About the Artist
Colleen Sparlin
ARTIST
I have been involved in the arts most of my life. I grew up in a family of artists. My father was a watercolorist and my mother worked in oils and sculpture. We grew up with art all around us, so naturally all my siblings and I continue our passion for art. I work in a variety of media and love trying new techniques and ideas.
Art means more to me than just creating; it is an exploration.
As a working artist, I have given classes and/or demonstrations at the Art Association of the Inland Empire, High Desert Cultural Arts Foundation, Corona Art Association, and many others ; I have been a member of the Scholastic Key Alliance, the Riverside Art Alliance, California Artists, NAEA, and supported the arts as a local high school arts teacher. My work has won numerous awards at various venues including the American Association of University Women and has been published in the book: Incite: Color Passions art book, published by Northlight books.
I have a BA in studio art from Cal State San Bernardino and a Masters in Studio Art from Boston University of Fine Art. I retired from teaching art at a local High School and I continue to pursue my passion and explorations.
Gallery representation:
SOHO Gallery
317 First St.
Claremont, Ca
Wrightwood Art Center
6045 Palm
Wrightwood, Ca
Artists of the High Desert
9648 9th Ave
Hesperia, Ca
Awards/ Events:
2026 -
June- Spring into Art AHD- Third , COKE
May - June Unrevealed- VVcollege exhibition
2025-
Dec.- Portrait Class under Morgan Weistling
Dec. 12- Glass Ornaments - Wrightwood Art Center
Dec.- H.D. Glass Artist Exhibition, Wrightwood Art Center
Nov. - Holiday Art Show, Wrightwood Art Center
Oct. 18- Ontario Art Festival
Oct. 4-31 -Now and Then - Women Artists of Wrightwood- Wrightwood Art Center
Sept. 6- Wrightwood Art Center, Artiversary
Sept- Vitri-Fusaille Class under Peter McGrain
Aug 9 - Graduated Color and Jig Block Printing- Artists of the High Desert
June- News-plus Article, "Award Winning Phelan Artist, Colleen Sparlin, to give Inspiring Talk at Exhibit Opening in Wrightwood" , written by Leandra Moreno-Prince
June 1- 29- Featured Artist Wrightwood Community Art Center
June 1-Aug 28- Alexander Hughes Community Center - OPJ show - PVAA
May LA county Fair - Millard Sheets exhibition
May 24 - Block printing with chine colle - Artists of the High Desert
May 10 - Wrightwood Spring Celebration
May 31- Wrightwood Art Center Artist's Exhibition and Art Talk
May - Daily Press article
April. One color block and chine colle- Wrightwood Art Center
Mar. One color blocks and zine - Wrightwood Art Center
Mar -Apr. Celebrating Women’s Stories in Art by Women Artists - Victor Valley College, Performing Arts Center
Jan. 10 Contour Drawing and Watercolors - Wrightwood Art Center
2023-
Visual Concepts class with Sherrie McGraw
Portrait class with Costa Vavagiakis
High Desert Open Arts Exhibition- Honorable Mention- Desert Storm Clouds
SOHO Gallery Textures- First Place "Apples"
May 20 Wrightwood Art/ Wine Festival
2022-
SOHO Gallery Winter - Second place "Winter's Glory"
Victor Valley Museum / ArtsConnectionNetwork show - March 12 - April 22
Published Arts and Poetry Magazine
2021-
AAIE art demo
2019-
AAUW Trever Bennett Award for Artistic Excellence
San Bernardino County Fair-- First Place -Sour Cherry (paint chips), First Place- Iris (watercolor), Second Place- Yellow Iris (reduction block)
Bold Brush Contest - Honorable Mention
2018- San Bernardino County Fair -- First Place - Circus Dreams (Acrylic chip squirrel), Quiet (watercolor lily), Second Place- Let's Play (Acrylic dog), Apples (oil)
2017 - San Bernardino County Fair- First Place - Folklorica (reduction print), Lemon Drop Owl ( Acrylic chip), Marbles (watercolor)
2017 - High Desert Artists - First Place - Sunflowers (reduction print)
2016-American Association of University Women Best of Show - Laces (pastel)
1997- Inaugural Norco Western Art Show- Second
1994-2020 - Hesperia Unified Instructor - Ranchero Middle School, Mesa Grande, Sultana High School
1985-1989 Hesperia Art Club, Teaching, art exhibits, etc.
