn to intimate compositions of both. But since volunteering for the Kansas Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, I've learned how to capture broad landscapes, such as the abundance of those in Kansas. My overall goals are to create compositions that show the viewer a point of view they have yet to consider and to share images of places they're not familiar with or even unaware of." Photography. Framed, 19.25H x 25.25W. Bruce Hogle continues to develop his wide-angle photography skills, thanks to his volunteer work with the Kansas Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, capturing the broad landscapes of Kansas. He enjoys the subtle beauty of the Flint Hills. Bruce feels most at peace when immersed in Kansas landscapes.

"In 2008, I began creating hand built and thrown sculpture from clay. Within 2 years, I started exploring the use of wood-fired kilns to finish my work and fell in love with the surfaces that I could achieve using wood kilns. Now, I primarily fire my work with wood. I wheel-throw and hand-build the parts needed for each sculpture using either porcelain or stoneware. I then meticulously sculpt each finished piece from these component parts. The natural glaze and flame marks observed on my work result from being fired in a wood-fueled kiln. As wood is burned, the kiln temperature begins to rise, and the atmosphere fills with floating ash. This fine fly ash gradually builds up on all of the exposed surfaces of the work inside. Once the temperature inside the kiln exceeds 2000 degrees Fahrenheit from continuously adding more and more wood, the wood ash begins to melt, run, and ultimately glaze each piece of sculpture. This random layering of wood ash glaze onto the surface results in one-of-a-kind sculptures with beautiful colors and patinas." Ceramics, 8.5H x 14W. Brian Horsch grew up in Colwich, KS, a small town Northwest of Wichita. His first career was as an optometrist practicing in Manhattan, Council Grove, Topeka and Lawrence, KS. He loved driving through the Flint Hills on his way to work. He is now a potter and an artist focusing on wood-fired ceramic sculpture. His studio is located in Lawrence, KS. Brian started sculpting from wood early on in his life, using various scraps, hardwoods, and a pocketknife. He tends to focus on animal forms, both real and unreal. He has a special affinity for the indigenous species of the Flint Hills, especially if they have horns or antlers.

"In 2008, I began creating hand built and thrown sculpture from clay. Within 2 years, I started exploring the use of wood-fired kilns to finish my work and fell in love with the surfaces that I could achieve using wood kilns. Now, I primarily fire my work with wood. I wheel-throw and hand-build the parts needed for each sculpture using either porcelain or stoneware. I then meticulously sculpt each finished piece from these component parts. The natural glaze and flame marks observed on my work result from being fired in a wood-fueled kiln. As wood is burned, the kiln temperature begins to rise, and the atmosphere fills with floating ash. This fine fly ash gradually builds up on all of the exposed surfaces of the work inside. Once the temperature inside the kiln exceeds 2000 degrees Fahrenheit from continuously adding more and more wood, the wood ash begins to melt, run, and ultimately glaze each piece of sculpture. This random layering of wood ash glaze onto the surface results in one-of-a-kind sculptures with beautiful colors and patinas." Ceramics, 8H x 11W. Brian Horsch grew up in Colwich, KS, a small town Northwest of Wichita. His first career was as an optometrist practicing in Manhattan, Council Grove, Topeka and Lawrence, KS. He loved driving through the Flint Hills on his way to work. He is now a potter and an artist focusing on wood-fired ceramic sculpture. His studio is located in Lawrence, KS. Brian started sculpting from wood early on in his life, using various scraps, hardwoods, and a pocketknife. He tends to focus on animal forms, both real and unreal. He has a special affinity for the indigenous species of the Flint Hills, especially if they have horns or antlers.

"I am a nature and landscape photographer based in Eastern Kansas. I have developed a love and appreciation of the Flint Hills and genuinely enjoy exploring them, capturing their essence, and sharing my experiences with the public. From the prairie burns in early spring to snow-covered meadows in the dead of winter, the grasslands are an integral part of the Kansas landscape and speak to my soul. Windmills are vital for providing water to the herds of cattle that thrive on the native prairie grasses. This windmill is located off Skyline Road in Wabaunsee County." Photography. Framed, 28.5H x 40.5W. Jean Hutchison is a nature and landscape photographer who fell in love with the Flint Hills on her first outing into their vastness. They have become her favorite subjects to photograph. She participates in several fine art festivals around the Midwest, where she enjoys sharing their wonder with others.

