From Tuna Sandwiches to Tuscany: Karen Ramsay’s Creative Journey

In this episode, Heather visits the home studio of Colorado-based watercolor artist and beloved teacher, Karen Ramsay. What unfolds is a warm, reflective conversation about creativity, community, and what watercolor can teach us about paying attention. From her early beginnings as the youngest student in the room to now leading workshops in Rocky Mountain National Park, Italy, and beyond, Karen shares stories, wisdom, and gentle encouragement for artists of all levels.

Whether you’ve never held a brush or are looking to deepen your creative practice, this conversation will make you want to slow down, take a deep breath, and maybe even sketch a flower.

Topics We Cover:

• How Karen’s grandmother and childhood art classes sparked her love for painting

• The founding of “The Tunas” and the power of creative community

• What makes watercolor so captivating (and challenging)

• Teaching as a ministry of connection

• Why sketching is the secret sauce for painting

• Packing light for plein air painting in Italy

• The pause before the paint — and how it can change your day

• Her dream subject to paint (hint: it’s not who you’d expect)

REFERENCES:

📚 Books

• Painting as a Pastime by Winston Churchill — A book that inspired Karen and gave insight into Churchill’s artistic side.

🎨 People

• Karen Ramsay – Featured guest; watercolor artist and teacher based in Colorado.

• Courtney Kendall – Creator of the accountability group that helped launch the podcast.

• Winston Churchill – Former British Prime Minister and painter; Karen’s dream portrait subject.

• John Singer Sargent – Renowned portrait artist, initially considered by Karen for her dream painting subject.

• Caitlyn Dunnigan – Owner of Cece’s Flowers, a flower business that features a VW van pop-up; Karen gives her a shoutout for creativity and community impact.

🖼 Places + Organizations

• Rocky Mountain National Park – Where Karen teaches plein air watercolor workshops.

• The Gardens (Local City Gardens in Colorado) – Frequent venue for Karen’s local watercolor classes.

• The Conservancy (Rocky Mountain Conservancy) – Organization that partners with Karen for workshops in the national park.

• Cover Institute of Art (Denver, CO) – Where Karen studied ad design.

✏️ Concepts + Art Supplies

• Water-based oil paint – An alternative to traditional oils that Karen has explored.

• Sketching and drawing as a foundation for watercolor – A recurring theme in Karen’s teaching.

• Plein air painting – Painting outdoors from life, especially in nature.

• Fine tip black waterproof marker – A tool Karen encourages her students to use for sketching.

• Swedish dish cloths – Karen uses these as eco-friendly paint blotters while traveling.

• “Magic brush” and simplification tools – Fun teaching aids Karen includes in her classes.

Catch more of the story @thanks.for.doing.that.podcast!

Transcript

Heather Winchell: [00:00:00] Hey, there you are listening to Thanks for doing that, a podcast celebrating people and ideas that make this world a better. Place. I am Heather Winchell, your host and chief enthusiast, and I'm on a mission to bring you conversations that encourage, inspire and delight. So stay tuned for another episode where we explore the things we do, the reasons we do them, and why it matters.

Today I am joined by Karen Ramsey, and I actually have the delight of being with Karen in her home studio. And as I look around, I am inspired by the books on the shelf and the beautiful paintings that are along her wall. And it's just a [00:01:00] really sweet space to be. So Karen is a well loved and celebrated Colorado based watercolor artist and teacher, and I first met Karen while taking one of her beginner classes at the local city gardens, and there were two things that were immediately evident in that first class.

The first, Karen is an exceptionally skilled artist, and the second I think she might even be a more exceptionally skilled teacher. Learning from Karen was and has continued to be such a delight. It occurs to me that actually this podcast launching I owe in part to Karen because I remember approaching her after class one day and she said, Heather, do you know who you have to meet?

You have to meet Courtney Kendall. The listener might remember that Courtney Kendall is the creator of the accountability group That took me on the journey of launching this podcast into being so Karen, kind of a fun full circle [00:02:00] moment for me. Thank you so much for joining me. I would love to kick off our conversation with a bit of insight into what life looks like for you right now.

