Kelli Lien is a native of northwestern Minnesota.  She spent the majority of her young adult years living and working in Fargo/Moorhead and in Minneapolis.  She met her husband in Fargo when he was a student.  His education, and subsequent career, led them to moving to Minneapolis, and then to Rapid City, SD.  They remained there for 23 years and raised their family; two sons.  They relocated back to northwestern Minnesota in 2015.

     Kelli has always been an artist.  She loved to draw as a child.  Her love for painting began as a pre-adolescent.  She loved art in high school and when she attended college.  She learned to do batik, calligraphy, and began to experiment with collage.  She always had a natural talent for anything artistic and the desire to create.  

     Her serious focus on art began in the mid 90's.  A well known Rapid City watercolor artist advised her to begin by learning how to draw.  While she studied and practiced drawing, she volunteered routinely at her son's elementary school and taught the students a version of what she was doing.  She continued volunteering and teaching while she was learning how to paint in watercolor, and how to do fine arts collage.  

     Kelli has taken classes from South Dakota artists Joyce Johnson, Patricia Johnson, Sandra Newman, Bob Miller, Howard Olson, Alexis Wilson, and Richard DuBois.  In 2020 she joined the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts and is currently taking a wide selection of classes taught by their teaching book artists.  She is currently working toward a Core Certificate with MCBA.  She became a Certified Zentangle® Teacher (CZT) in 2021. 

     Kelli became an award winning watercolor artist in 2008.  Her awards include the Silver Medal by the Northern Plains Watercolor Society in 2012 and the Bronze in 2014.  She is a signature member of the Red River Watercolor Society.  She is published by the National Collage Society.  Kelli also taught workshops and gave lessons to large and small groups, for adults and children, while she lived in Rapid City.  The Region 2 Arts Council, in Minnesota, awarded her the Artist Fellowship Award for 2017-2018.  Recent awards include a First Place Award in Transparent Watercolor at the Artists of Minnesota spring show in 2019.   

Selected Shows & Awards

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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

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2018  21st Annual Small Format Exhibit, National Collage Society

           The Butler Institute of Ame

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2018   25th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition

           Red River Watercolor Society

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2017    Artist Fellowship Award, 2017-2018

            Region 2 Arts Council, Bemidji, MN

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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

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2012    Silver Medal, Member's 17th Annual Exhibition

            Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD

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2011    18th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition

            Red River Watercolor Society

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2008   Recognition Award, 15th Annual Juried Watermedia Exhibition

            Red River Watercolor Society

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2008   Merit Award, Member's 13th Annual Exhibition

            Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD

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2008   Honorable Mention, Member's 13th Annual Exhibition

            Northern Plains Watercolor Society, Rapid City, SD

Recent Education

2021  Certified Zentangle® Teacher (CZT)

                                                  Signature Membership

2014     Red River Watercolor Society

                                                Other Memberships Include

2021   Duluth Art Institute

2021   Minnesota Center for the Book Arts

 

                                                              Publications

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2019  National Collage Society - Annual Calendar

2018  National Collage Society - Annual Calendar

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