Meet Lydia Pottoff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lydia Pottorff.

Hi Lydia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey as an artist began when I was very young. Drawing has always been a passion. Pencils, charcoal, and pen and ink were my favorite mediums growing up. I cannot remember a time when I was not drawing everything surrounding me. I realized my dream of pursuing a creative career when I went to Denver at Metropolitan State University. I studied both drawing and graphic arts. Ultimately finances determined my career direction. After graduation, I worked as a designer and utilized my drawing and graphic skills at both Celestial Seasonings and New Hope Communications. In 1991 I collaborated with another designer to form our own agency. I realized that the flexibility afforded by owning my own business allowed me to pursue my art as well as my graphics career. Life got busy with raising a family and running a business, but I never lost my desire to create my own art. In 2001 I had a life-changing experience that forced me to reevaluate my priorities. I had a spontaneous retinal detachment and almost lost the use of one of my eyes. As a healing gift, my husband bought me a series of pastel lessons with a local Boulder artist Bonnie Iris. A 20-year love affair with pastels began! Over the last two decades, I have studied with numerous pastel artists, won local and state competitions, and taught the medium. Several years ago, I also began to study studio oil painting with a local Longmont artist Rey Ford. Working in both pastels and oils can be somewhat challenging, but I find that they complement and enhance each other. COVID has given me an opportunity to really dig in and study my art. As an artist, I have always cherished my time alone. and these last nine months have relieved many external pressures that we artists face. It’s also forced us to embrace new technologies to continue to learn.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Since I decided to pursue graphics, I have always wrestled with that decision. Should I have tried to pursue my fine art out of college? As I outlined in my story, finances really dictated my decision. And there are the struggles that many working moms face. I am trying to balance personal desires with the demands of family and finally giving myself permission to be okay with all of that.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my story, I outline much of the journey I have taken. I am so proud that I have come full circle and am able to study art. Below is a bit more about my work. Over the years, I have experimented with many different mediums; pencils, ink, collage, pastel, and oil. I am primarily known as a pastel artist. Pastels allow me to create shimmering, heightened color effects as well as to draw – and they support the freedom of spontaneity in my work. I love painting in oils as well. Working with brushes – mixing colors and the application – allows me to problem solve in a different way. Both mediums, pastel and oil, influence how I work in the other, and I enjoy going back and forth between them. I balance my pieces between studio and Plein air. Working in nature forces me to quickly capture the essence, while a studio environment allows a deeper exploration of the subject, allowing me to reinterpret what I see in nature. My work is a celebration of the natural world as I see it. My pastels have energy and vitality with jewel-tone colors.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
To be kind to yourself. As a very self-motivated individual, I tend to put more pressure on myself than others do.

Contact Info:

• Email: lydia@lydiapottofffineart.com
• Website: www.lydiapottofffineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydia_pottoff/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintVartist

Image Credits
Lydia Pottoff Plein Air Painting in Rocky Mountain National Park