"This storm was watched as it moved to the north, seemingly dancing at the edge of the prairie. The cloud and sunset colors interacted and changed as the sun dropped and the prairie swells grew darker. The storm was seen on the way home from the 2023 Symphony on the Flint Hills event. Watercolor batik is a process of alternately applying watercolor paint and wax layers on Japanese paper to build up the image. After each layer of paint is dry, more wax is added to protect areas of that color before the next layer of darker paint is added. After the painting is complete, the wax is removed. The result is a rich pattern of color and texture." Watercolor Batik. Framed, 17H x 21W. Becka Jahelka draws inspiration from the prairie landscapes of her home state of Kansas. Her most unique process is batik, which involves alternately applying watercolor and wax to Japanese paper. She also creates landscapes and abstracts with a variety of printmaking techniques, such as etching, relief, and collagraph. Becka studied art at the University of Kansas, focusing on three-dimensional media. After raising a family and completing a business career, she has now renewed her dedication to the creative arts.

"Teter Rock is a sixteen-foot-tall slab of limestone rising high above the Kansas prairie in Greenwood County, Kansas. The Greenwood County Historical Society erected it in the 1950s to replace the earlier landmark created in the 1880s by James Teter. Teter Rock represents one of the best places to shoot astrophotography in northeast Kansas, and the views from here are some of the best in all of the Flint Hills." Photography. Framed, 19H x 27W. Jason Keller is a Topeka-based photographer who enjoys photographing Kansas' many unique landscapes and Mother Nature's beauty & fury. His photographs have been published in calendars and magazines all across the country.

"I paint what I know. I love to paint Plein Air and from photo references. My goal is to document my experiences and travels on canvas." Oil. Framed, 12.25H x 22.25W. Linda Kinder is a Kansas City artist who loves to paint plein air and from photo references.

"I love to paint plein air and from photo references. I paint what I know and what I've experienced in my life and travels. My goal is to "document" these experiences on canvas." Oil. Framed, 13.25H x 16.25W. Linda Kinder is a Kansas City artist who loves to paint plein air and from photo references.

"I have been painting in the Midwest, plein air and studio, for 28 years. My work has been featured in over 65 solo and group exhibits, both nationally and internationally, including The Salon International and Art in the Embassies Program-both in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Moscow, Russia. I typically paint the prairie, and I especially love the poignant sunsets and sunrises that define it. Growing up on a farm in northwest Kansas gave me a unique perspective on the energy of the landscape. I am a fourth-generation farmer, so it may be in my DNA! I paint in both acrylics and oils. I received a BFA in 1981 from Washburn University, Topeka, KS, and a WU Fellow Award in 2015 in Topeka, KS. I am a Signature member of American Women Artists, an associate member of Oil Painters of America, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, and the DAR National Women Art Award 2021." Acrylic on Canvas. Framed, 30.75H x 30.75W. Cally Krallman has been painting for 28 years. Her art has been in 65 solo/group shows, including the Salon International Juried Show and Art in the Embassies Program—Moscow, Russia, Tbilisi, Georgia. She is a signature member of American Women Artists and an associate member of OPA and NOAPS. In 2021, Cally received a National Women in the Arts Award from DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).

"My creative practice is inspired by materials, objects, places, and processes that may be invisible because they are considered common, impermanent, require magnification to be seen, and have been bypassed by cultural designations of importance and value. Since moving to Kansas City, my work has evolved to engage materials and ideas related to the prairie." Cyanotype & Acrylic on Unprimed Canvas. Gallery Wrapped, 52.25H x 33W. Samantha Krukowski is an artist, builder, author and educator. She engages an interdisciplinary practice that explores the nature of images and objects, the records of experience, the identity of place and the consequences of intervention. Samantha is an Associate Professor in the Painting Department at the Kansas City Art Institute.

"My creative practice is inspired by materials, objects, places, and processes that may be invisible because they are considered common, impermanent, require magnification to be seen, and have been bypassed by cultural designations of importance and value. Since moving to Kansas City, my work has evolved to engage materials and ideas related to the prairie." Cyanotype & Acrylic on Unprimed Canvas. Gallery Wrapped, 52.25H x 33W. Samantha Krukowski is an artist, builder, author and educator. She engages an interdisciplinary practice that explores the nature of images and objects, the records of experience, the identity of place and the consequences of intervention. Samantha is an Associate Professor in the Painting Department at the Kansas City Art Institute.

