ARTIST SPOTLIGHT | MARCH 2026

andphilpaints
15 minutes ago
2 min read

Carrie Baines

Beauty in the Average

This month, Western Art Gallery is proud to feature a master of color and depth: Carrie Baines. Carrie is an oil painter who crafts amazing paintings of everyday life. Focusing on landscapes, animals, cityscapes, and the occasional golf course, Carrie uses calculated composition, intentional brushwork, and atmospheric perspective to compose spectacular works of art.

Early Life and Education

Growing up in Billings, Montana, Carrie's introduction to art came from her father, an occasional oil painter who gave her his old paints when she was a child. She is self-taught, having practiced on cheap canvas panels before eventually earning a scholarship to the School of Art at Montana State University, Bozeman. While she now reflects that majoring in Graphic Design might have been more practical, she chose to focus on Fine Arts with an emphasis on oil painting.

Career and Artistic Shift

Carrie's professional journey led her to Park City, Utah, for a four-year stint at an ad agency before she moved to Boulder, Colorado. She spent several years working as an art director for a trade magazine in Loveland until she had children. During her time as a stay-at-home mother, she transitioned into freelance graphic design, though oil painting eventually became her primary focus.

Inspiration and Artistic Philosophy

Carrie's interest in art was sparked at age eight by a paint-by-number set, her philosophy centers on finding beauty in the "average":

Subject Matter: She prefers everyday subjects—such as average cows rather than fantastic steers—and finds inspiration almost everywhere she goes
Focus: She believes the best works come from ordinary subjects captured in beautiful light or conditions
Key Elements: Once a composition is chosen, she prioritizes light and color as the most critical elements of her work

Recent and Upcoming Works:

Completed: A forest scene, an art gallery scene, animal portraits, and a large abstract
In Progress: She is currently preparing to begin a painting of the Breckenridge ski resort

Some of her available works:

Fergus

24"x36"

A-Basin

40"x30"

Shemp

18"x24"

Beach Glass

30"x40"

Pippa

24"x18"

EXPERIENCE PIECES IN PERSON

There's nothing like seeing works of art in person to feel the texture and scale of these oil paintings for yourself. Whether you are a seasoned collector or a new admirer, we invite you to explore Carrie's artwork at the gallery or see all of her paintings at Baines Gallery.

Where you'll find a real piece of work.

16500 S. Golden Road, Suite 102, Golden, CO

www.wag.art