A history of Skagit Valley Artists

Tulip Festival Posters

Since 1987, generations of artists have lent their vision to the tulip festival, each year weaving a vibrant tapestry of blossoms on the official poster. From watercolor washes capturing the ethereal dance of light through petals to graphic bursts celebrating the bold spectacle of a million blooms, each artist interprets the festival’s spirit through their unique lens. Their works become cherished keepsakes, windows into past celebrations, and promises of the vibrant beauty to come, reminding us that like the tulips themselves, the festival renews itself every spring, offering a fresh canvas for artistic expression and the joy of springtime reborn.

2024

Featured Artist: Gary Brown

Gary Brown has beautifully captured the essence of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival with this lovely photograph. When asked about his top five inspirations for photography in the valley, Gary’s list includes light, land, people, weather, and sky.

2023

Featured Artist: Kerry Clavadetscher

Kerry highlights what she terms “the little people,” the many small animals that join us in our world. Shown in her art is a Savannah Sparrow perched on a tulips. And, yes, that really happens during our spring tulip bloom.

You can find more of Kerry’s work at: www.kerryclav.com

2022

Featured Artist: Jack Gunter

Jack captured the joy of spring and the blooming tulips in his original piece, using an ancient egg tempura technique. Jack is an, illustrator and videographer who works from his studio on Camano Island.

2021

Featured Artist: Jennifer McGill

Jennifer captured the beauty of the Skagit Valley Tulip fields in her painting entitled “Under a Tulip Moon.”

2020

Featured Artist: Jennifer Bowman

IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Created “Fourth of July for Tulips”

Jennifer created this bright, vibrant acrylic painting that literally explodes off the page with color. This is the second time Jennifer has painted a festival poster. She did a watercolor painting in 2004 depicting iconic Skagit Valley Tulip Festival scenes.

Artist: Ben Mann IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

2019

Artist: Ben Mann
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Ben’s bright, bold painting makes people smile. He works from his studio in Bellingham, sharing his creativity through painting and teaching. More of his work can be found at ben-mann.com.

Artist: Melissa Jander IFEA Silver Pinnacle Award Winner

2018

Artist: Melissa Jander
IFEA Silver Pinnacle Award Winner

Melissa painted this lively piece using oils on a Masonite panel. She is a professional artist working from her Woodinville studio. For more information on Melissa and her work, visit www.melissajander.com.

tulip fields over looking the mountains with people riding their bikes nearby

2017

Artist: Trish Harding
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Trish Harding works from her studio in Bellingham. She is fascinated by living in close proximity to an active volcano. She also loves the outdoors, tulips, birds, and bicycles, as can be seen in her poster.

Artist: Sandy Haight

2016

Artist: Sandy Haight
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Sandy created this vibrant watercolor using a multi-layer technique featuring some favorite tulip varieties. She is a professional illustrator working from her Seattle studio. For more information on Sandy and her work, visit her website.

Artist: Teresa Saia

2015

Artist: Teresa Saia
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Teresa uses various mediums in her artwork. The 2015 poster captures the late afternoon sky of Skagit Valley using familiar sights seen during tulip time. She is well versed in the sights of Skagit Valley as she spent part of her art career here showing in the Art in the Pickle Barn group for many years.

Artist: Luke Tornatzky

2014

Artist: Luke Tornatzky
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Luke paints with a variety of mediums out of his Port Townsend, WA studio. Many of his images focus on water and nature, as does the vivid oil painting of Skagit Valley tulips that he created for the 2014 poster.

Artist: Karen Sistek

2013

Artist: Karen Sistek
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Karen Sistek is a master silk artist. She uses specialty dyes made for silk which makes her images bright and vivid. She works from a Port Angeles, WA studio.

Artist: Kate Larsson IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

2012

Artist: Kate Larsson
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Kate’s bright, bold watercolor shouts “spring.” The Gig Harbor artist layers her painting to create the vivid bold colors.

Artist: Teresa Saia

2011

Artist: John Ebner

John Ebner’s watercolor shows off one of his signature looks with his “rain people.” John specializes in painting images of the Pacific Northwest from his Camano Island studio.

Artist: Luke Tornatzky

2010

Artist: Bart Rulon
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Bart’s image captures two of the favorite spring residents of the Skagit Valley—tulips and trumpeter swans. This painting spent 6 months on loan at a Wisconsin Birding Museum as part of a special exhibit. Bart works out of a studio on Whidbey Island.

Artist: Karen Sistek

2009

Artist: Andy Sewell
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

Andy Sewell worked to create a nostalgic image incorporating familiar elements that people still enjoy today. Andy is a watercolor artist. He works from a home studio in Idaho.

