The Heart Behind High Desert Handcrafted
From Delivering Babies to Casting Stone
For nearly 40 years, my hands were devoted to the art and science of nursing. From my early days earning an RN at Colorado Mesa in ’83 to my years as a nurse-midwife and educator, I’ve spent my life caring for my community during its most meaningful moments.
Finding Strength in the High Desert
In 2021, a simple home renovation led to an unexpected discovery. While working with concrete on my patio, I fell in love with the rugged strength and whimsical possibilities of the medium. What started as a retirement hobby quickly grew into Art from the Hartt—a creative practice rooted in durability, craftsmanship, and a little bit of magic.
Today, my work is inspired by the textures and colors of the Colorado Plateau—from the “Painted Wall” of the Black Canyon to the peaks surrounding Pearl Lake (which was named for my beloved grandmother, Pearl Hartt).
Art with a Mission
Every piece I cast is created with a purpose beyond the garden. My work helps me provide a “retirement home” for my three special-needs senior rescue dogs—Cimarron, Kachina, and Kokopelli. When you bring an Art from the Hartt piece into your home, you are directly helping me keep these sweet seniors fed and cared for.
What I Create for You:
- High Desert Art & Gifts: Unique, durable keepsakes celebrating local landmarks, including Black Canyon-inspired gnomes, ornaments, and decorative tiles.
- Guardian Gnomes: Sturdy, hand-cast, and full of personality companions for your garden or home.
- The Pearl Lake Heritage Collection: Handcrafted art inspired by the specific history, geometry, and mountain landscape of Colorado’s high-country.
- Guardian Gnomes: Hand-cast, sturdy companions for your porch or garden.
- Whimsical Automotive Planters: Hand-painted VW Bugs and Buses that bring a smile to any windowsill.
Whether you discovered my work locally at Country Flair in Montrose or through my Etsy shop, thank you for supporting a nurse-owned small business. Each piece is created with the same care, intention, and attention to detail that guided my four decades in healthcare — only now, my goal is to nurture wellbeing through art.
Thank you for supporting my small business.
Art from the Hartt 