Carrying on the great traditions of representational oil painting and passing that torch to her students were Lyn’s two great passions in life. She was an award winning plein air and studio oil painter with works that hang in private collections across the United States. After returning from studying art in Melbourne, Australia, Lyn began a 25 year career as an American illustrator and painter, garnering awards from the Oil Painters of America, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, Southwest Art, the Society of Illustrators, the Art Directors Club, the Illustrators Workshops, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

Lyn’s early inspiration came from the great Illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration and their contemporaries, the American and European painters of the late 1800’s and early 20th century. She was captivated by not only the power of the images but their story-telling ability. Lyn takes the focus, energy and ability to respond in the moment required of plein air painting and used it to inform and bring life to her studio work. Lyn’s devotion to painting ‘en plein air’ took her on the road for more than half the year before returning to her studio in Durango, Colorado for the winter months. Her commitment to teaching began with nearly a decade as an illustration instructor and continued through her workshops.

• Bronze Medal: Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition 2018
• Best of Show: 10th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Art 2018
• First Place Nocturne: Escalante Canyons Festival of Art 2018
• Award of Merit: Escalante Canyons Festival of Art 2018
• Image Award: 14th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival 2018
• Guerrilla Painter Award: 14th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival 2018
• First Place: Paint Grand Traverse Small Wonders Exhibition 2018
• Honorable Mention: Paint Grand Traverse Quick Draw 2018
• Honorable Mention: Paint Grand Traverse Gala Exhibition 2018
• Award of Excellence: Oil Painters of America Salon 2018
• Award of Merit: Oil Painters of America National Plein Air Competition 2018
• Juried Painter: Oil Painters of America National Exhibition 2018
• Best of Show & Honorable Mention Oils: Santa Fe Plein Air Fiesta 2018
• Award of Merit: Southwest Art: Santa Fe Plein Air Fiesta 2018
• Award of Excellence: Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition 2017
• Collector's Choice Award: 9th Annual Grand Canyon Celebration of Arts Invitational 2017
• First Place: Oils - Red Rocks Art Festival 2017
• Artist's Choice: Downtown Moab Quick Draw - Red Rocks Art Festival 2017
• Best of Show: Escalante Canyons Art Festival 2017
• Honorable Mention: OPA 2017 Summer Online Showcase
• Best Western: Plein Air Online Salon
• Best of Show: Moab Plein Air Festival 2016

She died in June of 2023. She is greatly missed by her daughter, Amanda Kiessel, son in law, Ben Kiessel, grandson Sam, and many friends, family, fellow artists, students and patrons.