Karen Ramsay: Thank you so much for having me, and I do remember exactly that class and sharing Courtney's name with you. Mm-hmm. So that's one thing I just really love about this whole teaching is connecting people. Mm. Mm-hmm. So. That just warms my heart. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. I'm glad. Yeah. 

Karen Ramsay: Uh, what does, um, life look right now? It's busy.

Just, just family-wise. We have our daughter and family that just recently moved to the Denver area. Okay. And a grand baby on away, so that's fun. Mm-hmm. Uh, art-wise, I am currently just, I'm scheduling classes for next year, which is always. Interesting that you have to do it so far in advance, but I'm getting used to that, have been used to that.

And it's also exciting because I can just start getting excited about the [00:03:00] new, uh, students I get to meet and just ways I can share Yeah. Art with others. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah, that's great. And I know that from the classes I've taken, you typically have some return students. But I imagine you also each time get to meet new people as well.

Would you say there's a pretty healthy balance of return and new, or is, is it leaning one way or the other? 

Karen Ramsay: Um, here locally, I would say returning is, is really great. Mm-hmm. And, but I do have, it's probably. A little half. Okay. Were of returning. And then the new students I get to meet when I do go up to Rocky Mountain National Park and Teach with the Conservancy, that's where the opportunity is to really meet people from actually all over the United States.

Yeah. And the front range. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. Well, I know from my own. Attempts to get into your classes that they, there are a lot of returning people around here because you're, the classes do fill up very quickly, which is a good problem to [00:04:00] have. Yes, 

Karen Ramsay: it is. I am. I'm very grateful. 

Heather Winchell: Well, Karen, I would just really love to hear a bit about what your training in the arts has looked like.

Karen Ramsay: Um, it. It really started when I was really young. 'cause my grandmother, my mom's mom painted in watercolor and then her cousin was also, um, an artist, a fine artist and graphic designer. So just seeing probably more I. Him because we were closer in area seeing a studio. I loved doing that. So that kind of started it all.

But then is when I was in second grade and my best friend, her mom was an artist and an art collector, so she was a great resource and finding classes for my friend and I. Mm-hmm. And we were the youngest in class. I mean, it was all these. Ladies Oh, that were friends of her mom's Uhhuh that were artists and taking classes.

So we were like, I, [00:05:00] we were second, third grade. Oh, wow. So we were like the other one. But then my mom really fostered and continued finding classes for me to take. And often I was the youngest one, um, because we, we had art in school, but beyond that it was just finding, um, other classes that I really wanted to experience.

Mm-hmm. Doing that after high school, I. Went to art school, I went to the Cover Institute of Art. Okay. It was a two year program and ad design is what I focused on. Oh, okay. So that was, that was great. I just, it was always like, oh, you can't be an artist because you're not gonna make any money. And then I go, oh, well I'll, I.

Focus on ad design. So I did that, but the instructors in that school in Denver were professional artists in their field and they were also teaching. So we had so much, um, drawing and painting in addition to all of the [00:06:00] design skills and that were taught there. So I. Loved that. Afterwards, I, I did a few freelance jobs, but we started, I got married, got started a family, so that kind of slowed things down from there.

So then it was after the kids started first grade that I really had the opportunity to jump back in. Yeah. To my art. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. In, in that time where, you know. Where you had littles around the house and life was just very full and busy with tending to them. 

Karen Ramsay: Mm-hmm. 

Heather Winchell: What did art look like in that season? Did you just kind of play or.

Karen Ramsay: I actually, when the kids got into first grade, I met two other moms. Hmm. And they were just getting back or wanting to get back into art. So we gathered every Wednesday at one of the gal's houses and we painted. And we also had the opportunity in Loveland. They had an arts academy, so we would take classes down there, but [00:07:00] then we really made it a point to just meet together.