"The Prairie is in a constant state of flux, with ever-changing colors because of changes in temperature and wind. I want the viewer to feel this excitement and energy in my work. My work can be described as abstractions with a reference to nature. I use Silk Painting for these sky paintings, an ancient technique that originated in Asia. The dye on silk has a brightness and sheen that intensifies the color found in my subject. The dye is applied with a brush, and various resists are used to control the flow of the dye." Dye on Silk. Framed, 18.5H x 33.5W. Diane Lawrence's focus has always been color. She tries to achieve colors so intense that the viewer is drawn to the artwork, like a moth to a flame. Diane is a graduate of Kansas City Art Institute and is represented by SNW Gallery in Manhattan. Her work is in many corporate and private collections.

"Have you been to the Shamrock Cafe? It is always open but not necessarily known for exceptional service. Last spring, I watched distant prairie burns from this overlook in Wabaunsee County. The most unexpected residents of the Flint Hills, " the five Shamrock Farms camels, “ are partners in weed control since they love nibbling on cedar saplings. As an homage to the camels and the cafe, the felted smoke in this piece contains a bit of their hair." Fabric. Unframed, 18H x 24W. Kristine Luber has been showing her award-winning fabric artwork since 2009. Best known for her fabric skyscapes and landscapes of the Flint Hills, her work has been featured in Visions of the Flint Hills (KCMO), Kansas Through the Eyes of an Artist (Newton) and at the Kansas Statehouse gift shop.

"My paintings investigate the sense of transcendence at dusk and other liminal times of day that can render any place a "thin place" when the veil between the two worlds seems the thinnest. This painting depicts dusk or late afternoon after a storm in the Flint Hills, emphasizing dark or subtle colors that contrast with the brilliant colors of the sunset." Oil on Canvas. Gallery Wrapped, 12H x 36W. Dorothy Matheny studied graphic design at Pratt Institute and Art Center College of Design. She worked in a variety of design settings, including Hallmark Cards, before studying with Philomene Bennett and establishing a studio in the West Bottoms of KC, where she devotes most of her time to painting.

"Painting en plein air gives me a sense of peace and wonder as I ponder the blue sky and the shapes and colors of the trees and grasses. The process can be challenging and most often is, but I feel a connection with the universe. This is what makes me go back again and again, struggling with the wind, rain, sun, and gentle breeze." Oil on Board. Framed, 18.75H x 22.75W. Gwen McClain has been painting and drawing for most of her life. She received a Fine Arts Degree at Washburn University and was a founding member of the Collective Art Gallery. Lately, she has been painting plein air in the Flint Hills.

"Climbing the hill towards the one-room school, I can almost imagine the children running, chasing each other, and laughing at the end of the school day. As a former teacher, I think of the books and papers the young Kansans studied. I see the hopes and dreams filling their heads as they look out the windows and watch the storm clouds gathering or early flakes of snow drifting down to fill the valleys. The Flint Hills will always call these young people home." Fiber. Unframed, 31.25H x 24.25W. After teaching at a university for 20 years, Kathy Menzie retired and began sewing art quilts. She loves working with a variety of fabric textures and colors and is delighted to turn fabric into images that evoke memories. Kansas scenes, especially the Flint Hills, are favorite themes of hers.

"The Flint Hills mean home to me. The sweeping vistas, the changing light, the vibrant blue sky, or the sky filled with angry storm clouds all touch my heart and open my soul. When I'm in the Flint Hills, I can feel myself relaxing, in contrast to places filled with tall buildings that hide the horizon and the sky. Watching the sunset bathe the hills and valleys in color and shadow is soothing, while the tall grass ripples with a gentle wind." Fiber. Unframed, 36.25H x 25.75W. After teaching at a university for 20 years, Kathy Menzie retired and began sewing art quilts. She loves working with a variety of fabric textures and colors and is delighted to turn fabric into images that evoke memories. Kansas scenes, especially the Flint Hills, are favorite themes of hers.

