Community

Artist Directory

The creative community behind TBGA and ArtSpace. Painters, photographers, sculptors, textile artists, and more.

Anne Fetterly

My work is grounded in natural dye processes and material-based exploration. Using plant-based dyes on silk, linen, and cotton, I create fibre art sculptures and one-of-a-kind wearable pieces. I employ techniques such as eco printing, silkscreen, block printing, and Japanese shibori, combining controlled processes with the inherent variability of natural materials. Sustainability informs both my materials and approach. I work with up-cycled textiles, paper, leather, and rusted elements, focusing on transformation and the potential of discarded materials. The process itself is central—each piece reflects a balance between intention, material response, and time. Alongside my textile practice, I have begun working in oil painting. My work is primarily representational as I develop a visual language that extends from my experience with fibre and surface. I live and work in the Creston Valley of British Columbia, where my practice continues to explore the place of textile-based processes within contemporary art.

Aum Nicol

Aum Nicol has grown in her art practice since moving to Creston. Working primarily in oils, she also explores watercolours, pastels, and acrylics, continuing to expand her techniques. Within the ArtSpace community, she has taken part in many classes where instructors and fellow artists provide valuable guidance. Drawn to landscape painting, Aum finds the process deeply meditative. She finds joy in each brushstroke—mixing colour, trying new media, and becoming fully present in the act of creating.

Carmen Ditzler

I love textiles. My main focus is wet felt using both natural colours, dyes and shapes as well as a wild array of joyful intense colour. My textile practice is a source of meditation, solace, joy, and activism. I combine wet felting, dyeing, eco-printing, knitting, weaving and stitching. My interest is in natural materials such as wool, plant fibres, cloth, and willow. The process of wet felting constantly fascinates me as a humble material such as wool is transformed by soap, water and hands to turn delicate wool roving into a strong, flexible, warm, beautiful felt.

Carole Francis

Over the years Carole has taken a few courses in drawing and painting, knowing someday she would find the time to take art more seriously. That dream came true when she and her husband retired and moved to this magical valley. Joining ArtSpace has provided a place to learn and grow in her passion for art. It is also a place of friendship and safety to express who you are. Come join us you too will get drawn into the wonderful world of creating art in its many forms.

Gay Allen

I retired and moved to Creston after looking on a map and visiting Creston a few times.Having grown up in a small Alberta town Creston felt comfortable and welcoming. I brought with me my passion for photography and explored the valley and back roads until 2019 when I joined the newly formed ArtSpace. Art was never a part of my education so with workshops and members help I learned to paint. I became familiar with watercolor, acrylic and oil and collage was added a few years later. I am loving ArtSpace, Creston, and my friendly community.

Janet Holder

Janet Holder is a Creston, British Columbia–based artist who works primarily in acrylic painting and multi media. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Kootenay region, she enjoys exploring landscapes, trees, and the changing moods of nature through colour and texture. Janet began painting after joining ArtSpace in its early years and has remained an active member ever since. Being part of the supportive creative community has encouraged her to continue developing her skills and exploring new artistic challenges in her work.

Jennifer Rankin

Jennifer joined ArtSpace in 2023 and in that time this creative community offered her a nurturing space to learn, grow and develop her artistic skills. She prefers to work in oils but is always open to other applications as a means of expression. She encourages everyone to embrace the transformative power of art which can lead to the life affirming renewal we all desire.

Karen Tschierschwitz

Karen Tschierschwitz has developed a deep passion for painting, inspired both by her surroundings and the sense of community she has found in Creston. Among the many creative opportunities at ArtSpace, she has chosen to work in acrylic, pastel, and watercolour, exploring each medium as a way to express her artistic vision. Karen shares, “ArtSpace is a wonderful studio to meet and make friends with people of like and similar interests here in Creston.” For her, the experience goes beyond painting—it is about fellowship, connection, and the shared joy of creativity alongside other like-minded artists. Much of Karen’s inspiration comes from her own photography. Each image captures a meaningful moment, and through painting, she is able to revisit and preserve those memories. This process continues to fuel her ambition, as she transforms personal experiences into vibrant works on canvas, giving them new life through color, texture, and interpretation.

Renée Poitras

After moving from Calgary to Creston in 2021, Renée embraced a more intentional and creative way of living. Letting go of perfectionism and learning to play has been transformative, opening space for spontaneity and freedom of expression in her art practice. Coming to painting later in life, after years shaped by achievement and certainty, she now approaches art as an invitation into vulnerability and presence. Her work is grounded in exploration—an ongoing process of stepping out of the mind and into a more intuitive, responsive way of creating. Working primarily in oil and inspired by the natural world, Renée is currently transitioning from realism toward abstraction, where she finds a deeper sense of freedom and possibility in her work.

Susan Goodwin

Susan is a new artist in the Creston community, exploring her creative path through the rich medium of oil painting. As she discovers her unique style, her work reflects her growing passion and curiosity for the art world. Susan is excited to share her story and vision to connect with fellow artists and art lovers in the community. Art space has opened up new opportunities for Susan through the mentorship programs with talented local artists. She is currently focusing on different landscapes of the Creston Valley area.