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Deb Ross was PPLD’s first Artist in Residence. She has enjoyed painting and drawing since she was a little girl. She still loves crayons! Deb has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Education from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. Her artistic career has included both teaching and commercial art. A resident of Colorado Springs for over 30 years, Deb has taught at The Colorado Springs Senior Center, The Bemis School of Art at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, and Colorado Technical University.

Deb likes introducing beginners to creating art and inspiring more experienced artists to try new ideas. Creating art is the most fun you can have with a pencil or a paint brush!

Deb conducted Drawing for the Total Beginner and Letters into Art workshops for the public during her residency. She also painted acrylics and watercolors during her studio hours.

Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information.

Kim Hetherington was PPLD's Maker in Residence for January and February 2015 .

Her introduction to bookbinding was in the nonfiction section of the East Library. Kim was perusing the shelves and was more than thrilled to find a book on making books. Unfortunately, she was also a bit intimidated as the book explained historical bookbinding methods and listed costly pieces of equipment and tools. For a few years, she allowed this intimidation to keep me from trying my hand at it. Kim thought bookbinding required talent and equipment she did not possess. How wrong she was.

Books can be made simply with a few inexpensive materials, or they can be time-intensive pieces made with traditional bookbinding tools and equipment. A private class showed Kim how to create her first book with a handful of common tools and a few pieces of simple materials. She was hooked. Kim had the fortune of attending further bookbinding classes at Pikes Peak Community College, American Academy of Bookbinding, and with bookbinder Jim Croft. She also attend local classes and created books with and designed by Kylin Lee, Jill K. Berry, Carol Sloan, Marsh Sterling, and Pam Leutz.

While in residence, Kim taught classes about Japanese Bookbinding and Leather Journals.

Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information.

Patti Smithsonian was PPLD's Maker in Residence for February and March 2015. Her puppet shows portray ancient folktales using contemporary language and humor.

Her one-woman puppet theater has been featured at international festivals and venues including The Detroit Institute of Art, The Seattle Puppet Festival, New York International Busker Fest, Institut International de la Marionnette (France), The Santa Fe Sculpture Ranch, The
Telluride World Theater Festival, The San Francisco Puppetry Festival, and The Shilong Moon Festival (Taiwan).

Ms. Smithsonian has studied shadow puppetry in Turkey, Taiwan, and France. She uses laser cutters, acrylic plastics, alcohol inks, and high-powered projectors to create her shadow theater. She uses electronically projected light and shadow in creating light shows for theater, rock bands, and performance art — as well as narrative puppet plays.

While in residence, Ms. Smithsonian taught classes about Chinese Dragon Shadow Puppets and Modern Shadow Puppets: Animals.

Visit PPLD's Maker/Artist in Residence page for more information.