Since her youth, Shawnee Steen has been fascinated by art and has sought ways to use it to capture the world that surrounds her. 

She has dedicated a major portion of her life to expanding her skill set as an artist, seeking unique ways and various mediums to represent things that are important to her and her community. 

As part of her senior capstone project for the Hayden Valley School District, Steen’s first show is currently on display at the Hayden Granary. 

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Steen’s fascination with art can be traced to her father, who was a tattoo artist. He inspired Shawnee to explore the visual arts in a more in-depth manner, particularly after moving to the Yampa Valley in 2017. She has also used creators on social media to expand her perspectives and abilities.

She recalls being 6 and stopping television shows to trace actors and actresses. That grew into drawing characters from games and other media that she enjoyed. 

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“It just started out with simple sketchbooks,” explained Steen. “As I got older, I expanded my mediums into painting and clay.” 

For Steen, art brings satisfaction in the knowledge that her works bring joy to the lives of others. Her preferred mediums of painting and sketching allow her to share the simplicity of lines, structures and color with viewers while also satisfying her inner artistic drive.

Her show at the Hayden Granary, however, is a departure from the norm as she often keeps her pieces to herself and her friends. 

“My art is very personal and I don’t really share it too often outside of my circle of friends,” Steen said. 

When Katherine George, a Hayden School District educator, presented the framework of senior capstone projects to her students, Steen seized the opportunity to begin sharing her art with the community. 

Steen called linking her senior project to the community “amazing,” while also noting that art often served as a way of remaining engaged in school. 

“I think it’s great that this hobby of mine has turned into this,” she said. “It’s a lot. I’m nervous, definitely.” 

Steen explained that feeling is partially due to the shift away from painting for herself and instead having to think about the “generalized crowd” that will be viewing her art. Despite that, she still sees it as an opportunity to expand horizons and to push herself, and her art, to the next level. 

Steen and Granary owner Tammie Delaney came up with the concept of “Drawctober” for the art show. Centering around 31 days of sketchbook-based drawings, it stretched Steen’s creative thinking and honed her skills around a central theme. Steen also began painting a series that had to do with autumn and the changing of the seasons. 

Steen used October to expand her style and composition while improving her ability to draw anatomy. 

“It’s just free rein,” said Steen. “It’s helped all of my skills.” 

Delaney noted the connections between Steen’s art, the fall season and the Hayden community. 

“One of the things that we have been trying to do through the years is trying to let the light shine, so to speak, and I appreciate Shawnee taking her art into the realm of autumn and earth,” Delaney said. “Those are the things we all love about fall and take us back to our roots.”

Other student-created art shows have graced the walls of the Granary. Rachel Wattles, who teaches art at Hayden’s middle and high school levels, collaborated with Delaney for an art show last spring as the pair sought to present student works to the Hayden community.

“She has been so supportive,” Steen said of Wattles. “She’s been a huge inspiration for me since she is so kind-hearted, motivating and supportive.”

“The spring show was really well-attended,” noted Delaney. “It’s nice having another venue for student art that allows the community to see it outside of the school.”

The show also served as a realization of Delaney’s hope that the Granary’s spaces will serve as a location where the community can connect in different ways while starting conversations about local subjects centered on art.

“I think art brings people and thoughts together in a manner that typically can’t be created in any other ways,” Delaney said.

A love for art has merged with ideas for the future for Steen, who hopes to attend the University of Northern Colorado and also hopes to open a coffee shop and bakery that will also serve as a gallery where she can share her creations, either culinary or artistic, with her customers.

For more information on the Hayden Granary and its role as a community gathering place, visit HaydenGranary.org.