About the Artist
Jeanne Mackenzie
'I love having a passion for oil painting, taking the wonderful images of my local surroundings and international travels back into my studio. Equally close to my heart is the sharing of that passion. I cannot just give someone an image to paint without sharing the art of how to 'see'. Delving into the how's and why's and building on the composition, values, and color elements makes those student 'aha' moments so enjoyable.'
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Jeanne Mackenzie is a Colorado resident living in the Fort Collins area where she is one of the founding members of the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters. Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Teaching Credential from San Diego State University she eventually fell in love with and devoted herself to oils. Her teaching expertise is enhanced with a Masters of Education/Adult Education and Training from Colorado State University.
Her artwork has earned Merit Awards and shown at juried shows throughout the United States including the Oil Painters of America Show, CM Russell Invitational Show and Arts for the Parks-Top 100 (award of excellence). Jeanne has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine’s Best of the West and My World, American Artist’s Workshop Magazine, Plein Air Magazine and International Artist Magazine-Master Artists. She was invited to be a part of the Richeson Art Series Book and art book Dust on My Shoes/Sun on my Back. Her work has hung in the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Georgia's Booth Museum, and Minnesota’s Tweed Museum. She shares her love of art by teaching national and international (Italy, Guatemala, France, Mexico) painting workshops and has been on staff at the Denver Art Museum teaching color theory, composition and painting.
EXHIBITIONS/ AWARDS
American Impressionist Society- 6th Annual Online Exhibition - Honorable Mention - August 2026
Art School Live with Eric Rhoads- Artist Interview - July 2026
16th Annual Plein Air Salon Art Prize - Top Finalist/ June 2026
American Impressionist Society Show- Small Works- Michigan- May 2026 / Honorable Mention
American Impressionist Society Show- November 2025
Colorado Governors Show 2020- Award of Merit - October 2020
American Legacy Art Show - Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act- Best of Show - Oct, 2014
American Women Artist- Booth Museum, Cartersville, GA- Oct. 2014
Plein Air Artists Colorado- 2nd Place Award- Juror Karen Vance - August, 2014
Larimer County Resources Artist of the Year- 2014
Grand Teton Association/ RMPAP- Artists Choice/Best Painting and GTA Collection Purchase- July, 2012
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters- Artists Choice Award/Best Body of Work- Crested Butte, July, 2010
CM Russell Invitational Auction – March 2010 and Masters in Miniature, 2010
Outdoor Painters Society Invitational- December, 1009- Merit Award and Jurors Selection Award
Tweed Museum- University of Minnesota- October 2009
Invitational Governors Art Show- Loveland, CO, 2009
Salon International-Greenhouse Gallery – Juror Award-Daniel Greene May, 2009 and 2010 and 2013
American Women Artists Invitational - South Street Art Gallery, Easton, MD-2007 and 2009
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters-Merit Award-Juror-William Scott Jennings August, 2007
Houston Museum of Natural Science/SKB Foundation- 50 chosen from 1750 entries- March, 2007
Arts for the Parks- Miniature Show – Jackson, WY, September 2004
Oil Painters of America-Howard/Mandville Gallery May, 1998,2002, 2003 and 2004
Arts for the Parks-Top 200- Award of Excellence September 2003 and 2001
PUBLICATIONS
Outdoor Painters/ Plein Air Magazine- Guest writer ‘Why This Painting Works’ 2013-2014
Plein Air Magazine- Pursuing Effortless Artistic Elegance- March, 2012
Dust on My Shoes/Sun on my Back- 18 artists’ view on Painting- NH Studios Press-2009
Southwest Art Magazine/ My World – June, 2008
American Artist Workshop Magazine- Fall 2007
Cowboys and Indians Magazine- Gallery Artists- March, 2007
Richeson Art Book- Invitational artist – Plein Air New Mexico 2006
Sky West Magazine- Cover Photo and feature article- July 2005
Daniel Smith Catalog – Guest writer–article 2002 and 2003
Southwest Art Magazine- 'Best of the West'- April, 1999
International Artist Magazine- Master Artists, August, 1999
AFFILIATIONS
Richard Schmid Invitational Auction- Charter Member
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters- Signature member
American Women Artists
Plein Air Artists Colorado
American Impressionists Society