"My parents got married in the Flint Hills 27 years ago. Their wedding day is one that I'd always heard about, especially on family trips to see the Symphony in the Flint Hills, but that I had never actually seen pictures of. In preparation for this painting, I uncovered the storage bin of photographs from the wedding to use as a reference. The final result depicts colors and shapes reminiscent of that day in the summer of '96, allowing me to imagine being there on my parent's special day." Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas. Gallery Wrapped, 24H x 30W. Olivia Michka is a 23-year-old Kansas City-based painter. Primarily a still-life painter, Olivia's love of nature has led the landscape to take on a greater role in her artwork over the last year. The Flint Hills have served as a point of departure for this exploration.

"It's all about the light, isn't it? I'm searching for the right light. The perfect moment. Capturing the right color, pale or vibrant, bold or subtle. Always searching for unique or interesting light, I am particularly interested in revealing the spiritual power of nature in wide landscapes and small details. The light waits for no one. I react to the light and strive to capture the unique moment. Photos are truly gifts of time. Through these windows, sometimes compressed, sometimes expanded, we are able to view images in a unique way not often revealed in the world of real-time." Archival Inkjet Print. Framed, 16Hx 22W. Paul Middleton has pursued unique images throughout his life. While working in the corporate world, his industrial photography was published in many trade magazines and used in various marketing communications avenues. His fine art photography is in several private and corporate collections. A Kansas City native, he loves wandering around the Flint Hills, seeking out images and pursuing his vision.

"It's a late October afternoon on the Shadow Valley Ranch in Greenwood County. The mist in the air makes the sunbeams and shadows look like brush strokes from above." Photography. Framed, 27H x 39W. John Morrison had a career in teaching and programming before taking up landscape photography in 2002. He was introduced to the Flint Hills by the late Sterling Varner, who granted him unlimited access to his Shadow Valley Ranch near Cassoday.

Near sundown in late March, rain showers approach a cattle guard and gate on Battle Creek Road in Butler County. The contrast between the linear man-made features and the curving shafts of rain struck me. Photography. Framed, 15.75H x 43.75W. John Morrison had a career in teaching and programming before taking up landscape photography in 2002. He was introduced to the Flint Hills by the late Sterling Varner, who granted him unlimited access to his Shadow Valley Ranch near Cassoday.

"During and after snow storms earlier this year. Heavy, later winter snow begins the hydration of the prairie and produces green grasses before the March and April showers. Walking in fresh snow is a visual experience that is uncommonly silent, and everything fades to shades of blues, browns, white, and greys. I only "hunt" watercolor compositions, but I understand my sons' love for experiencing the outdoors and wild game. " Watercolor. Framed, 22.75H x 29.5W. Steven Moser is a Manhattan, Kansas-based visual artist primarily working in watercolor. His Flint Hills paintings focus on the Pawnee elements of Sky, Wind, Land and Water.

"To me, the American Prairie is not a place of fragile and gentle things. It's rough and strong, full of wild and gritty creatures that will speak to you. Ask the Indian grass about her life on the prairie, and she will tell you of storms weathered while deepening her roots into the soil in preparation for what is to come. This inspires me to make thickly textured art as visceral as the prairie itself. Along with paint and inks, I use hand-gathered materials such as wild sage, soil, river silt, grain, and rust to form texture and color." Acrylic Paint, Ink, Rust, Prairie Plant Ash, Prairie River Silt, Grain. Gallery Wrapped Canvas, 36H x 36W. Angela Muller is an artist and writer based in Russell. She is a fifth-generation Kansan with a family farming heritage. She paints to connect people to the spirit of the wild things that live on the prairie and is known for using natural materials such as river silt, rust, and plant ash.

"Vegetal Hyposubjects" describes my love for experiencing wild and cultivated landscapes in Kansas. The cast edible plants in the piece came from small-scale growers in the Kansas City - Lawrence area and were first used to create "Kansas City Reciprocity" for the new KCI airport. By whimsically arranging the vegetables in this piece, I wanted to portray them as belonging among native perennial plant species in the prairie. "Vegetal Hyposubjects" is featured in this year's Field Journal, among a few other of my works centered around the creativity of land stewardship." Composite Resin, Fiberglass, Muslin, and Acrylic Paint on Plywood. 34H x 29W. Sean Nash is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Kansas City, KS. His 2022 public commission for the new KCI Airport was dedicated to six local farmers, featuring casts of their favorite things to grow. Artist is a 2023 Charlotte Street Foundation Visual Artist Award Fellow.

