ARTful style
REFRESH YOUR SPACE
Hello,
Ahh… Spring! The Groundhog may have doomed us to an extra six weeks of winter, but at cf&co, we’re all in on the trade of seasons and the images that Spring conjures: longer days, warmer weather, and Mother Nature’s release of fresh flowers and new beginnings.
In this issue, we revisit the magical (albeit COLD!) night in January, when we hosted “Meet at the River,” the grand opening of the cf&co gallery. In the Fall Issue of ARTful style, we introduced you to our new home at 2175 – the space custom built out to accommodate Carrie’s working studio and expanded to include a showroom and art gallery. Even the frigid Denver temperatures couldn’t keep people away – our genuine thanks to everyone who braved the elements and came out to make this an occasion to remember! Check out the pictorial celebrating food, fun, friends and fine art. With such an amazing space to host art exhibits, private events, and special gatherings, keep on the lookout for upcoming announcements!
We also start a new series in this issue – The Language Of Art. Like every language, art is a form of connection and expression. However, the purpose of art is not simply to communicate a message but, as importantly, to elicit an emotional response and move us in some way. Furthermore, like spoken and written languages, art has its own vernacular – its own magic words and phrases. In this first piece, we introduce you to the creation of art and the distinct language of oil paint and its unique finish. As always, we seek to contribute to the understanding and appreciation of the multifaceted role art plays as a personal expression as well as an investment. In the Business Of Art we explore the importance of provenance and cf&co’s continuing effort to create enduring value in every Carrie Fell work. Of course, no issue would be complete without the focus on a pair of amazing collectors – Elizabeth and Brodie Cobb - and their approach to blending Carrie’s West into their extensive modern collection.
Spring is when snow melts and water runs again. Leaning in and following the process of new ideas – taking us where the creative energy flows - is at the heart of all we do. Thank you for joining us! Embrace the spirit of unique contributions and new beginnings – and as always, let’s begin with the art.
Embracing and following the process of new ideas is at the heart of what we do. Expanding our collectors’ knowledge of art and enhancing the value of their pieces is a responsibility that we all accept with profound sincerity.
(L to R) Danielle, Dana, Heather and Carrie
DESIGNLINE - SAPPHIRE | as shown 50" X 84" custom options available —
ARTful style EDITORIAL
VOLUME I, ISSUE 4
Editor in Chief CARRIE FELL
Creative Director & Design DANIELLE VONFELDT
Business Editor & Digital Coordinator DANA GIDDENS
Lifestyle Editor HEATHER CLANCY
Photographers DON EASTBURN POVY ATCHINSON BRIAN BIRLAUF
Industry Contributors DANIELLE VONFELDT, VonFeldt Design LLC, VonfeldtDesign.com
LAUREEN HOPKINS, Studio H by Laureen Hopkins, laureenhopkins.com
CHEF RICHARD BAILEY, TASTE 5 Catering, www.TASTE5Catering.com
Printer
PUBLICATION PRINTERS CORP.
©Carrie Fell and Company, 2025. For permission to reproduce any article in this magazine, contact inqury@carriefell.com
Chief Executive Officer | CARRIE FELL
Chief Operations Officer | DANA GIDDENS
Chief Design Officer | DANIELLE VONFELDT
VP, Sales & Client Relations | HEATHER CLANCY
©Carrie Fell
The Language ofART
In this new series we introduce you to the Language of ART - we will review popular, techniques, and types of art mediums to help you explore what styling best speaks to you as you build out your art collection. Understanding art mediums is essential for artists, art collectors and enthusiasts, as it opens a world of possibilities in the creative process and understanding of your art. For centuries art has awed, amazed, and continually evolved. It has expressed social change, told stories of love and struggle, and captured moments in history that have preserved the past. A wide variety of art mediums have produced remarkable finished works and continue to drive innovation and creativity.
An "art medium" is defined as the substance or technique an artist employs to produce their artwork. The choice of medium can significantly influence the final painting in appearance and texture, to include the emotional impact and define the style of an artist.
OIL Durable, Steadfast, Classic
Oil paints are a type of paint made from pigments; they are known for their slow-drying time, buttery consistency, and vibrant colors. Oil paints dry through a process called siccativation, the process by which they dry and harden. It's a chemical reaction that occurs when the paint comes into contact with oxygen. The slow drying medium allows artists to gradually develop their works, making modifications as they go. Different colors of oil paint dry at different speeds due to the specific pigments used in each color. Some pigments absorb oil more readily than others, meaning certain colors like earth tones and white tend to dry faster while pigments like ultramarine blue and crimson dry slower due to their lower oil absorption rate. Essentially, the more oil a pigment holds, the longer it takes to dry.
