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My little art-baby curiosities began at a young age, growing up in Rapid City, South Dakota. Nature was an early influence as I found my footing among the forests, rocks, and hills of the sacred landscapes of the Black Hills. My earliest art-making memory was an exploration of the connections between crayon lines and sound waves — a combination of sensory experience and creative expression that continues to inspire my work today.
In 2009, after savoring opportunities to take studio art classes as part of my degree, I graduated from Montana State with a BFA in graphic design. After graduating, I spent five years working as a full time graphic designer and creative director for a boutique marketing and media firm while continuing to develop my painting skills and style.
As I prepared for a career transition to focus on fine art and freelance design, an unexpected path opened up — becoming a raft guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. I guided full-time each summer between 2017 and 2022. These seasons cultivated a wealth of creative inspiration, an adventurous, en plein air skillset, and opportunities to guide clients through their own memory-making moments with riverside watercolor workshops.
Today, from my studio in Bozeman, Montana, I apply my diverse artistic skillsets in collaboration with individuals and organizations with aligned values and purpose — including the environment, education, social equity, and good (not always clean) fun.
Artist’s Statement
Vibe. Connect. Create. Repeat.
My art is the journey into the wild that brings us closer to self. I draw inspiration and vision from my own personal, immersive experiences in the wilderness. My work often begins as a sketch or photograph in the moment, creating a reference for painting larger pieces in the studio.
In acrylics, I express the visual and emotional complexities of a scene through vivid colors and strong shapes, layering colors quickly as I go. I infuse a sense of gesture, of the natural movement in a landscape, capturing the spirit of what it's like to be there, to feel it moving, to feel moved by it.
The unmaking, the remaking, and the pause in between. These are the lessons nature gives us — that change, no matter how slow, is the only constant, and change is necessary for growth, for life.
Inspired Creativity. Active Conservation.
Nature writes the love letter. I paint what I love — and I invite you to fall in love with it, too.
The rivers and mountains have taught me much about who I am, both in their metaphors and tangible realities. When we meet ourselves in relation to, in relationship with, those powerful natural forces, we begin to set ourselves free.
My art serves as a tool for conservation. When we feel connected to something, it moves us to care for it. As humans, we need nature to be whole — and right now, the natural world needs us to take action.
I partner with mission-driven organizations and changemakers to protect a thriving, sustainable future for the wild landscapes we all love. As a 1% for the Planet member, I donate a minimum of 1% of my sales each year to environmental nonprofits.
Press, Features, and Recognition
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![A woman standing outdoors in front of a painting on an easel, near a river with a forest background, holding a drink and a brush, wearing a brown apron and a cap.]()
April 2023
Meet Kelsey Dzintars, CanvasRebel
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![Colorful acrylic painting on paper of a mountain landscape with a woman sitting and embracing her knees, surrounded by green valleys, trees, and blue skies.]()
Winter 2023
River of No Return, Centerfold Artist, American Whitewater Journal
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![A painting of a scenic landscape with a winding dirt path, bushes, and rocky terrain in the foreground. A hill with three cyclists riding on it is in the middle ground. In the background, there are mountains beneath a pink and blue sky with the sun setting or rising.]()
Spring 2022
Gallatin Drift, Outside Bozeman
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![Magazine cover titled 'Big Sky' featuring a snowy mountain landscape viewed through a cave opening with a person walking on a snowy trail.]()
January 2021
“A Vision of Hope” Cover Artist, Explore Big Sky
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![Open magazine on a wooden table with a woman on the cover of Montana Woman Magazine, a colorful artwork, a coffee mug, and a potted plant.]()
July/August 2020
Make Good, Montana Woman Magazine
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![Cover of Bozeman Magazine showing a painted winter scene of a snow-covered street with houses, trees, power lines, and a person walking a dog at sunset or sunrise.]()
March 2020
March Cover Artist, Bozeman Magazine
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![A hand making a rock and roll gesture pointing at a magazine opened to a page about mountain scenery. The magazine is on a wooden table near a window with snow outside. There are two potted plants and a jar with paintbrushes on the table.]()
Winter 2019-20
The Heart of the Matter, Outside Bozeman
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![A digital tablet displaying an art article with an abstract painting of bison and mountain scenery, and a headline about space-themed art.]()
February 2020
Moments of the Infinite art show explores space between dream and reality, Explore Big Sky
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![A tablet displaying a webpage with a photo of a blonde woman smiling outdoors and article text visible.]()
September 2018
Designer brings art to life and lifestyle to art, Collegian, MSU Alumni Foundation
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![Digital tablet displaying a news article with images of artwork and a street scene, leaning against a white laptop on a black background.]()
October 2017
Arts Council uses art to beautify Rapid City, Native Sun News Today
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![A tablet displaying a news article about Montana State University winning a grand prize in a poster contest for its 125th anniversary. The article includes an image of a poster featuring a tiger and the number 125.]()
August 2017
MSU grad wins grand prize in university’s 125th anniversary poster contest, MSU News Service
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![Cover of Bozeman Magazine featuring a painted landscape of a river, trees, a mountain, and a road under a sunset sky.]()
June 2016
June Cover Artist, Bozeman Magazine
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![E-book reader displaying an artist profile for Kelsey Dzintars with a portrait photo of her in an outdoor landscape, including text about her background and artwork.]()
2015
2015 Artists-in-Residence, Chiricahua National Monument
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![Cover of Montana Fly Fishing Magazine featuring a close-up of a fish on a rocky riverbed with the title and issue date.]()
Fall 2015
Artist Profile: Kelsey Dzintars, Montana Fly Fishing Magazine
FAQs
Find answers to questions about commissions and collaborations with Kelsey, shopping prints and products, and more.
Painting Commissions
Indoor/Outdoor Murals