"Here is a bison bull in the Flint Hills grasslands. Bison are best known for their strength and courage in a herd, but their characteristics vary from one herd to the next." Oil Painting. Framed, 26H x 22W. Nathan Novack orchestrates his art through his connection to Kansas. He finds a strong interest in what the Flint Hills offer for landscape and subject matter. Though he doesn't reside in the Flint Hills, he often experiences them for inspiration, particularly the vast and majestic bison.

"I grew up driving through the Flint Hills of Kansas several times a year to visit my grandparents and was thus fascinated by them at an early age. I enjoyed observing their ever-changing colors and shapes due to the effects of a bright summer morning or a stormy fall afternoon, ever fascinated by the sky's effects on the land. Today, I seek to celebrate the Flint Hills in art, hoping to share the peace and joy I find in our Kansas prairie with all who view my work." Acrylic. Framed, 13.5H x 25.5W Kirstin Novak received her bachelor's degree in fine art from Washington University in St. Louis. Since then, she has won national and international awards for her graphic design and pastel artist work. Her work has been published in books and magazines and can be found in private and corporate collections.

"On the prairie, there are times of drought and times of abundance, all dependent on needed rainfall. On hot summer days and moonlit nights, all flora and fauna welcome moisture whenever it arrives. After a soaking rain, grasses, flowers, animals and birds spring to life. Prairie grass root systems are deep and strong to withstand the occasional dry spells. A roll of thunder and crack of lightning heralds the next soaker." Pastel. Framed, 19.5H x 23.5W. Gary Ozias spent his early formative years in Kansas, and after his education in Massachusetts, he moved back to the Sunflower State for the next forty years. He began painting in the late 1970s and still loves it. Gary's work has earned numerous awards and is included in collections worldwide.

"In the wild bison world, there can only be one "herd bull," and these two are about to find out who that is. Their countless numbers almost disappeared, but concerned conservationists saved them. I love painting the Flint Hills and, in general, the wild outdoors. I paint on location as well as in my studio, and whenever I'm in the Tallgrass, I dig out my paints and camera to take reference material home with me. I hope others enjoy my painting as much as I do the process." Pastel. Framed, 21H x 25W. Gary Ozias spent his early formative years in Kansas, and after his education in Massachusetts, he moved back to the Sunflower State for the next forty years. He began painting in the late 1970s and still loves it. Gary's work has earned numerous awards and is included in collections worldwide.

"I saw this painting idea while driving in the Flint Hills in the Fall of 2023. I went home and made a rough sketch of it." Acrylic on Canvas. Virgil Penner studied art in high school & college. He has painted over 800 pieces since retiring and has sold 625. He will be 86 in January. His art is bright with strong movement.

"As a printmaker, writer and retired Landscape Architect, I have spent my life in appreciation of the natural landscape and have continually worked to interpret that appreciation to others. I would characterize my artwork as traditional, regionalist images utilizing contemporary printmaking and mixed-media techniques. I create my prints from hand-drawn original art, which is then used to prepare the photo-polymer printing plate. I hand ink, pull an edition of prints from that plate, and then paint each print with watercolor. The resulting original prints are uniquely my own interpretation of the American landscape." Mixed Media Relief Print. Framed, 15H x 12W. As a retired Kansas Landscape Architect, Stephen Perry has always had a special interest in the Flint Hills. Retirement brought him to printmaking through his collection of Prairie Printmakers' work. He developed his original mixed media style using polymer relief plates and watercolor washes.

"As a printmaker, writer and retired Landscape Architect, I have spent my life in appreciation of the natural landscape and have continually worked to interpret that appreciation to others. I would characterize my artwork as traditional, regionalist images utilizing contemporary printmaking and mixed-media techniques. I create my prints from hand-drawn original art, which is then used to prepare the photo-polymer printing plate. I hand ink, pull an edition of prints from that plate, and then paint each print with watercolor. The resulting original prints are uniquely my own interpretation of the American landscape." Mixed Media Relief Print. Framed, 15H x 12W. As a retired Kansas Landscape Architect, Stephen Perry has always had a special interest in the Flint Hills. Retirement brought him to printmaking through his collection of Prairie Printmakers' work. He developed his original mixed media style using polymer relief plates and watercolor washes.