Oil paints blend well with each other, allowing artists to create subtle variations in color and details of light and shadow. Traditionally, oil paints are used to create a wide range of textures, from coarse and uneven to smooth. They are also waterproof and lightfast. This is only one of the mediums Carrie uses, but like all fine artists, oil paint plays a significant role in Carrie’s creativity and her ability to convey emotion on canvas with bold colors and texture.
I use oil paints unconventionally mainly to enhance color. This medium allows me to blend and move color within the composition. Oil bars, also known as oil pigment sticks, are a type of art medium in my toolbox - where oil paint is compressed into a stick form, similar to a crayon or pastel, allowing me to repeat my line with bold strokes of color essentially acting as a bridge between drawing and traditional oil painting.
— Carrie Fell “ ‟
CARRI E
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Aspen Grove Fine
HIGH OCTANE, 50" x 84", Original Oil & Acrylic on Canvas (c)2025
Art, ASPEN; Courtney Collins Fine Art, BIG SKY; Galerie Züger, SANTA FE; Relévant Gallerie, VAIL; Schoonover Gallery, STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
V ibrant
cf+home
wrangler
lounge pillow
Limited Edition "Cowboy Trading Blanket" by Carrie Fell oversized euro pillows on 100% jacquard silk with a denim back
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36” x 36” with a 90/10 down insert
lola colt
Original, Acrylic and Pastel on paper by Carrie Fell. Custom framed 18” x 18”
Signature, limited release, hand-blown, sand-carved glass vase 8" x 16"
VIBES
silk scarf
Limited Edition "Cowboy Trading Blanket" by Carrie Fell for Rockmount Ranchwear on 100% jacquard silk 36" x 36"
aura by cf+home
cf+home lumbar
pillows
DESIGNLINE by Carrie Fell printed on 100% silk charmeuse lumbar pillows with poly fill insert 14” x 36” and 10" x 13"
Coast of Colorado signature scent in colorful, marbled, hand-blown glass votives with a single wick 3” x 2”
Meet at the RIVER: The Grand Opening
The Four Winds converged for this magical night to celebrate the grand opening of cf&co's new location and the gallery at 2175.
“Meet At The River” featured exciting new original works by Carrie, harnessing traditional Western subjects that have graced the finest homes and establishments for more than 25 years. It also featured beautiful food by Chef Richard Bailey of TASTE 5 Catering, the reuniting of old friends, and the introduction of new followers, all bringing their very best Western flair. Even the extreme cold weather didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of more than 150 guests who braved the elements to make this grand opening a night-of-alifetime event.
Photos courtesy of Emily Takacs, Don Eastburn Associates LLC
the Pinnacle of ARTistryCulinary
Extraordinary Chef + Artistic Expression = A Culinary Masterpiece.
Daring to create is the very essence of art - bringing new perspectives and having the courage to attempt a fusion of different mediums. Chef Richard Bailey, known for his passionate focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, transforms them into culinary objets d’art. From signature dishes like tuna tartare tacos to melt-in-your-mouth crab cakes, his creations meld flavors, textures, and colors as surely as a canvas is transformed by the painter or the notes become a symphony.
As anyone who has had the pleasure of attending an event catered by Chef Bailey knows, this is a multi-sensory dining experience that enthralls. On the menu, beyond the traditional fare of private parties, are exclusive events featuring live cooking demonstrations and interactive tastings with Chef Bailey personally. Beautiful cuisine, prepared with all of the emotion and energy of an artist, is not just about food and drink but a celebration of creativity, skill, and the joy of sharing in the art of living well.
If you are seeking to host an unforgettable event, Chef Bailey offers something for everyone. Don’t miss the prospect of indulging in a culinary adventure that promises to delight. Stay in the know as cf&co expands the art of living to include invitation-only parties featuring the art of food. Contact Chef Bailey and his TASTE 5 Catering team to create your own event that celebrates the art of eating and entertaining well.
“Food always comes to those who love to cook, but greatness comes to those who dare to create.” – Gusteau, Ratatouille
Make your next event a masterpiece, elevated with TASTE.
BusinessART of
Where Have You BEEN All My Life?
In ARTful style, we’ve often written about the importance of certification and authentication of art in the equation of valuing works. If you own artwork that you cannot prove who created it, it is incredibly challenging for appraisers and insurance companies to be assured of its monetary value. The opposite side of that coin, the second half of the equation, is provenance
Have you ever watched “Antiques Roadshow” and dreamed that the dark, moody painting your grandmother left to you was a priceless masterpiece? What if you discovered a $50 painting at a garage sale in Minnesota that would become the hottest debate as a lost Van Gogh? (Spoiler: Yours probably isn’t, but the latter probably is.) In either case, provenance is a critical element in determining the life journey of a work of art. Provenance derives from its French origin - provenir, meaning “to come from.” An ideal provenance captures the ownership history of a piece back to the artist's studio and is often as interesting as the art itself – telling stories of personal fortunes made and lost, famous owners and everyday people who would find their treasures stolen and perhaps returned through the backtracking of provenance. However, even as technology continues to expand the capability of analyzing works based on the availability of the materials used and other dating mechanisms, authentication often comes to a halt without provenance.
