ROCK SPRINGS – It’s no secret that murals make Downtown Rock Springs beautiful. The Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency is excited to announce the completion of the “Kickin’ It” boot mural installation.

Locals and visitors can find this installation on C Street between South Main and Broadway Street. Several artists participated in the murals including:

• Margaret Jensen – Wheatland, WY
• Debora Soule – Rock Springs, WY  
• Amber Hunt also known as Amber Marie – Rock Springs, WY
• Chrissy Pruett – Lander, WY
• Laura Grossnickle – Rock Springs, WY

Each of the artists talked about their passion for art and their experience with working on the “Kickin’ It” boot mural. Keep reading to see what they had to say.

Margaret Jensen

According to artist Margaret Jensen, Downtown Rock Springs is a “breath of fresh air from busy I-80 and the people are really friendly and nice.”

When the opportunity to add art to Downtown was presented, Jensen wanted to contribute.

“I chose the Indian Paintbrush because I love painting flowers and using bright colors,” Jensen shared. “I thought the Indian Paintbrush was fitting because it’s the state flower and they’re all over Rock Springs.”

She received her art skills from her father who is also an artist. Jensen hopes there will be more support for local art because “it enriches and beautifies a community.”

“When a person supports local art, they usually know the story behind the artists creation, or know the artist,” she said. “The art is unique and one of a kind, not mass produced.”

Amber Hunt

Amber Hunt wanted to highlight a local female business owner on her mural. She thought Amanda Schaeperkoetter, owner of The Dugout Collectibles and Games would be a “good feature.” Hunt has been drawing since she was very young.

“I started to hone my skills by memorizing books on how to draw and practicing a lot,” Hunt said. “There were no art classes in any school I went to till high school, then I took a few classes.”

Eventually, she received her bachelors and ended up with an emphasis in drawing. She began taking anatomy courses as she honed on doing portrait work. She has studied techniques such as the Loomis Method and The O’Reilly Method, which are ways to work drawing a face by focusing on the planes of it.

“Art is important to me because it became a main mode of communication,” she explained. “I grew up very sheltered and abused, so it became a voice when I had none. It is now one I use to give voices to other’s stories, to my own, and help myself make sense of the chaos of this world.”

“If you find an artist you love, maybe you cannot purchase from them, but help them on social media to reach someone else who might,” she added. “This can be through likes, shares, and comments on any platform. Be willing to attend events and be open to the experiences art has to give you. Get together with friends and attend places your favorite artists will be. If you don’t have an artist you support, go find one. We can be great people.”

Debora Soule

Artist Debora Soule wanted to make others smile by painting a cow’s face.

“I always knew I had to be an artist, maybe I didn’t have the clearest definition, but Art was what made me – me!” Soule said. “As I grew up through junior high and high school, I studied on my own, as well as of course taking every art class I could as an elective.”

She went to a college known for its art school. Afterward, she continued to be a self-directed learner of whatever interested her at the time. As the director of Community Fine Arts Center, she helps students of all ages understand art.  

“Currently I am committed to following what I tell the students – you have to do it every day – you only get better with practice, practice, practice!” she suggested. “I am also studying a few artists – Richard Schmid, Ian Roberts, Brian Rutenberg – and I am finding something in each of their works that attracts me, though they each have different styles and color palettes.”

She has found through the years that she also “values supporting others in their creative efforts as well.”

“Being honored with the role of director of the Community Fine Arts Center, I have been able to teach art to all ages, help emerging and established artists find venues to exhibit their creative work, and bring new experiences in the arts to our community,” she said. “I feel like I have continued the traditions of those directors before me and hopefully added something more for the next art leaders in our town.”

Laura Grossnickle

Rock Springs resident Laura Grossnickel painted a prairie scene that includes a bison, the meadowlark and Indian Paintbrush because it represents Wyoming and the state symbols.

“The boot scene was definitely a challenge for me and something out of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed the challenge,” Grossnickel said. “I finally had to put my paintbrush down as I kept going back to it and making more changes or adding more details.”

“Art is my hobby. I love being creative and always have,” Grossnickle added. “Recently, I’ve transitioned more to doing lettering. I’ve created hand-painted signs for various people and organizations and I love doing them.”

Chrissy Pruett

Chrissy Pruett was inspired to paint an antelope, sego lilies and a western meadowlark on my boot as a celebration of the flora and fauna of the Wyoming prairies.

“I have always been inspired by the Wyoming wildlife I see while I am out hiking,” Pruett said.

Pruett said she got her art skills from “many, many years of practice.”

“I always tell my students that being an artist takes passion, practice and time,” she pointed out.

Pruett also stated that art is important because “it’s an expression of individuality and anyone can do it.” 

“Supporting local art is very important because it provides jobs to people and promotes local culture,” Pruett pointed out. “I would encourage people to support local art by attending performances, gallery openings and buying local art. Support means so much to artists and it encourages them to create and spread the love for art.”

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The Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency is charged with the redevelopment of downtown Rock Springs. As part of their mission, there are three standing committees – Business Development, Promotions and Arts and Culture. For more information on the program, contact the Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency at 307-352-1434 or visit their website at downtownrs.com.