"I work hard to simplify the complex countenance of the cowboy- to relate his or her story with large, graphic shapes, a lively surface, a color that speaks, is affectionate towards the light, and has a dynamic composition that always attempts to break free of the boundaries of the canvas. At the same time, I'm attempting to capture an intensely personal and fleeting moment or mood. To me, landscapes are portraits as well, with the presence of life, if not a literal part of the image, very much implied." Oil on Canvas. Framed, 31H X 43W. Johne Richardson was born and raised in Kansas. He grew up with a fierce love of cowboys, history, the West, the prairie, big skies, and wide-open spaces. He began drawing and painting at a young age and continues to work hard at his art. When Johne is not roaming the prairie, mountains, or desert, he is hanging out in his studio painting landscapes and cowboys.

Oil on Canvas. Framed, 32.25H x 32.25W. Johne Richardson was born and raised in Kansas. He grew up with a fierce love of cowboys, history, the West, the prairie, big skies, and wide-open spaces. He began drawing and painting at a young age and continues to work hard at his art. When Johne is not roaming the prairie, mountains, or desert, he is hanging out in his studio painting landscapes and cowboys.

"Inspired by the grasses found in the Flint Hills, this piece was created with little bluestem and switchgrass. I could have created and framed the print, but I wanted to have the print be an art you could interact with. Being able to wear the art and the grasses growing in the Flint Hills allows the grasses to go as far as the wearer of the art goes. These printed grasses once covered much of the United States and were not just limited to the Flint Hills, nor would I want them just limited to a home or building." Botanical Print on Silk, 11H x 56.5W. Growing up on a farm in the Midwest, Rolanda Root has always felt a close attachment to nature and the earth. Her artwork is inspired by nature and created with elements from the earth. You can find Rolanda searching for art materials for her work anywhere, from digging crystals from the earth in Arkansas to collecting leaf windfall in her own backyard. Botanical prints on paper and fabric have been her focus since 2020. She has taught multiple workshops on botanical prints for KAEA conferences and a workshop for the KSDE this past summer.

"'Flint Hills Golden Sunset' reflects the colors of a spectacular Flint Hills Sunset." Oil. Framed, 14.25H x 17.25W. Creating paintings in the Flint Hills has been Deb Schroer's passion for many years. From amazing Prairie fires to the moody storms that make their way across the prairie to the spectacular sunsets. Deb's paintings reflect the spirit and drama of the Flint Hills she calls home.

"Two things especially remind me of the Flint Hills - a tiny American Goldfinch perched on top of a Purple Coneflower at sunset. This reduction relief linocut focuses on the patterns and textures of the finch's feathers and the fully-in-bloom coneflower. The prairie background is more abstract, using a pochoir technique to depict the tall grasses blowing in the gentle breeze." Reduction Relief Linocut Print. Framed, 20H x 16W. Marcia Scurfield began printmaking at the Wichita Center for the Arts (now Mark Arts) in 2011. She is a member of the Society of American Graphic Artists and the American Color Print Society and participates in local and national print exhibitions.

"Sometimes, the creative process is lengthy. So it was for this piece, a compilation of three reference photos. The intriguing clouds appeared over my northern Greenwood Co. neighborhood in October of 2016, and I took the initial landscape photo at the same time, looking east. However, as the painting developed in early 2021, I wasn't happy with the composition. So, it sat in a drawer (and my subconscious) for two years until I happened to see the same area from the point of the road in the background, this time looking west. Eureka! The painting finished itself." Soft Pastel. Framed, 22.5H x 18.5W. Michele Seeley is a Kansas-born pastelist whose marriage to her rancher husband took her to the Flint Hills of Greenwood County, where the surrounding hills became her out-the-back-door muse. She is a signature member of the MidAmerica Pastel Society and is represented by the Rueben Saunders Gallery in Wichita, KS.

"Having grown up in Wichita and then attending college in Lawrence, I've spent much of my life passing through the Flint Hills on my way to and from one destination to another. The landscape has become an inescapable part of the way I think about my art. Here, I wanted to create something that would capture the beautiful complexity of the Flint Hills and show my appreciation for this landscape as an artist. I wanted to portray the detail in depth that so often gets flattened in photographs or more realistic work." Watercolor & Colored Pencil. Framed, 11.25H x 9.75W. Kamilla Sims is an illustrator and artist specializing in a colorful and expressive style. Among her clients, both local and across the US, she's worked with the Wichita Public Library, the Unicorn Theater, and Botanica to design work that promotes business and increases the prestige of her clients.