Carrie recognized early on the importance of documenting every piece she created – date, size, media, and sales outlet. As a result, of her 4,000+ (and growing!) catalog of works, cf&co holds the copywork (photography) and detailed provenance of virtually every piece she’s ever created. We regularly receive communication from collectors who purchased a Carrie Fell piece years ago and wish to have it certified for present replacement value. Often, the first question we ask is, “how was it acquired?” This allows us to compare their version of its provenance to our own, and 99 percent of the time, we can confidently and accurately provide updated certification through our third-party partner, Verisart. This puts your investment on the Bitcoin blockchain, ensuring authorship and ownership records have been uploaded to a secure distributed database.
Chances are that lost Van Gogh will always struggle to win authentication based on the nearly non-existent provenance. But your Carrie Fell works can be. Please get in touch with us at inquiry@carriefell.com if you would like to discuss having your older pieces authenticated and certified.
For The Pure Joy of Collecting
Collector Focus: Elizabeth & Brodie Cobb
At cf&co we strive to achieve numerous objectives with our business – first, above all, to impart a sense of true delight. Whether the purchase is of art, home goods, or our services, we want everyone who meets us to be genuinely delighted with the experience. In our art business, however, we also endeavor to create a sense of value in the investment of Carrie’s pieces.
Art is most often purchased for the pure sense of joy it brings to the collector’s environment – it fills space with beauty, song, and personal expression. Artwork conveys a message without ever saying a word; it stimulates your emotions and engages your brain. Irrespective of how excellent an investment may be on paper, for many, art is both the means and the end. Collectors Elizabeth and Brodie Cobb embody this mindset, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to tour their historic Denver Country Club home and view their collection of art – including magnificent Carrie Fell originals. What we came away with was a reminder that art truly nourishes the soul and fills a space with happiness.
“We have about 40 artists in our collection … in our homes and offices. Carrie’s art changes our space by adding the playful and colorful Western theme … and a slightly abstract impressionistic style,” explained Brodie. The common thread of collecting works that they love and are inspired by is what drives their passion.
“Art is our addiction! We buy art together from all sorts of different channels all around the world but mostly in the US and Europe. Our art is for our pleasure and not viewed as investments… We buy what we like."
While they purchase their art together, it is Elizabeth who places the art in their home. “She has an amazing talent for picking just the right spot for each of our pieces,” said Brodie.
“Our favorite Carrie Fell piece is undoubtedly “Standing At The Rope Opera” because it is such a crowd pleaser.”
With a house designed by Burnham Hoyt (the original architect of Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater and Cherokee Ranch, among many), curating a collection to enhance this mid-century modern showpiece is no small effort. Managing the sense of scale and proportion are critical considerations for Elizabeth and Brodie and are high on their list of recommendations to newer collectors. “Buy what you like from a reputable source. And fill the space so the piece doesn’t appear to be too small…”
They did leave us with a final note of how contagious the love of Carrie Fell art can be. “One of our Carrie Fell pieces sat across from one of my colleagues at our offices in San Francisco for a number of years. When we moved to Denver, “Standing At The Rope Opera” [the cowboy piece] was moved to our new home. The colleague found out and quickly told us she would break in and steal it! That never happened, of course, but she did end up buying her own Carrie piece!”
She did. And the secret is safe with us.
Artwork (left): Fancy Persuasion
Artwork (above): Standing At The Rope Opera
The Dialogue:
A Discussion With Christine Whaling, Christine Whaling Art Advisory
To continually bring greater value to our collectors and explore topics that enhance the knowledge of art as an investment and a lifestyle, we are introducing a limited series of interviews with industry partners, starting with Christine Whaling, principal of Christine Whaling Art Advisory. We have invited Christine into our world to help us –and our collectors and ARTful style readers – understand the larger context of valuing art and other privately held assets. Over lunch, she was gracious enough to share her own history with art and her path from London to New York, then home to Denver.
A.S.: Tell us a little about yourself: How did you get into the world of art and the business of appraisals and valuations?
A.S.: We meet so many people who love art, as artists or aficionados or collectors or just enthusiasts, but few see a route to a career in the larger industry. How did you end up chasing down your dream on that path?