And, uh, Wednesdays we painted, we'd set up little still lives, they paint, also painted in watercolor. 'cause it was just easy to, to pull out and to clean up. Mm-hmm. Especially with littles. They had littles at home and, um, so having that. Opportunity to be accountable to be with two other creative moms.

Mm-hmm. We had the same timeframe, um, and we called ourselves the tunas. The Tunas. Yes. That's great. And that's because we had tuna sandwiches and Fritos every Wednesday when we met for lunch. That's really fun. Yeah. So, and we, we, it, we had home art. Exhibitions. We had friends and we still to this day get together and paint and draw with a portrait group here in town.

Heather Winchell: Oh, that's really lovely. So, so that what, that would be a friendship and [00:08:00] a kind of little painting club that's been decades. 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. 

Heather Winchell: You're right. That's really special, right, Heather? Yep. Yeah. You probably learned many mediums. Why watercolor? Has that always been your preferred medium or did your emphasis in that evolve over time?

Karen Ramsay: I've always loved watercolor, but I've painted in oil and acrylic and have. Worked in other mediums, especially being in school. Okay. That we worked with that. I have taken a couple workshops out of school on oil, actually water based oil. 'cause I was wanting to get away from them. The turpentine and terpenoid.

Mm-hmm. Meat, you know, things that you need to use when you're working with oil. But I always came back to watercolor again because it. I love the transparency of it, the movement. Um, I just think it glows and there's a sparkle about it that I like and the ease of cleanup, I must say. And you could take it with you [00:09:00] really wherever you go.

Yeah. That is very true. That's where I, that's why watercolor is really something that I love to focus on and to share. 

Heather Winchell: Mm-hmm. Okay. So when did you start sharing, when did you start teaching and what are some of the favorite memories? From the front of the classroom? 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. Um, teaching. I never thought I would ever teach.

Hmm. Teach art or watercolor, I mean, I would always be with the kids, right? And we'd always do things and play and paint and draw and that type of thing. Um, but it was, gosh, it's coming on 20 years that I've been teaching watercolor. And it was a friend who worked at an art academy here in town and she asked if I would teach a sketching and painting class.

And I first I said, oh, I can't do that. I. I don't do that. Mm-hmm. I just enjoy doing it myself. So anyway, I jumped in, started teaching, loved it, and [00:10:00] it's just, um. Moved forward from then to 20 years now. I actually taught at the gardens here locally when I first started branching out and teaching after the academy had closed, and I.

Uh, then recently, the last three years I have been, or it could be more than that, been partnering with the gardens. Okay. And teaching beforehand. I just rented space from them before they did their expansion. Okay. On that. I've also, actually, all of my teaching has kind of come from others maybe saying, well, give Karen a call, see if she's available to teach.

Mm-hmm. So that has been very. Unexpected. Mm-hmm. But I'm very grateful. Mm-hmm. And, and love it. 

Heather Winchell: So 

Karen Ramsay: that's, 

Heather Winchell: so it sounds like it's more by referral and not necessarily you seeking out opportunities. 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. Yeah. That's kind [00:11:00] of been, yeah. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. Very cool. Well, as somebody who has benefited from your teaching, I can absolutely understand why people would seek you out and refer you.

So thank you. Maybe one part of that question was any favorite memories from the front of the classroom? 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. When that I looked at that question, I was like going, Hmm, I'm sure there's, you know, yeah. Specific ones, but I guess the ones that came to my mind, or one when I'm teaching outdoors, 'cause that's one thing that I just.

Focus on. Mm-hmm. Is if we could paint Pple air French for painting Outdoors from Life is teaching in Rocky Mountain National Park. Mm. Through the conservancies. 'cause you're up there, you really have to be aware of, okay. Storms are coming in, where are we gonna go for cover, you know, how, how to manage that with a group.

So that I remember sitting and we just saw, okay, these are moving in quick lightning. So we just all went to cover, then got in our cars and then went and had a meeting place that we can continue on. [00:12:00] Mm-hmm. Um, in indoor classrooms. I am, I'm one that, uh. Am open, I say, please ask questions. Mm-hmm. So if someone asks a question and I go, Hmm, let's just find out together.

