Artistic Awakening
RESIDENT DETAILS DECISIONS LEADING TO CREATIVE CAREER
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iki Harder is an expressive individual and her After college, she spent the next 20 years working at energy is contagious. She smiles from ear to ear regional restaurants such as Carvers Brewing Co., Diamond as she recalls moving from Sunnyvale, California, Belle Saloon and Ore House, to name a few, and has been a to Colorado Springs when she was just a ski instructor at Purgatory Nordic Center for 30 years. daydreaming 10-year-old. Through these different experiences, Harder made “When I was a kid, I always had a crayon in my connections with many people who needed an artist to hand and I loved horses,” she said. “So my mom and design logos or T-shirts for their businesses. She enjoyed dad got me horseback riding lessons, and all I wanted to helping others bring their creative vision to life. do was draw and ride ponies. When we moved to Colorado So, when the San Juan Mountain Association invited from California, I worked hard and, dream come true, I got Harder and 28 other artists to participate in a public art a pony. Art was always on the side.” project to raise money for environmental Harder said her parents facilitated her “For the longest education programs called Pumas on Parade in creative and educational interests by keeping 2005, she was excited and nervous. time I kept my paper, crayons and other classic art supplies “It was the first time that I publicly in stock. She would draw cartoon horses, but acknowledged, ‘I am an artist,’” she said. “I personal and she has struggled with embracing her inner didn’t want anyone to judge me for being bad, my art life as artist for most of her life. for not being good enough, for not doing it “I grew up thinking art had to be a certain the way it was supposed to be done.” two individual way,” Harder said. “It did not appear to be The kind public reception gave Harder more things. Looking confidence the non-linear way I saw life, so I always to pursue art full time. She applied second-guessed myself. I separated cartoon for and was accepted as an artist in residence back now, I see illustration from ‘real art.’ I think that is what at Aspen Garden Station that same year and that art is a kept me from doing art professionally. I never Great Basin National Park in 2016, where she thought that I was doing it the right way, so I way I connect to participated in interactive programs. These kind of had this imposter syndrome.” experiences solidified her passion for art and people.” She transitioned to drawing cartoons the beautiful places it could take her. because they felt like a safe way to express “Artist residencies are fantastic,” Harder the light-hearted and off-kilter side of the world around said. “They used to be these isolating experiences, which her. After graduating high school, Harder attended Fort can be wonderful, but Great Basin switched it up. The Lewis College, where she planned to earn an associate resident was responsible for facilitating weekly creative degree in biology and then transfer to Colorado State workshops for visitors. I did two bird-spotting tours and University to become a forest ranger. But transitioning to two hikes into bristlecone pines to sketch. One afternoon college was difficult for her, so she took a semester off while sitting under one of those trees, it dawned on me from school and worked at a day care in Colorado Springs. that my three favorite things had been combined. I was After rethinking her future outside, I’m connecting with people and I’m drawing! It was and with encouragement exactly where I wanted to be.” from her parents, Harder Since then, Harder has expanded her skills and overcome decided to pursue a degree in challenges, like marketing herself as a creative artist. She both art and biology at FLC currently sells artwork at Studio & Gallery on Main Avenue instead. She graduated with a in Durango and the Valkarie Gallery in Lakewood. She also bachelor’s degree in 1990. collaborates with authors illustrating children’s books and “I ankle-waded into art but completes commissioned projects for clients. I didn’t take it seriously until “I’m the luckiest person in the world, and I’m really years later,” Harder said. “I grateful,” she said. “I want to thank every person who loved the sciences but didn’t believed in me more than I did. I rest upon the shoulders really understand what my of so many amazing individuals. I absolutely love and relish place would be in them.” this life I get to live.” l
