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Commissioners' Choice

Commissioners’ Choice

A piece of artwork by Doug Racliffe. A painting of a Sandhill Crane in front of a futuristic landscape, imagining their future.
A mixed media portrayal of Sitting Bull's premonition about the Battle of the Little Bighorn. A pencil drawing of Sitting Bull that seems hazy and is framed in a thick wooden frame with two arrows attached on the left side of the frame.
A painting by Doug Ratcliffe. Most of the painting has a haze over it, except a rectangular portion framed in white of rock and water that is very vibrant.

before the canvas

Show Dates: Thursday, January 8, 2026 – Monday, March 23, 2026

Opening Reception: Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 5:45pm – 7:15pm

“My show ‘before the canvas’ shares with you 35 unique mixed media styles and narrative voices. View the art, read the title, and story, each piece like props on a stage becomes a play. ”
–Doug Ratcliffe

Doug Ratcliffe left behind his youth in Ohio to attend the University of Northern Colorado, where he completed his Master of Arts Degree in Fine Art.

But, soon after he discovered the world of design and the field consumed him for most of his career. Graphic design, exhibit design, landscape and fountain design, all have samples in the “Retrospective” section of his website.

Around 12 or 13 years ago, Doug decided it was time to re-imagine his fine artist soul. He has shown his work in the Denver Art Society Gallery, Center Stage Theater in Evergreen, The R Gallery in Boulder, Niza Knoll Gallery in Denver, the Teller Gallery in Wheat Ridge, CO, Breckenridge Fine Art Festival, Foothills Art Center in Golden CO, and internet sites Saatchi Art and Edsy.

Doug is excited to share his latest series of mixed media art which he calls dioramic constructs. Each piece is a unique diorama built with layered media over oil painting. Associated with each painting is its narrative story which is posted next to the painting. The pieces are representational, each telling a story based on Doug’s connections, perceptions and interpretations of life.

The Commissioners’ Choice program is an artist invitational which provides a unique exhibition opportunity at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Each year, the Lone Tree Arts Commission supports emerging and professional Colorado-based artists by providing a venue to display their work in a public setting. Please see below for more information for this specific show.

The Lone Tree Arts Center is open to the public from 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday, and two hours prior to any scheduled LTAC show.  If you have any questions, please email or call the Box Office at 720-509-1000.