Mm-hmm. So that's when I'll sit down and I'll say, let's give this a try. And sometimes it doesn't work. Mm-hmm. But I think that's a really great learning experience for everyone. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. 

Karen Ramsay: So that's what I enjoy doing and, and I'm getting more comfortable with that. Yeah. Part of it. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. And I think it's actually really helpful to have a kind coach walk you through maybe something that feels like a failure, because I know that when I sit down to make something, I'm, I'm almost kind of paralyzed by the fear that I'm gonna make a mistake.

But then once you, once you've made mistakes and learned the things you can do to kind of make it not so bad or to, you know, pivot, it's actually [00:13:00] really mm-hmm. Empowering. So yeah, I bet those are really helpful times for your students. Is there anything you find challenging about teaching this art form?

Karen Ramsay: Um, yes, I would say it's just watercolor. You really need to use, make the water work with the pigment. Mm-hmm. And to encourage the student to not be afraid to do that. I often will say, just play in the paint. Just let the water mingle with the pigment and see what happens. Um, so that is a challenge because I.

Often, especially beginning students, they come in and want to learn the techniques, and I do teach technique, but I also really encourage them with those techniques to just let go of control. Hmm. So that's a thing and we, we all want to have some control and then when we paint, we [00:14:00] go, oh, I want to really do this.

Just perfectly encouraging people and getting that point across to really play and to experiment and to see what the medium does with the water. And that is a place that you really start to learn and understand. Mm-hmm. How to get to where you might, where you want to go, what effect you wanna get on the paper.

Heather Winchell: Mm-hmm. So I can personally attest to still trying to learn that lesson of being bold with the mixing and, and how much to use. Yeah. 

Karen Ramsay: Mm-hmm. 

Heather Winchell: Okay. So, you know, you are well known and well loved for the work that you do here in Colorado, but you also lead groups of artists in Italy and France, and I personally have a goal of joining you on one of those trips someday.

Uh, but I bring this up because in the classes you always have so many resources and tools for us to work with. But I imagine that when you go abroad, you have to be more selective in what you take. And so I guess, what would you say [00:15:00] are the bare essentials or the must have items when traveling and painting?

Karen Ramsay: Mm-hmm. Yes. And when I do my workshops abroad, or say even like in Rocky Mountain National Park or other places that we're painting outdoors, we want to be able to keep our items small enough where they're in a backpack, easy to pull out, and, and we work in a watercolor. Paper journal. Okay. So that's first off, but it's not a canvas.

We're working on watercolor paper and it's in a small little journal. It could be like a six by eight or kind of a preference of what the student wants to bring. So that's a small item. Then you'll want to have just, um, a paint pal, watercolor paint palette. They are, you will have. Six to maybe eight paint colors.

They're hardened watercolor paint, so you don't bring your tubes, you just bring a little kit that's already prefilled, okay? And they're [00:16:00] dry. So that's something that you could just open up. You use a little spritzer, so like a little spritzer of water. That you can get that moist if you, you really only need one brush, a watercolor brush.

You can use like what they call a water brush, which you fill the reservoir with water. Hmm. And that flows through. That's if like you're sitting on the airplane or. Not, that's not really a good idea. 'cause you could get water on the airplane, but if you're like hiking or somewhere where you could just pull that out and not necessarily have to have a cup of water.

Sure. And that just flows the paint. So watercolor, brush, water, brush is what they're called. Or you could bring, um, like a size six to eight. I like having a larger round brush, a watercolor brush that you could have with you. I do like for you to have fine tip, black, waterproof marker. 

Heather Winchell: Mm. 

Karen Ramsay: I love to encourage and [00:17:00] we will use that to draw with.

It's kind of scary, but mm-hmm. That's what we have, a technical pencil and a needed eraser, so we can use that too. A small collapsible water cup, Ziploc bag with, you know, some. Paper towels, or now I am using those Swedish dish cloths, which are, and you could just rinse them out at night, let them dry uhhuh.