Artist: Kate Larsson IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

2008

Artist: Lee Mann
IFEA Silver Pinnacle Award Winner

Lee Mann spent 40 hours capturing the image for the 25th anniversary poster. Lee worked from his studio in Sedro-Woolley, WA until his death in July 2011.

Artist: Teresa Saia

2007

Artist: Amy Melious
IFEA Bronze Pinnacle Award Winner

Amy created this mix media piece by photographing over 600 individual tulips and then composing the piece with software. The butterflies in the image are species found in Western Washington. Amy works from her studio in British Columbia.

Artist: Luke Tornatzky

2006

Artist: Beki Killorin
IFEA Bronze Pinnacle Award Winner

Beki’s watercolor image highlights the blue herons that dot the landscape in Skagit Valley. Beki works from her home studio in Mount Vernon, WA.

Artist: Karen Sistek

2005

Artist: Brett Varney
IFEA Bronze Pinnacle Award Winner

This oil pastel painting shows Brett’s vision of the Skagit Valley heading south. Brett works from his studio in British Columbia. This poster is now out of print.

Artist: Kate Larsson IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

2004

Artist: Jennifer Bowman
IFEA Bronze Pinnacle Award Winner

Jennifer created five watercolor scenes capturing iconic tulip festival images that visitors love to see—the tulip stack in Mount Vernon, the Rainbow Bridge in LaConner, the church in Conway, the Prater cabin at Tulip Town and the Windmill at RoozenGaarde. Jennifer works out of Anacortes; you can also find her painting the mural at Tulip Town during the festival.

Artist: Teresa Saia

2003

Artist: Randy Dana
IFEA Bronze Pinnacle Award Winner

Randy used his classic technique in the studio to create a multi-dimensional photograph, using glass and multiple layers.

Artist: Luke Tornatzky

2002

Artist: Jerry Freiberg
IFEA Silver Pinnacle Award Winner

This watercolor rendition of Jerry’s cat Oliver is well loved by tulip fans.

Artist: Karen Sistek

2001

Artist: Randy Van Beek

Randy’s vibrant oil painting showcases the beauty of Skagit Valley in the spring. Randy paints from his home studio in Bellingham.

Artist: Kate Larsson IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

2000

Artist: Randy Dana
IFEA Bronze Pinnacle Award Winner

Randy composed this photo for the millennium. It was the first poster to feature the tulip bulb. At the time Randy worked at Red Robin in Seattle and photography was his hobby. He now works full time as a photographer, creating his pieces from a studio in Mount Vernon.

Artist: Teresa Saia

1999

Artist: Mary Gregg Byrne
IFEA Bronze Pinnacle Award Winner
Artist: Luke Tornatzky

1998

Artist: Alfred Currier
IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

This image captures the feel of working in Skagit Valley flower fields in early spring. Notice line of poplar trees that serve as a wind break in the farmland flats.

Artist: Karen Sistek

1997

Artist: Diana Schmidt
Artist: Kate Larsson IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

1996

Artist: Carolyn Oltman
Artist: Teresa Saia

1995

Artist: Jesus Guillen

This poster honors the farmworkers of Skagit Valley who harvest the tulip crop each year. Mr. Guillen worked out of LaConner where he lived until his death in 1994.

Artist: Luke Tornatzky

1994

Artist: Karen Mallary

Karen created this image that causes many fans to query where they can buy that stamp to mail their festival postcard. And, no wonder! Karen created a legacy of wildflower stamp images for the US Postal Service prior to becoming our festival artist. See if you can find the vase in the poster. We enjoy this legacy piece of Karen’s, who died in her home in Anacortes, WA in September 1995.

Artist: Karen Sistek

1993

Artist: Yvonne Davis

Yvonne captured a familiar visitor to the fertile Skagit Valley—the snow goose—in the 10th anniversary poster. Every year thousands of geese visit the valley during their annual migration.

Artist: Kate Larsson IFEA Gold Pinnacle Award Winner

1991

Artist: Larry Larson

Year two of Larry Larson’s trilogy.

Artist: Teresa Saia

1989

Artist: Donald Smith

This fanciful graphic rendition was a favorite at the beginning of the festival.

Artist: Luke Tornatzky

1988

Artist: Susan Hughes-Hayton
with Molesworth and Associates

The young girl, a Skagit County native, in this photograph by Peeps is now grown with children of her own. This remains a fan favorite.

Artist: Karen Sistek

1987

Artist: Tori Lenze

A classic—this red tulip on black is now out of print.