"While pursuing my art degree outside of Kansas, I often heard how people would label my home ""flat"" or ""unappealing."" and overlook the beauty of what Kansas offers. My body of work expresses the remembrance and appreciation that brought me back to my roots. Where I found my husband and where I want to be in life. As I travel, I like to take my own reference photos, but transitioning them onto the canvas is more of a general idea. When painting, I only use seven different colors: white, then two reds, blues, and yellows. This allows me the freedom to mix any desired color, control its vibrancy, and paint them how I recall the scene in my head." Oil on Canvas. Gallery Wrapped, 10H x 20W. MacKenzie Tastove is an artist living in Bazaar, Kansas. She has been painting in oils for the last seven years, focusing on landscapes and capturing nature's evening palette. Painting brings her joy, and she loves seeing the emotions, it spreads to others when finishing a commission.

"This is a scene that I love, one that shows the winding roads through the open range. It's one of my favorite drives to take." Oil on Canvas. Framed, 28.5H x 34.5W. Cathie Thompson grew up on a farm in Eastern Kansas. Living in rural Kansas for most of her life has given her a great appreciation for the outdoors and nature. Her work has been juried into regional and national art shows.

"Prairie Volcano: A fire line in the grazed bison area of Konza Prairie Biological Station creeps slowly towards the setting sun, giving the illusion of lava flowing downhill from a volcanic eruption." Photography. Framed, 11.25H x 18.5W. Living and working in the heart of the Flint Hills offers Barbara Van Slyke daily photo opportunities to experience the ever- changing beauty of prairie scenes. Engaging with nature regularly refreshes oneself physically, mentally and spiritually and provides a refuge from the chaos and demands of life. "What good is a prairie?" you might ask... simple- it's good for the soul.

"Looking out across the vista of the prairie doesn't tell the whole story. It is comprised of a diversity of plants. I walk to alienate and focus on this clump of grass. The lines, contrasts, hues, values, and complexities of this prairie microcosm help me understand its beauty both as a solitary entity and a contributor to the bigger ecosystem. I found the vibrancy and texture both delicate and hardy. I had to move quickly against the wind and its relentless efforts to move the stems and heads while capturing this disorganized grouping." Pastel, Watercolor. Framed, 14H x 12W. Pamela Weatherford was raised in Emporia. After completing an MFA in Texas, she taught public school and college before moving to Oklahoma to pursue art full-time. Living near the Flint Hills, she travels there often for plein-air painting. Her work has been exhibited regionally, nationally, and in private collections.

"Fall Grasses have their own beauty. Shades of brown, yellow, and red dominate, but blue and purple chime in at times. This is an attempt to capture a piece of that beauty." Watercolor. Framed, 17H x 35.5W. Ken Wold has lived in the Kansas Flint Hills for the past 28 years, and the grasses and rolling plains have become the subject matter for much of his work. He holds a B.S. and M.A. in art education and has taught at both the K-12 and junior college levels. Watercolor has remained a constant throughout his life.

"I fell in love with the Flint Hills during visits to my wife's family's "home away from home" near Bazaar. I began landscape painting several years ago and have traveled many miles searching for the perfect Chase County vista. Flint Hills troubadour Annie Wilson graciously shared a photo of her lovely "backyard" as inspiration for this painting, an ideal image representing this magical place's peace and beauty. I hope I did it justice and that this scene touches your heart as it did mine." Oil on Wrapped Canvas. Gallery Wrapped, 15H x 30W. James Wright grew up on a ranch on the dusty high plains of the Oklahoma Panhandle. His in-laws, Chase County, KS natives, introduced him to the beauty of the Flint Hills, evoking memories of the sweeping ranch country he had known and loved, but with so much better grass!