But then also the Ziploc bag is good for trash. Sure. So you could take it out with you wherever you are. Um. That's basically it. Mm-hmm. So it's really a small kit. And then when I teach, I always give the students a couple different simplification tools 

Heather Winchell: Okay. 

Karen Ramsay: That they can use that are, um, just like I have a little red, transparent.

Plexiglass square. Mm-hmm. So that just simplifies what we're looking at. And then, um, you know, just like a little [00:18:00] viewfinder. Mm-hmm. And I also have what I call a magic brush that I give everybody a little magic brush. Oh, fun. So, so they're not anything really bulky or anything that they add that they have to worry about bringing back, but it's just something that's gonna enhance the experience to simplify what we're seeing so we can capture it in our mm-hmm.

Heather Winchell: Journals. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I can remember from my own time in your classes being really helped by the instruction you've given around really seeing things. And I believe in one of our classes you did give us the plexiglass and it really, it's striking how it is some a skill you have to learn to really. See something.

Karen Ramsay: Mm-hmm. 

Heather Winchell: Yes. Yeah. And to isolate the important elements as you're trying to capture it. 

Karen Ramsay: Right? 

Heather Winchell: Yeah, 

Karen Ramsay: that's definitely true. Um, because it is just so overwhelming. Yeah. When you're looking out whatever you're choosing to paint. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. So, yeah, and I remember something else that [00:19:00] I've been really helped by in your instruction is just this need to capture it exactly as it exists in real life and just your encouragement to.

To let it breathe a little and to not feel so confined to, but it has three leaves and it's like, well, but maybe it could have two. Mm-hmm. And maybe it could be nice to have another flower over here, even though what you're looking at doesn't have it, you know, just to. To take some creative liberty, knowing that it's okay.

Karen Ramsay: Yes. Does that make sense? Yes, it does. Yeah. And, and I'm, it just warm, it warms my heart and I'm excited that, that you realize that. Yeah. And then I was able to express that to, to you. Yeah. 'cause once you start drawing, once I start drawing and I hopefully will have the students do the same, is that just really seeing it and making what you put down on your paper?

Like you said, if you want it to be exact, you take a photograph. Sure. But it's your interpretation mm-hmm. Of what has captured [00:20:00] you to sit down and want to draw it and paint it. So then allowing go, oh, I, I like, it's gonna look better. Maybe design wise to add a little bit over here or to leave this out.

So that slowing down, taking time to really look at what is in front of you gives you the opportunity to make those adjustments. Mm-hmm. Because you're really looking at it as opposed to saying, oh, that's a tree. I know what a tree looks like. Sure. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. Yeah. You know, I'm, I'm just struck in this conversation about slowing down, really taking notice.

Um, I'm curious whether. If practicing this medium, if there are just kind of life skills that you see, or how has it taught you to approach life differently or enhanced your ability to see beauty in life or something like that? Mm-hmm. Does that make sense? 

Karen Ramsay: Absolutely. Yes. It really [00:21:00] has slowed me down or when I am outdoors, 'cause I love being outdoors.

That's where I get my inspiration and to not just say. For instance, oh, I'm gonna go take a bike ride. And so I just come on the bike and I'm going through, and I often ride the bike trail down south by Boyd Lake. And it's just the opportunity to notice lighting the way the light hits and the shadows and it just, it, it's like the awe and wonder of slowing down and.

Pausing and taking that time to really see what's around us as opposed to saying, okay, I'm going on a bike ride. I'm gonna ride this many miles, I'll be back at this time. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah, 

Karen Ramsay: and you could put that in many scenarios. Um, so I take that when I am outdoors [00:22:00] painting. Sketching. I always will just sit down and I'll just take a deep breath, a big sigh.

I'll go, oh, I'll go. Thank you. For this, and then I, it's like I'm ready. Mm-hmm. To just take in and really see what's there. Mm-hmm. Um, and I have taken that into the classroom for teaching because I do start every class now with a pause before we paint. Mm-hmm. So it's a one minute pause because. Everyone that comes, I'm just so grateful that they come to take a class, but it's a gift for them that they've given themself.

