Amy Beidleman, a longtime Aspen resident, has transformed her post-retirement life from crunching numbers as a bank CEO to teaching the delicate art of watercolor painting. After nearly three decades in the financial industry, Beidleman now shares her artistic passion with the community through monthly classes at the Red Brick Center for the Arts.

This month, Beidleman will offer her signature class "Adult Watercolor: Discover the Magic of Mushrooms" on October 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 110 E. Hallam Street. The $48 fee covers all supplies and instruction, making it accessible for beginners and experienced artists alike. "I just feel so lucky. It's like, pinch me. I'm doing something I truly love, and I get to share. That's why I teach. I love sharing the joy of watercolor," Beidleman explained.

Beidleman's journey to artistry began after a successful banking career that started when she arrived in Aspen in 1978. She built her professional reputation at two prominent local institutions: Timberline Bank and Aspen Bancshares Pitkin County Bank and Trust Company, where she served in executive roles before retiring in 2014. Her expertise in teaching principles of banking and business concepts during her corporate years provided a solid foundation for her transition into art education.

After stepping away from the financial world, Beidleman discovered a deep longing to pursue watercolor painting. She became a self-taught working artist, developing her skills and eventually expanding into art instruction and greeting card creation. Since 2018, she has been a regular instructor at the Red Brick Center for the Arts, where she has built a following among local art enthusiasts.

Beidleman's teaching approach emphasizes variety and creativity. She alternates her class subjects between fish, birds, and landscapes, often incorporating three-dimensional objects to enhance the learning experience. She also introduces students to artistic styles from other painters, ensuring they don't feel pressured to mimic her own vision. "Mushrooms are a big deal right now. You know, people are using them for different reasons, and so I think there's just a bigger interest," she noted about her current class theme. "The reason I picked mushrooms is accessibility – it's affordable to get a mushroom to practice on, and people are comfortable with them."

Beyond teaching, Beidleman has successfully launched a greeting card business that has become integral to her artistic identity. "The greeting card is my base," she said, crediting her friend Laura Laughren, the buyer at Pitkin County Dry Goods, for encouraging her to commercialize her art. Pitkin County Dry Goods became her first retail location, and her cards have since expanded to numerous stores throughout Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley, including Carl's Pharmacy, Aspen Eclectic, and Explore Books.

Her greeting card collection features 3½ by 5-inch designs available as singles or in sets, with 12-card collections being the most popular option. The designs range from local landscapes with blank interiors to bird-themed cards with charming sayings and charity cards showcasing local churches. "It was a really nice way to get into the valley – painting local landscapes and things that we all love. I try to relate my art back to nature that we have, which is why we are here, and why we work so hard to be here," Beidleman reflected.

Currently, Beidleman is serving as a volunteer curator at the Aspen Chapel Gallery, where her watercolors are featured in a locals' art exhibition titled "Tell It Like It Is." The show, running through November 15 at the gallery located at 77 Meadowood Drive, operates in partnership with Aspen Journalism and explores themes of truth and freedom of speech. The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing another venue for community members to experience local artistic talent.

Looking ahead, Beidleman plans to continue her monthly teaching schedule with a Winter River Landscape class next month, featuring views from the Roaring Fork Valley looking toward Aspen Mountain. Between her regular classes, greeting card business, gallery curation duties, and travel, her second career chapter appears as fulfilling as her first. "I love trying to relate my art back to nature," she emphasized, "that's why we work so hard to be here."

Those interested in registering for classes can visit redbrickaspen.com/events-art-exhibitions-calendar/adult-watercolor-2025-10-15, while information about the gallery exhibition is available at aspenchapelgallery.org/our-team.