"My work is rooted in the prairie ecosystem and engages with the complexities of place through an ever-expanding library of lived experiences. The tallgrass prairie is called the most altered landscape on the planet, and yet grasslands also tell incredible stories of human history. I believe the re-establishment of native landscapes can offer hope for the future of life in the Great Plains. I work to contribute to the growing body of knowledge and research seeking hopeful solutions to the climate crisis and rural depopulation in the places I call home. In the studio, I make mixed-media drawings and paintings that resist static views of the landscape, inviting the viewer to engage and self-navigate. Ultimately, I want my work to inspire others to become more land literate about their own places." Acrylic and Oil Pastel on Paper. Framed, 25.25H x 25.25W. Kelly Yarbrough is an artist based in Manhattan, Kansas. Her practice is rooted in an ecosystem that includes mixed media drawing, arts administration, and creating meaningful opportunities for humans to engage with their environment. She enjoys unexpected collaborations, transdisciplinary conversations, and continual learning. Artist holds an MFA from Kansas State University. She is a regional field representative and art & environment specialist for the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, and a peer facilitator for Artist INC.

"My work is rooted in the prairie ecosystem and engages with the complexities of place through an ever-expanding library of lived experiences. The tallgrass prairie is called the most altered landscape on the planet, and yet grasslands also tell incredible stories of human history. I believe the re-establishment of native landscapes can offer hope for the future of life in the Great Plains. I work to contribute to the growing body of knowledge and research seeking hopeful solutions to the climate crisis and rural depopulation in the places I call home. In the studio, I make mixed-media drawings and paintings that resist static views of the landscape, inviting the viewer to engage and self-navigate. Ultimately, I want my work to inspire others to become more land literate about their own places." Acrylic on Canvas. Framed, 34.5H x 25W. Kelly Yarbrough is an artist based in Manhattan, Kansas. Her practice is rooted in an ecosystem that includes mixed media drawing, arts administration, and creating meaningful opportunities for humans to engage with their environment. She enjoys unexpected collaborations, transdisciplinary conversations, and continual learning. Artist holds an MFA from Kansas State University. She is a regional field representative and art & environment specialist for the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, and a peer facilitator for Artist INC.

"My Flint Hills paintings celebrate the underlying shapes of the prairie landscape, the structures of and spaces between native plants, and the relationship between earth and sky, form and movement. Within "Flint Hills Valley," I have used negative painting to infuse color into the spaces around the prairie grasses. This brings forth the arching lines of the grasses, which echo the patterns of the hills." Watercolor on Cotton Paper, Mounted on Panel & Varnished. Framed, 19H x 19W. Roura Young lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with her husband. She is a watercolor artist, working on both traditional and synthetic paper. She grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in art history.

Full title is "Windswept - Side Oats Grama and Prairie Sandreed". "I find beauty in the small world at our feet and am interested in how prairie plants interact with each other in their growing patterns. In "Windswept, Side Oats Grama and Sandreed,"? this interplay between the grasses and negative spaces contrasts with the landforms of the glowing hills in the space beyond. Our interpretation of what we see depends on where we stand, for the grass is thickly tangled on those far hills." Watercolor on Yupo Paper, Mounted on Panel & Varnished. Framed, 19H x 25W. Roura Young lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with her husband. She is a watercolor artist, working on both traditional and synthetic paper. She grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in art history.

"The Flint Hills are awakening from their winter sleep, and springtime means it's time for me to take my camera and go treasure hunting. You could say I'm hunting for the gold in burning fields as farmers and ranchers prepare them for the season of rebirth. I love capturing the orange and yellow flames licking the night sky. When the conditions are perfect, and I'm lucky enough to be present, the resulting photographs can be stunning." Photography. Framed, 19.75H x 29.5W. David Zlotky's paintings are in the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum and two other national collections. As a fine art photographer, he specializes in a variety of Kansas subjects, including rodeos, the Spring burning of the Flint Hills, and the haunting presence of deserted homesteads on the prairie.

"The distant glow of flames means that the annual Rites of Spring are underway in the Flint Hills as fields are prepared for new growth. In my photograph, titled "Rites of Spring," a crescent moon hangs over orange flames in a burning field; It's a process of renewal and rebirth. As a reminder of human presence, the glowing flames lit a farmer's house in the background. I had seen this fire from quite a distance, and I finally got there by navigating the country roads. The richly saturated colors were worth the effort." Photography. Framed, 19.25H x 36.25W. David Zlotky's paintings are in the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum and two other national collections. As a fine art photographer, he specializes in a variety of Kansas subjects, including rodeos, the Spring burning of the Flint Hills, and the haunting presence of deserted homesteads on the prairie.