Mm-hmm. For that amount of time. So we're all coming in with all these different things, whether it's littles at home or heavy things on our heart. So to give that time of pause, it's just one minute of quiet pause, kind of [00:23:00] recenters us and helps us then move forward. To really see and to appreciate, uh, and to concentrate on what we're doing for that day.

Mm-hmm. Or what's around us when we're outdoors. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. Yeah. I really love that you talked about having an actual, like inhale, exhale and maybe even a sigh or just the embodied nature of. How it really does something for our brains when, when we breathe deeply. Yes. You know, and yeah. That's really cool. Yeah.

I've always benefited from the pause at the beginning of class. Good. Something else I remember that you've spoken to often is the importance of good sketching, being a foundation for good watercolor skills. I'd love to hear more about the why behind that. 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. It's kind of similar to the pause and sketching.

It's, um, it's non-threatening. It's, [00:24:00] well, to me it's non-threatening and I hope that it becomes a non-threatening because it's just something just sit down and slows you down to really. Observe and see what you're choosing to draw slash sketch. Sketch slash draw. I, I put those two words together.

Sketching and drawing. Okay. Because you, it really helps you see the shapes, relationships. Um, it also makes you aware of the values. 

Heather Winchell: Mm, mm-hmm. In your 

Karen Ramsay: subject. Um, but the line work is something to me is, um, rhythmic and, uh, relaxing and, and it's, you just sit down. It's a relaxing thing. You're actually looking, observing, and the more you do that, the more you become aware of what's in front of you and like, oh yeah.[00:25:00] 

Look at that shape difference or look at that relationship to where the top of that is, to where this is. So you start to see different points that help you then put in the other mm-hmm. Area. So it's kind of like you're, at times you end up doing a.to dot drawing and you connect. Connect the dots, but so sketching really does, again, it, it helps you see what's in front of you.

Mm-hmm. It relaxes you. And having that then allows you, when you get to the paint to. Then feel the freedom to just let the work with the paint. Mm-hmm. Because you know that you have structurally or, um, value wise, the spatial units and things perspective is. Pretty good. Mm-hmm. Because you have been working on that in your sketching and [00:26:00] drawing and not having to worry about, oh, what colors am I gonna use?

Right. Da da dah, dah. So it's, it just, it, again, it's a simplification. It's easy to do. I also really encourage people to draw, sketch with their fine tip black mm-hmm. Proof marker. Because you, you start off and you, you're committed. It in, in a good way. Mm-hmm. And it slows you down, whether if you have a pencil, you go, oh, I can erase it.

Mm. Mm-hmm. And that the perfectionism of sketching is not what we're going after. Right. Right. 

Heather Winchell: So, and I know another principle you teach is that you need to leave a little white space. There should be some intriguing white space in your paint. It shouldn't all be color. And I imagine the sketching helps with white space.

Karen Ramsay: It does. Yeah. It, it does make you see that. Mm-hmm. More, more 

Heather Winchell: often. 

Karen Ramsay: Yeah. [00:27:00] 

Heather Winchell: For anyone out there looking to give watercolor a try, maybe they're a little intimidated. Maybe they've just never done it. What would you want to say by way of encouragement and as some practical tips in getting started? 

Karen Ramsay: Getting started?

Well, I just say do it. Yeah, just jump in and do it. Often people say, oh, I don't have any talent. I can't do that, and, and I'm like going, the only thing you really. Need or anyone needs to jump into a watercolor class is the desire to want to learn. Mm-hmm. And to do it. And they usually are something like, oh, I love watercolor, I love seeing watercolor painting.

So just having that desire is, is a, is a great way. Plus it's also great to, um, you're accountable, you show up, you have some other, the buddy system, everyone else there is interested in the same thing you are. Um, so that's always good. And. Taking an introduction to watercolor class, I would say is really [00:28:00] important.

