Kris Gosar will be the Honor Guest Artist for the 31st Annual Taste of Creede to be held May 25-27 of Memorial Day weekend. Gosar is a nationally known painter that has participated in this event from the early years. He is well-known throughout the San Luis Valley not only for his painting but also for his teaching, design work, and Gosar Ranch Natural Foods, Gosar Sausage and Mountain Mama Milling.

Gosar grew up in the San Luis Valley and has been drawing and painting since an early age. He attended Adams State University, studying under Stephen Quiller and Roger Williams amongst others. After studying architecture and environmental design at CU Boulder, he then attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., to be schooled traditionally by master artists in drawing, painting and design. He graduated with honors from art center in graphic design and illustration where he was especially inspired by his painting instructor, Dan McGraw.

Gosar now teaches drawing and painting at Adams State University, inspiring other artists to develop a strong foundation in drawing. He also is very busy with interior and exterior design work for many regional commercial businesses.

He can be found during the Taste of Creede painting on Main Street. A selection of his paintings and drawings will be on display at the

C. Waters Gallery on Main Street during the event. He loves to work with the figure and many times will randomly select someone and asked him to pose. It is fun to see how he interprets the portrait with his unique style and energy. He says “it is the dialogue between the model and the artist that is often the most amazing to me. It is such an opportunity to be able to feel those connections and try to express something deeper than just the way someone looks.”

During the weekend, the main street of Creede will be blocked off and painters will be painting Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday artists will work from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At 1 p.m. many artists will participate in the “Quick Draw.” A one hour pain out that the public can view artist gathered together, painting a variety of subjects and drawing media, watercolor, acrylic, oil and other media. At 2:30 p.m. the same works will be displayed and auctioned off with revenues going to next year’s event. Everyone is welcomed and invited to attend.