Bend painter Lindsay Gilmore set to anchor the district’s winter art campaign.

Gilmore, one of four artists in the Old Mill District who make up The Stacks Art Studios & Gallery, was chosen artist to create an original piece for the district’s annual Winter Art Series.

The Old Mill District approached Gilmore nearly a year ago and proposed the project, telling her they’d like it to include the iconic smokestacks, maybe the mountains and the river – but left the final piece open to Gilmore’s own interpretation.

“I decided to paint the first thing that came to mind — a peaceful, snowy winter morning in the Old Mill District,” she said. “My family and I live nearby and spend a lot of weekend mornings walking or biking the paths along the river, grabbing a treat at Sisters Coffee Co., and playing at the playground with our two young daughters. The Old Mill District is such a vibrant and fun gathering spot in Bend — there’s a little something for everyone. I feel so fortunate to be able to work and play there and wanted to capture that feeling of gratitude and appreciation with my painting.”

Her artwork will serve as the basis for the Old Mill District’s winter marketing campaign, appearing on the cover of the district’s winter guide, in SantaLand, on street banners, as the OMD website’s backdrop, the company ornament, and on other marketing pieces during the season.

2023 Winter Art Series piece by Lindsay Gilmore of Bend

“I’m going to be geeking out at all the signage along the street,” she said. “Being able to see my art around town and around the community is a real pinch me moment.”

The serene winter setting Gilmore painted fits into her style of creating art that exudes the peace and quiet of Central Oregon’s natural settings. “The unifying theme in my work is that it’s inspired by nature and the outdoors,” she said. “Being outside, running, skiing or biking and all the other amazing things we can do here – that’s where I find my peace and rest. I’m super inspired by our surroundings.” Her artwork’s color palette mirrors the landscapes we might see on the Deschutes River Trail or at Sparks Lake on a summer morning.

“I want to paint a place as you see it in real life and how it feels when you’re there,” Gilmore said. “I often make the colors a bit more vibrant and make the mountains a bit bigger. You know when you’re looking at the mountains from town and they look so big and majestic, but when you take a photo it’s always disappointing? My hope is to capture our beautiful local landscapes in a way that a photo never could, and help people bring a bit of the outdoors into their homes.”

Gilmore worked out of her home – her young daughters’ playroom, to be specific – for about 10 years before moving into The Stacks in 2022. She said going to the studio every morning has changed the perspective about her own career choice.

Lindsay Gilmore of The Stacks Art Studios & Gallery

“It’s just really nice on a personal level to put on real clothes and leave the house and it helps me take myself more seriously,” she said. “When I say I’m an artist, I’m fearful that others don’t see it as a real job. But having a studio, where people can come in and see the work and say hi, makes me feel like it’s more legitimate. And I’ve acted as such.”

The Old Mill District’s Winter Art Series started in 2017 as a way to showcase local artists through a large-scale marketing campaign.

Past featured artists include Lisa and Lori Lubbesmeyer (2017) Susan Luckey Higdon (2018), Shelli Walters (2019), Kathy Deggendorfer (2020), Sheila Dunn (2021), and Katie Reim (2022.)

“It’s really special to feel like I’m beginning to be a bigger part of the community of Bend and giving back to it,” Gilmore said. “I love capturing what’s beautiful about this place we’re so lucky to call home.”