Otherwise, if you walk into a class, um, and you've had no experience, like this is day one you've ever. You know, held a paintbrush Right. Or watercolor that, um, going to an introduction to watercolor class is really gonna be helpful. Um, just walking you through the different techniques and, um, how the paint and water mix.

So that's, that would be good. Otherwise, you're just gonna be overwhelmed to get frustrated and that's not gonna mm-hmm. Help you. Um. The important part is we want to enjoy it, we wanna have fun, and we wanna be able to continue this new watercolor journey that you've jumped on. So that's where I would say is, is you need the, the desire.

Mm-hmm. You'll be successful with that. And just a, a good introduction to watercolor class. Okay, 

Heather Winchell: great. Well, I really love to finish out my episodes with some [00:29:00] fun questions. So I have a few fun questions for you. So Karen, if you were commissioned to paint a live portrait of any historical figure, who would it be and what question would you want to ask them between settings?

Karen Ramsay: Ooh, this was a really good question and the first person that came to my mind was John Singer, Sergeant. Okay. I guess because I was thinking of an artist. 

Heather Winchell: Mm-hmm. Okay. 

Karen Ramsay: So I thought, 'cause I love John Singer, Sergeant and he also did a lot of portraits and I kinda, I'm like going, Hmm, yeah, okay. That would be good.

And then, um, I was talking to our son about these questions and he goes, oh, and. He goes, that would be tough because during breaks he'd be sitting there checking your work and I'm going, ah. Mm-hmm. But before I settled on John, I thought Winston Churchill. 

Heather Winchell: Mm. 

Karen Ramsay: He would be the one I would love. First of all, he was a real character.

[00:30:00] Mm-hmm. So to just be able to sit down and, and to draw and paint him would be fun in itself, Uhhuh. But also to know that he took up painting. At 40 years old, and that was his release to the big, you know, high powered, you know, prime Minister job he held for two, two times, and during World War ii. Wow. So my questions would be, what kind of got you into realizing that this.

Painting would be this release and outlet in this high powered position. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. 

Karen Ramsay: That you have. 

Heather Winchell: Yeah. 

Karen Ramsay: And I did have the privilege and I always wanted to, to go to his home outside of London, Chartwell, where that's where his studio is. Hmm. And that's where he painted. [00:31:00] And he was prolific. 

Heather Winchell: I never knew. I did not know he was known as an artist.

Yeah. 

Karen Ramsay: So that's the book. There was a student years ago that said, Karen, have you ever read painting as a pastime by Winston Churchill? Huh? And I go. No. So I found a copy and I, I pick it up and I just look at it. So this really, this book is the one that really intrigued me about Winston Churchill. I, we've been to London and I've seen like the war rooms and the historical things, what he did during his time of leadership, but to, to see him as an artist.

Heather Winchell: Yeah, that is very cool. Actually, that book is on the table right now, and I noticed it when I came in and thought, oh, this book looks old and cool. If you could become proficient in a hobby you don't already have, what would it be and why? 

Karen Ramsay: This was another tricky question for [00:32:00] me. I. Because I was like going, well, I love to bikery.

I love to cycle. So I do that. Mm-hmm. And pickleball is something. Mm-hmm. My husband and I enjoyed doing. Great. So I Great. I wouldn't do that. So, so then I go, I, again, it was a conversation I was having with my husband's son just kind of talking over these questions and they reminded me that rowing.

Something I did 14 years ago, my husband gave me, um, a rowing class introduction to rowing. Mm-hmm. Because I had always wanted to try it. So I did it for a couple years. So I would love to get back into rowing and be really good at it. Mm-hmm. And who knows? Maybe even compete. 

Heather Winchell: Very cool. Have you seen or read the book, boys in the Boat?

Karen Ramsay: I have seen the movie and, and, but read the book first. Okay. Loved it. Loved it, loved it. 

Heather Winchell: Yes. Powerful [00:33:00] story. 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. Yeah, absolutely. 

