Park hill art club

Co-President - Amy Mclean

My membership to the Park Hill Art Club is new and my involvement is sporadic.  However, I am a firm believer that art builds community, inspires connection, and enriches lives. This organization cannot exist unless people are willing to step up which is why I am running as co-president. That and I would do just about anything for Wanda!  She does so much for many.  And she twists an arm oh so gently! 

As Co-President, I hope to bring enthusiasm, collaboration, and a commitment to strengthening our arts community. I hope to support programming that engages members, celebrates artistic expression, and expands opportunities for connection and outreach. I’m excited about the possibility of serving the club and helping continue its tradition of creativity and community.

Co-President - Wanda Patronella

• Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics Education, Masters in Early Childhood Education, Art Teaching Certificate

• Endured heat and humidity in the south for a million years

• Taught public school for 33 to a zillion years

• Followed my kids to Denver when I was 57

• Enjoying a wonderful daughter who has become a doctor; Grateful for a son in law that loves my daughter; Nurturing two grands as much as a Mimi can; Rooming with the best family imaginable in an absolutely perfect basement

• Always created…I definitely remember starting at age 6; Started crocheting when I was 13; Made purses to sell when I was in high school…. lucrative

• Designed and sold necklaces during teaching years

• Participated in craft booths

• Took tole painting classes back in the day

• Started a yard art business with Nancy after retirement (stories!)

• I paint and design almost every day

• I belong to 4 different painting groups that are friends

• I took painting classes at 2 wonderful locations in Denver

• I teach adult classes Wandi Watercolor Wine

• Mixed media is my new THING      

VP/Communications Coordinator - Laura Hill

After retiring in 2022 from her career as a clinical pharmacist, Laura has been able to resume her passion for art, which had taken a backseat since her college days.  The Park Hill Art Club and the Art Students League of Denver have provided the perfect launch pads for exploring various media and meeting other artists.  Over the past several years she has taken courses or workshops in watercolor, drawing, and collage through both organizations, and is excited about helping support the mission of the Park Hill Art Club in future years. Last term, she served as the Member-At-Large.

VP/Education Coordinator - Cindy Callahan

I am a transplant from Ohio a year ago, where I was a member of three artist communities in the Dayton area. I am mostly a learn-by-doing artist, relying on books and videos or on-line instruction. I love abstract textured art, multi-media, watercolor painting in a loose style, and soft pastels.  I won a blue ribbon for a pastel painting at the Arapaho County Fair in August 2025, and a red (2nd) for a watercolor. 

I’m running for the position of Education Coordinator to continue the great work of my predecessor and to keep the classes fun and engaging.  I was on the Board of the Dayton Women’s TriArt Club as a Welcome Committee member and assistant to the class coordinator.  I was an active volunteer for many of the events held for the Dayton Society of Artists, as a member for 4 years. 

 Keith French has been a member of the Park Hill Art Club since 2018.  He has taken a variety of PHAC classes and participated in several PHAC shows over the years.  He has actively been involved with the plein air activities of the club.

To Keith, Club Treasurer seems like a good fit.  He’s pretty good with math and numbers, and has a good handle on developing spreadsheets and budgets.  Plus as Treasurer, he will able to deal with a lot of money (even if it’s not his own), which doesn’t seem to be possible as a mere artist.

Lucy retired in 2015 as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado where she was the Director of the Mountain Plains AIDS Education and Training Center. She is a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps and served as secretary and then president of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. She was the editor of the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care for 12 years. She is currently the secretary of the US Peace Memorial Foundation.

After retirement, Lucy began taking art classes online with the encouragement of her sister. She has worked with acrylics, graphite, ink, collage, clay, and watercolor, which is her current art focus.

Member-at-Large -Pegi Taylor

I've been a member of Park Hill Art Club for over twenty years.  During that time, I chaired the show twice and was President for two terms.

I'm also a long-time member of Aurora Artists Guild and have held the positions of secretary, treasurer, and programs.   I've helped on various committees for the Gateway to the Rockies Art Show, and will do that again this year.

I also participate in the Windsor Gardens Art Club, and Creative Juices ( a writing club on ZOOM. I also belong to a co-op gallery and gift shop called Indigo Moon at 21st and Downing in Denver.

Doug Yost is a printmaker working as D Leighton Yost, and has been a member of the Park Hill Art Club since 2023.  With his wife, BJ YJost, Doug co-curated over 40 art exhibits for local artists from 2020-2025, but that came to an end when the building sold.

 Retired from a career in information services, Doug has been a Denver resident since 1960, and currently engaged in re-learning ballroom dance. 

Immediate Past President - Amy Martin

Amy moved from Ohio to Denver in 1992 to pursue a career as a staff pathologist at the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner. She retired as the Chief Medical Examiner at the end of 2013. She dabbles in a wide range of media, including pastel, watercolor, woodblock prints, acrylics, oils and now gouache. She has been a club member since 2015, and President from 2023-2026. Has been active in many of the Club shows and social activities. Besides art, Amy is passionate about animals and volunteers at the Denver Animal Shelter as a cat socializer. She also teaches kitten yoga during the Shelter’s annual “Cats on Mats” fundraising. She is an avid gardener and enjoys being in nature and with her own companion animals. Amy especially enjoys painting pet portraits and flowers, and prefers portrait work whether animal, human, plant or flower.