Rachel Courtney believes community is at the heart of creating art.
In Courtney's experience, community is about creating connections through art. Not only can art open a conversation but in Courtney’s own experience, it has built friendships.
Courtney owns Pretty Nice Creations where she offers both graphic design services and a variety of art pieces with a special focus on her love of fiber arts. Courtney uses her crocheting skills as a blanketeer for Project Linus, an organization that provides handmade blankets to seriously ill, traumatized or other children in need, since 2000.
While not directly handing blankets to those who need them, Courtney is a part of a larger group that provides comfort. The organization as a whole has donated more than 8 million blankets across the nation.
Locally, Courtney teaches art. For Courtney, the challenge in creating art is also what she loves about it. For her, art is full of surprises.
"You might have an idea for a piece and something doesn't come out quite the way you expected, but it still works," she said.
Given the sometimes fickle nature of artistic creation, Courtney wants to make sure people know they love an art form before investing in supplies. Accessibility is important to her and she wants to make sure the world's resources are used wisely.
She offers supplies-included classes ranging from alcohol ink to basket weaving in Longmont at the Firehouse Art Center.
Focusing on the art, instead of the lack of supplies allows people of all walks of life to participate in her classes, furthering the idea of building community.
Courtney loves teaching for the aha moments people have in their own work and the appreciation for artists that develops rom creating your own piece of art.