Heather Winchell: Are there. Places to row, like on an actual body of water here. Do people do that? 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. There's actually a Fort Cols rowing club. Cool. And that's where I took the class up on Horse Tooth Reservoir.

Wow. So there's that. And then Loveland also has one Loveland Rowing Club, and it's on Boyd Lake. 

Heather Winchell: Okay. How fun. I never knew. 

Karen Ramsay: And CSU Culver State University has a rowing team. 

Heather Winchell: I did not know that. Yes, 

Karen Ramsay: they would also train up there at Horse Tooth. So, yeah, so it's, yeah. You have great opportunities around here.

Yeah. Well, and it's a great workout. Oh my gosh. It is the most peaceful and full body workout that I've ever done. I mean, you're just on that water and it takes. Skill. Mm-hmm. And all the power. It's, I, I think it's closer to almost 90% power from your body to actually get that boat, you know, the skull [00:34:00] going, but once you do it, just glides over that water.

Wow. And it's just, you're there early in the morning. Mm. And it's peaceful. It's quiet. Um, I, I like either a double or a quad, um, skull and it's, it's just magical. Really? Mm-hmm. 

Heather Winchell: Very cool. I might have to check that out. Ooh, I think you should, Heather. Mm-hmm. Well, now I would like to invite you to give your own shout out.

Who would you want to tell? Thanks for doing that. And why? 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. Oh, gosh, there's so many wonderful people in this community. But one in particular came to my mind and it's Caitlyn Dunnigan. She owns Cece's Flowers. Yes. I love Cece's Flowers. Yes. She's delightful. And, um, I became acquainted with Caitlin. It was back during Covid.

Mm. [00:35:00] And, um, I love drawing and painting trucks. Mm-hmm. So she has part of her shop, her flower shop. As she has her VW van and so it's called Leon. So she will, you know, have that out with all the flowers. So it's a popup flower shop. Mm-hmm. And she had it one Saturday during Covid. She did a couple different ones, but I went and just sat and drew and painted the her little flower trek.

Mm-hmm. And. She, she's just delightful. I just love her story and I love her passion for creating and just sharing it with others through flowers. Mm. Um, so, yeah, I, she's just always has, um, there's just a beauty about her. Mm-hmm. And, and, and, uh, life. Mm. She's very, just really delightful. Mm-hmm. So I would, I would say Caitlyn with cece's [00:36:00] Flowers.

I love it. 

Heather Winchell: I love it. And I think wasn't one of your classes this past summer around, uh, you had you invited people to paint her popup truck with you or there was something around her flowers? Yes, I think, yes. 

Karen Ramsay: It was actually at her, her flower shop. It was through her. Store that we had. The the class. Cool.

I've done it a couple different times. So they have the truck out front, the shop, and then we just sit out there and we'll paint and sketch and each, everybody has flowers. She her, she has a big part about it too. 'cause everybody gets to make a little bouquet. They teach that part of it, but then we had the painting of it too.

Oh, fun. So 

Heather Winchell: I'll be on the lookout for that. 

Karen Ramsay: Yes. That's great fun. 

Heather Winchell: Well, Karen, thank you again so much for joining me. The way I end my show is by sharing a haiku that I've written for you as a way to capture why I wanted to have this conversation and as a gift to you. So I'd like to read that for you now.

Oh, thank you. Thanks for doing that. Sharing the [00:37:00] simple joy of playing in the paint. 

Karen Ramsay: I love it. 

Heather Winchell: Thank you so much. You're so welcome, and thank you for your time. Appreciate it.

Thanks for doing that. Is presented to you by the apiary, a place for beholding and becoming, and thank you for joining us for today's episode. Before you go, I have a couple of invitations. If you found it meaningful, could I invite you to take two minutes to rate and review the show? I also invite you to help me create an upcoming episode of thanks for doing that by nominating someone or suggesting a topic.

Let's link arms to call out the good and the beautiful that we see around us because I really believe that finding delight in our divided and difficult world. Could make [00:38:00] all the difference.

I.