MAURER'S ART STUDIO

Lydia Maurer (1928-2007) lived an inspired and inspiring life as an artist, wife, mother and friend. Her vital presence touched many lives. On Friday, January 12, 2007 Lydia passed away in the loving company of family at her home in Gunnison. She had only recently been diagnosed and treated for cancer.

Lydia was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1928, the daughter of German immigrants. The countryside, change of seasons, and the beauty of her mother's flower garden left a lasting impression upon her life and her art. Her mother died while Lydia was still a child, and this would be the first of many life challenges that proved the strength of Lydia's character and the depth of her talent—qualities that deeply inspired the people who had the privilege to know her.

At the age of 26, she moved to New York City to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion and the School of Visual Arts, and for the next 10 years, she pursued a career in fashion illustration.

At 29, she met and married her husband of 49 years, graphic artist and illustrator Bob Maurer, a native of Brooklyn, New York.

Together, they moved to Denver, Colorado in 1959 to raise a family away from the "big city." She worked as a freelance artist while raising her four children: Marc, twin daughters Lisa and Kim, and Toby. A "supermom" long before anyone coined the term, Lydia continued to develop her talents as an artist and as mother, seamlessly integrating her personal and professional life.

In 1972, inspired by weekend camping trips, Bob and Lydia moved to Lake City, Colorado and opened "The Artists' Workshop" in the living room of a 100-year-old cabin nestled in Colorado's San Juan mountains.

There they built a studio and art gallery, allowing them to mature as fine artists over the next decade. They also developed strong ties with their mountain community, and Lydia was instrumental in starting the Lake City Medical Center.

During this time, Lydia and Bob wintered in Grand Junction where they continued to paint and offer private and group art instruction. Lydia taught classes and served on the Board of the Western Colorado Center for the Arts and juried numerous regional and state-wide art competitions.

In 1985, Lydia moved with her husband and son Toby to the Chicken Farm Art Center in San Angelo, Texas, a residential artists' cooperative, where she taught classes and opened an art studio with her husband. Lydia also taught art at San Angelo University. While in Texas, Lydia faced debilitating health challenges that she ultimately overcame through alternative healing practices.

In 1990, Lydia and Bob returned to Colorado, opening a studio in their home in Gunnison and joining the Paragon Gallery in Crested Butte. She served on the Boards of the Paragon Gallery and the Gunnison Arts Center. Lydia continued teaching art through classes at Western State University, private lessons and at summer festivals.

Lydia's watercolors and oils were painted in realistic manner, reflecting her ongoing love of nature, people and life itself.

Her watercolor painting, "Wildflower Fantasy," was chosen for Crested Butte's 1998 Wildflower Festival Poster and was painted largely from memory due to failing eyesight. As her vision degenerated, Lydia continued to develop her talents as a painter, using her near total vision loss to open new avenues of artistic expression.

Throughout her artistic career, Lydia received numerous local, regional and national awards. Her artwork is held in private and corporate collections throughout the world.

Lydia is survived by her brother Sig Holtz, husband Bob, sons Marc and Toby, daughters Kim and Lisa and twelve grandchildren. She is loved by all and will be deeply missed.

"My special wish for you is that you will receive as much pleasure from my art as I have had in creating it."

— Lydia Maurer

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