Connie J. Schmidt

Connie grew up in Crystal City, Missouri with her parents and seven sisters. Her art endeavors began in childhood with drawing and painting, leading to art class in high school. During college years she switched from oil painting to acrylics as a creative outlet without any further art education. But a career in finance took precedence during her adult years.

During their 10 years in Crestwood and 25 years in Webster Groves, she and her husband vacationed almost exclusively in Colorado. They now spend five months of the year in Estes Park, Colorado. After retirement, she returned to her love of art by attending several watercolor workshops, a new medium for her. The beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) became her inspiration. Watercolor became her challenge and joy. Landscapes became her subject of choice. Plein air painting, particularly in RMNP, is her favorite occupation during the summer and fall months. Along with a group of like-minded artists of all mediums, she enjoys weekly plein air sessions in and around Estes Park and RMNP. Her favorite location is Sprague Lake which provides endless compositions, changes in light and color. She participated in plein air festivals in Boulder, CO and was juried into the Estes Valley Plein Air for two years. She continues to attend workshops throughout the year to improve her representational style.

She is a member of the Saint Louis Watercolor Society, the Colorado Watercolor Society, and the Plein Air Artists of Colorado and was juried into their annual exhibits in 2023. She is a member artist at two galleries in Estes Park. She has been juried into three “Small Works” exhibits and the 2022 “Seasonal Rhythms” exhibit of Webster Arts.