Tiffany King shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Tiffany, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
My painting day actually begins the night before, when I carefully pack my backpack with all my oil paints, brushes, panels, pochade box, and enough food and water to last a full day in the wilderness. At 5 AM, I leave the house and head toward the mountains, which are still cloaked in darkness. I try to time my arrival so that I reach the trailhead just as the first light begins to break. Then, with all my supplies strapped to my back, I muster my courage and hike into the wild to find a place where I can set up my easel and begin my work.
Each day I get to paint in the mountains feels like a gift. Some mornings, a soft mist drifts through the valleys, wrapping the world in quiet mystery. On other days, the sky ignites in brilliant color, setting the ridges aglow in fiery orange. And always, there is the wildlife, which is the beating heart of the wilderness. I’ve had unforgettable encounters, like the time I was surrounded by a pack of wild coyotes, or the time I saw a mother moose stand her ground against a young bull elk on the trails of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Before each painting, I wander until something about the landscape really speaks to me and sparks awe or joy. That’s when I know I can set up and begin sketching in the composition. When it comes to color, I like to let intuition be my guide and paint not just what I see, but also what I feel. But painting outdoors is never without its challenges. Gusty winds, relentless bugs, and shifting temperatures test both my patience and endurance. Yet these very elements are part of the adventure and magic of what makes plein air painting so alive. Each canvas becomes not just a painting, but a record of being fully present in the wild.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, world! My name is Tiffany King, and I’m a Colorado-based plein air oil painter. I travel, often on foot, to breathtaking locations where I paint directly in the wild landscape. It’s my dream to make the outdoors my office and spend my days immersed in nature. To do what I do requires more than just creativity, as it takes an understanding of the land, the ability to stay safe while solo hiking in the wilderness, and the endurance to carry a 34-pound backpack filled with art supplies up rugged trails. Painting in the elements continually challenges my patience, strength, and courage, but it also fuels my deepest inspiration.
Recently, I’ve been working on a series of paintings created at elevations of 10,000 feet and higher. Painting the alpine tundra has been both exhilarating and demanding. The window of time when conditions are bearable is much shorter than at lower elevations, so I have to work quickly, adapting to shifting light and fast-changing weather. In these high wild places, I’ve shared my painting sessions with creatures like curious marmots, whose sharp whistles echoes across the ridges, and elusive ermine that dart between the rocks.
After a painting is complete, I work with my dad who hand builds custom wood frames for my artwork. Being able to work with my dad and combine our creative talents is truly joyful and bonding.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
From a young age, I was captivated by the outdoors. The mountains were my playground, and I spent countless hours exploring every hidden corner of the forest. Nature felt like a friend and it quickly became the place where I felt most alive.
At the same time, my deep enthusiasm for the natural world, paired with an eccentric artistic spirit, often set me apart from my peers. Instead of being celebrated, those qualities sometimes made me a target for bullying. I began to internalize the idea that I was “different” or “strange,” which led me to question my femininity and the adventurous side of myself that I loved so much.
Over time, I realized those very traits were not flaws but gifts that shaped my perspective and fueled my art and life. Learning to embrace my uniqueness was a journey of self-acceptance. One that taught me strength, resilience, and the courage to live authentically wild. Today, I celebrate the same qualities that once made me self-conscious, knowing they are at the heart of my creativity and connection to the natural world.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been many occasions when giving up seemed like the only and best option. Making a living as an artist means constantly adapting to a rapidly changing world, one that is feeling less friendly towards human-made things. The rise of AI and it’s potential to copy and replace real creatives jobs is deeply concerning. And yet, what keeps me painting is the hope that there are still people out there who recognize the importance of traditional, handmade, artwork.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
This is such a fascinating question, and I’m really glad you asked it. I hold a strong belief in what many people might describe as ‘Energy’. For me, tuning into that energy, both within myself and in the world around me, is an essential part of life and my creative process.
I believe everything thing carries both an output and an intake of energy and as we move through the world we are constantly exchanging that energy. When I’m outdoors painting, I try to attune myself to that flow and find it in the interconnectedness of all things. I feel that the energy of a place matters and when it’s right I transfer it onto the canvas.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I can say with joyful admission that I have literally jumped into the air and danced in excitement over my creative work! One very specific time comes to mind when, I learned I was accepted into the Georgetown Plein Air Festival and one of the pre-approved painting locations would be anywhere along the Guanella Pass highway. I spent two unforgettable days in the wilderness, surrounded by July’s wildflowers, painting Naylor lake for a juried exhibition. The piece I created there, which I named “Serenity”, carried a special energy. In a serendipitous twist, it sold during exhibition to a kind couple who encountered me on trail and saw me painting it. The entire experience was filled with so much magic and joy.
Another time I danced with joy was when I saw my art on display as part of the Winter Park Art Trail. Each year, 35 Colorado artist are jury selected to be featured in a unique outdoor exhibit that follows the Fraser river. Seeing my art there, among the tall trees, was so uplifting and empowering.
And then, of course, there’s the amazing people I get to encounter on trail who stop to offer kind words of encouragement. I love making organic connections with people in the moment and share with them my love for creativity and nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TiffanyKingArt.com
- Instagram: TiffanyKingArt
