Kelli Lien is a watercolorist, collagist, and currently a student of the Book Arts genre.  More than anything else, she is a creator.  For as long as she can remember, she always loved art.  Her love of painting began when she was a pre-adolescent.  A floral shop in her small hometown began to carry ceramics and all the supplies.  Her mother indulged her and she was able to buy every color of paint.  She enjoyed art during high school and when she attended college.  She focused on batik for several years and also on calligraphy.  As a mother of two young sons, and living in Rapid City, SD, she aspired to learn to paint in watercolor.  She spent years learning, from local and regional watercolorists, and also from books.  She is primarily self-taught.   She has been an award winning watercolorist for over 20 years, earning top awards.  She is a signature member of the Red River Watercolor Society.  She eventually became enamored with collage and spent several years incorporating that together with watercolor paintings.  She is a published collagist.   Her years in Rapid City found her taking part in local artist groups and exhibitions, taking the occasional workshop that came to town, and teaching watercolor to adults and children in a variety of venues.  Kelli and her family relocated to northwestern Minnesota in 2015, after having spent 25 years in the Black Hills of SD. 

When one door closes, another one opens.  And thus began her journey into the genre of Book Arts in 2020.   

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Selected Shows & Awards


2021    Duluth Art Institute Annual Members Show, Group Exhibition
            The Depot, Duluth, MN

2019    First Place, Transparent Watercolor - Intermediate 
            Artists of Minnesota Spring Show - May 2019, Pier B Resort, Duluth, MN
 
2019    Fellowship Exhibit - Solo Show 
            February & March 2019, The Wild Hare, Bemidji, MN

2019    Group Show - Lake Superior Watercolor Society
             Duluth Pottery, Duluth, MN

2018    25th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition
            Red River Watercolor Society, Moorhead, MN

2017    Artist Fellowship Award, 2017-2018
            Region 2 Arts Council, Bemidji, MN

2017    25th Annual Juried Art Exhibition
            MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN 
 
2014    Bronze Medal, Member's 18th Annual Exhibition
            Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD
 
2014    Golden Award, 21st Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition
            Red River Watercolor Society, Moorhead, MN

2012    Silver Medal, Member's 17th Annual Exhibition
            Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD

2011    18th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition
            Red River Watercolor Society, Moorhead, MN

2008    Recognition Award, 15th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition
            Red River Watercolor Society, Moorhead, MN

2008    Merit Award, Member's 13th Annual Exhibition
            Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD

2008    Honorable Mention, Member's 13th Annual Exhibition
            Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD
 

Recent Certification

2021   Certified Zentangle® Teacher (CZT)

Signature Membership
2014     Red River Watercolor Society

 Other Memberships Include
2021   Artists of Minnesota
2021   Duluth Art Institute
2021   Minnesota Center for the Book Arts
2021   San Diego Center for the Book
2021   Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
 

Publications

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2018  National Collage Society Annual Calendar

2019  National Collage Society Annual Calendar