C.W.: I originally approached the art industry as an aspiring artist, captivated by painting and drawing. However, it wasn't until I took my first art history class that I truly fell in love with the broader world of art. That spark led me to earn both my BA and MA in Art History, and around that time, I began reading about the major sales results from Christie's and Sotheby's, which were often reported in The New York Times. The commercial side of art intrigued me, and I’ll never forget attending my first auction - it was a pivotal moment for me. The energy in the room, the fast-paced bidding, and the charisma of the auctioneer navigating the sale...I was hooked! I knew instantly that this was the path I wanted to pursue.
C.W.: I started my career as an intern in the Antiquities department at Christie's in London, before transitioning to their New York office. From there, I worked my way through several roles, including a position in the Client Service and Bids department. I was soon responsible for supporting clients with everything from condition reports to placing bids, registering for sales, managing payments, and coordinating pickups for purchased items. I also supported clients as a telephone bidder in the sales room and even assisted the auctioneers as a salesclerk at the rostrum. This gave me invaluable insight into the inner workings of auctions—the subtle art of reading the room, understanding the auctioneer’s book, and the importance of being "on the right foot"!
A.S.: Wow! Antiquities at Christie’s in London and New York! That’s incredible! You were right in the middle of some of the most important art transactions in the world! How did you find your way to Denver?
C.W.: Having grown up in Denver, it was natural for me to eventually return to Colorado after several years at Christie's in New York. I continued my career in the auction world, taking on the role of Trust, Estate, and Private Client Group Manager for the Rocky Mountain Region at Hindman. There, I worked closely with clients and fiduciaries, guiding them through the complex processes of consignment and appraisal.
Now, as an independent advisor and personal property appraiser, I have the unique opportunity to work with clients across different sales channels and price points. I balance two distinct roles: As an advisor, I assist clients with buying, selling, and managing their collections, acting as their agent in the marketplace. On the other side, as an appraiser, I provide comprehensive, Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) compliant appraisal reports for various uses, ranging from insurance and estate tax to financial planning and charitable contributions.
A.S.: We have so many more questions! Since you’ve so graciously agreed to continue The Dialogue, we know there’s more to come. But to give readers a teaser of the amazing wealth of information you’re going to share with us, what would you give as one piece of advice in valuing their artworks, or their estate as a whole?
C.W.: I always advise clients to start by understanding what they have because, all too often, financial decisions are made based on the perceived value of items. This “understanding” can take many forms but knowing what you have is not necessarily understanding it.
now available at cf+home
The Joy in the Journey fresh thoughts...
Hard work is more than just the physical act of labor; it's a mindset. It requires discipline, perseverance, and a willingness to sacrifice comfort and luxury for procedures and rehearsals. What hopefully comes after is an idea. So often we find, when the idea is ready to welcome its Spring, in whips the tail of a storm. As the tempest looms, plans begin to renegotiate, creating a situation that requires adaptability and fortitude. Yet the storm teaches us the value of patience. We pause, vigilantly supervising its passing, reminded in our own thoughts that these are forces we cannot sway. Acceptance of the situation allows us to find peace in the moment, understanding that both storms and life’s arrangements are temporary.
would brave the temperatures to join us. In creating anything, we do so hoping to acknowledge the impact others have on us and looking for acknowledgment in return. When people come together the impact is profound. Their presence serves as a reminder that our efforts matter, that we are part of a ripple effect beyond ourselves, just as Spring is reminded of Winter’s importance.
No more did it feel like fate wanted to test my resolve than in the planning for the grand opening of the cf&co gallery at 2175. Sunny and warm leading up, snowy and frigid on the day of! Yet even with Colorado’s crazy weather gyrations, we were ready to welcome any and all who
As we move forward in our endeavors, we need to remember to support one another, to acknowledge each other and to celebrate the efforts that so often go unnoticed – like quiet growth in Winter that gives way to Spring’s bounty. In doing so, we uplift ourselves and welcome collaborations that have potential to thrive, even in the coldest of seasons. After all, it is through these connections that we find joy in our journeys and fulfillment in our efforts.
There is beauty in the detail of learning how to adjust our expectations, ride out the storms, and await surprising possibilities. Welcome to Spring.
– CARRIE
by
LA UREEN HOPKINS S TUDIO
interior design
Laureen Hopkins | Alexis Wessell
2175 South Platte River Drive Denver, CO 80223
On front cover: Mixing modern design with Santa Fe influences creates a unique chic urban aesthetic. Clean lines and minimalistic forms blend modern and traditional architecture seamlessly. Featuring: PATTERN LANGUAGE, by Carrie Fell, Original, Acrylic & Oil on Board, 64" x 48"