About Me

Welcome

I'm Paula Christen, a watercolor painter living and working in Winthrop, Washington — a small town tucked into the Methow Valley, where the light changes everything and no two seasons look alike. I've called this corner of the Pacific Northwest home for years, and I still catch my breath at the right moment on the right trail.

That feeling is what I paint.

My work is rooted in the landscapes around me — barns in snowy fields, rivers threading through cottonwoods, cabins half-hidden by trees. I work in traditional watercolor, leaning into wet-in-wet technique and a warm palette to create paintings that feel more like an exhale than a statement. I studied with master watercolorists Frank Webb and Tony Couch, and their influence lives in every wash.

You'll often find a figure in my scenes — small, non-specific, facing away. An invitation. I want you to be able to step in and find your own story there.

My collectors tend to be people who've stood somewhere beautiful and felt something shift. They're locals who love this valley, visitors who want to carry a piece of it home, and people who simply need a quiet place to rest their eyes at the end of a long day. Each painting is made with that in mind.

I work seasonally and intentionally — painting the fleeting things: fall color before it peaks, winter's particular silence, the golden slant of a July afternoon. These landscapes aren't backdrop. They matter. And in a time when wild places are increasingly fragile, painting them feels like both a privilege and a responsibility.

When I'm not in the studio, you'll find me on the trails, on skis, or on the couch with a glass of wine and a very contented cat.

I'm glad you're here

PS: Here are a few suggestions on what you might want to explore next:

Painting collections by season:       Spring / Summer       Fall / Winter             

Commissions  where we collaborate on creating something unique for you.

Free- Be a part of my Collectors Circle - You first access to all new paintings and invites to all my events. Also sneak peeks at works in progress and upcoming classes.