Kelli Lien is a watercolorist, collagist, and book artist living in northwestern Minnesota.  Her love of art has always been a passion.  She loved to draw as a young child and her love of painting began when she was a pre-adolescent.  She took art classes while in high school and when she attended college.  

     Her serious focus on watercolor began in the mid 90's while she was raising two sons and living in Rapid City, SD.   She has taken several watercolor workshops by well known teaching artists, including John Salminen and Richard DuBois.  She is primarily self-taught.    Her 20+ years living in Rapid City included being part of local artist groups and participating in opportunities in the Black Hills.  

     Kelli has been an award winning artist for over twenty years.  She is a signature member of the Red River Watercolor Society.  She is published by the National Collage Society.        Kelli taught watercolor workshops at the fine arts center and senior centers while she lived in Rapid City.  She taught group and private lessons for adults and children.  She was a routine volunteer who taught art at elementary schools.  

     She relocated to northwestern Minnesota in 2015.

     The Region 2 Arts Council, in Bemidji, awarded her the Artist Fellowship Award for 2017-2018.  

     In 2020, the global pandemic opened the door for a wide variety of art classes to go online.  A lifetime appreciation of book and lettering arts led her to join the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts.  Kelli has nearly completed their Core Certificate.  In addition, she is currently taking classes from several other book art centers located around the United States.  While there is much to be learned in this broad genre, she is currently focusing on creating handmade books and Artist's Books.  

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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 Education

2021   Certified Zentangle® Teacher (CZT)

 2021   Working toward Core Certificate, Minnesota Center for the Book Arts              

                                                  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
 

                                                              Publications

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2019  National Collage Society - Annual Calendar

2018  National Collage Society - Annual Calendar

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