About the Artist
Cindy
Wortman-Ziel
The best part about being a working artist isn't just getting to do what I love and getting paid for it. Of course, I do still love watching what comes out from under my brush, layer after layer of blues and greens, sky, ocean, islands, and trees . . . And I love creating these little pieces of art that might become someone's treasured souvenir or a personalized memorial gift. Knowing that my hand-painted ornaments hang on Christmas trees all over the country is immensely satisfying.
But after a while, work is still work.
No, the best part of being a working artist is having a place for all sorts of paints and brushes and papers and ribbons and beads and GLITTER!!
The best part of being a working artist is having a STUDIO to PLAY in!
Welcome to my Red Door Studio!
I was raised in the Pacific Northwest, living on the rugged coast from Alaska to British Columbia, to Washington State, and back again. I love living close to the earth and sea and have spent most of my adult life trekking back and forth between the islands of Southeast Alaska and the US Virgin Islands.
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Drawn by the rich cultures and stunning natural beauty of both places, I grew more and more inspired to heed that little voice I always had inside my head that would say, "One day I'll paint that."
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I started my ornament business, Alaska Handpainted, in 2006 when my three boys were little. We grew up together, my family and my business, each one supporting the other. I started with painting scenes of Alaska — northern lights, mountains, eagles, whales and landscapes that sold well in the cruise ship ports of Alaska. In 2009, we added an online shop that is now Fine Art Ornaments.
