THE CASUAL BIO

I am a painter and a teacher of painters.

I love to be warm and well fed.

I love people, and I love my solitude.

I like old books, old movies, old friends and new shoes.

I made 5 beautiful people. It is the joy of my life to watch them grow.  

My favorite human is my husband Mark. I also have a dog who believes she is everyone’s favorite human. 

I believe in magical adventures and curious characters.

I feel deeply that the weather has no business being cold after Christmas. 

I prefer paths that wander.

I heard birds' wings flapping over the desert once and it was my favorite thing.

THE PROFESSIONAL BIO

Crystal DeSpain is a Colorado-based oil painter and educator whose work explores character, agency, belonging, and narrative tension. Her paintings combine classical representation with contemporary design, balancing technical structure with ambiguity, atmosphere, and emotional depth. She is especially interested in the ways composition and perception guide attention, shape meaning, and invite the viewer into an unfolding story.

In both her studio and teaching practice, DeSpain approaches painting as a process of inquiry. She works through close observation, experimentation, and revision, looking for the point where visual structure and emotional intent begin to reinforce one another. Through workshops, presentations, and her YouTube channel, she helps artists strengthen their composition, clarify their ideas, and create paintings with greater impact and meaning.

DeSpain serves as Colorado State Co- Ambassador for the Portrait Society of America and has received recognition from major national art organizations and exhibitions. She lives in Colorado with her husband and sons.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Crystal DeSpain
Windsor, Colorado, USA
crystal@crystaldespain.com
crystaldespain.com
(970) 371-3631

Awards

2026 __ Artist’s Choice, Award of Merit, Colorado Governor's Show.                                                                                                                                                                                     2026 — Certificate of Excellence, The International, Portrait Society of America
2025 — Best of Show, Colorado Governor’s Art Show
2025 — Certificate of Excellence, The International, Portrait Society of America
2025 — Finalist, Outside the Box, Members Only Competition, Portrait Society of America
2025 — Finalist, Animals as Subject, Members Only Competition, Portrait Society of America
2024 — Certificate of Excellence, The International, Portrait Society of America
2024 — Award of Merit, Colorado Governor’s Art Show
2024 — Finalist, Art Renewal Center Salon
2024 — 5th Place, Members Only Competition, Portrait Society of America
2023 — Honorable Mention, Fall Showcase, Oil Painters of America
2023 — Award of Excellence, Western Regional Exhibition, Oil Painters of America
2023 — Artist’s Choice, Award of Merit, Colorado Governor’s Art Show
2023 — Best New Associate, Spring Show, Women Artists of the West
2023 — 4th Place, Non-Commissioned Portrait, Portrait Society of America
2023 — Eleanor B. Coble Award of Figurative Excellence, National Show, Women Artists of the West
2022 — 2nd Place, Associate Division, Summer Showcase, Oil Painters of America
2022 — Select 50, The International
2021 — 2nd Place, Associate Division, Fall Showcase, Oil Painters of America
2018 — 3rd Place, National Greeley Art Exhibition

Exhibitions

2025 — Fantastically Human, Compass Gallery, Provo, Utah
2025 — 17th Art Renewal Center Salon
2024 — Edmonds Paint-Out, Cole Gallery, Edmonds, Washington
2023–2025 — Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition, online
2023 — NOAPS Fall International Show, online
2023 — American Impressionist Society 4th Annual All-Member Online Exhibition
2023 — Western Regional Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Brushworks Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah
2023 — American Impressionist Society National Exhibition, Somerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, Delaware
2023 — Women Artists of the West National Exhibition, The Carriage Factory Art Gallery, Newton, Kansas
2023 — Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, South Carolina
2023 — The Love Show, JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
2022 — People Are My Favorite, Anthony’s Fine Art & Antiques, Salt Lake City, Utah
2022 — Summer Showcase, Oil Painters of America, online
2022 — The Love Show, JKR Gallery, Provo, Utah
2021–2026 — Colorado Governor’s Art Show
2021 — Fall Showcase, Oil Painters of America, online
2020 — American Impressionist Society Online Salon
2018, 2020, 2023 — Vision of the Arts Auction
2019 — Meditations on Belief, LDS International Art Show, Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, Utah
2019 — (solo)Overture, 1123 Santa Fe, Denver, Colorado
2018 — National Greeley Art Exhibition
2010 — (solo)52 Weeks of Free Art, Greeley, Colorado

Publications

2026 — Art of the West Magazine, June/July                                                              2026 — Southwest Art Magazine, April/May                                                                2025 — International Artist, June/July issue
2025 — Fine Art Connoisseur (online), May
2025 — Exponent II magazine
2024, 2025, 2026 — Journal of the Portrait Society of America
2023 — Southwest Art, Governor’s Art Show preview

Media Appearances

2026 — Good Day Colorado, Interview, June                                                            2026 — Colorado & Company, Interview, May                                                          2025 — Good Day Colorado, Interview, June
2023 — Colorado & Company (9NEWS), Interview, May

Lectures and Speaking Engagements

2026 — Faculty Lecture, Neuro Aesthetics & Composition, Creative Arts conference, Provo, Utah                                                                                                                 2026 — Invited Speaker, The Biology of Composition, Rotary Club of Thompson Valley, Colorado
2026 — Invited Speaker, The Biology of Composition, Rotary Club of Loveland, Colorado

Professional Experience

2022 — Co-curator, People Are My Favorite, a joint exhibition featuring Colorado and Utah members of the Portrait Society of America, Anthony’s Fine Art & Antiques, Salt Lake City, Utah
2020 — Juror, Louisville Art Association National Fine Art Show
2010 — Creator, 52 Weeks of Free Art, a year-long independent project producing 52 paintings inspired by stories, photographs, and requests submitted by followers; the works were exhibited collectively before being given to participants

Professional Organizations

2020–Present — Colorado Ambassador, Portrait Society of America

Education and Training

2024 — Workshop with David Dibble
2022 — Drawing Workshop with Robert Liberace, Portrait Society of America
2021 — Mentorship with Tina Garrett, Cecilia Beaux Forum, Portrait Society of America
2019, 2022–2026 — Art of the Portrait Convention, Portrait Society of America
2019 — Workshop with Dan Wilson
2018 — Workshop with Casey Childs
2018 — Workshop with Joseph Lorusso, Scottsdale School of Fine Art
2017 — Workshop with Casey Childs
2012 — Mentorship with Keith Bond
2005 — B.A., University of Northern Colorado

Teaching Experience

2026 — Faculty, Creative Arts Conference, Provo, UT                                               2026 — Guest Instructor, Art School Live with Eric Rhodes                                       2025 — 3-day Workshop, Whidbey Island Fine Art Studio, Langley, Washington
2025 — 1-day Workshop, Louisville Art Association, Colorado
2024 — 4-day Workshop, Colorado
Ongoing — Instructor via YouTube channel and in-person events

Gallery Representation

Cole Gallery, Edmonds, Washington
Compass Gallery, Provo, Utah