Featured at West + Main RiNo: Laura Goodson

 
 

Please join us in RiNo for First Friday, featuring artist Laura Goodson

Here & Now

2632 Blake Street, Denver
2.7.2025, 6-9pm

RSVP HERE

Meet Laura

Laura's art embodies the essence of the modern West, a tapestry woven with tales of cowboys, bandits, renegades and the western landscapes. With each brushstroke, Laura breathes life into her subjects, infusing them with a sense of nostalgia and reverence for the West’s storied past. Her art serves as a timeless homage to the cowboys and outlaws who shaped the landscape, while also celebrating the enduring spirit of resilience and adventure that defines a region. Traditionally drawn to the simplicity of black and white, Laura's work embodies the stark contrast of light and shadow, mirroring the raw intensity of the American west. Yet, as she journeys deeper into her craft, she boldly ventures beyond the confines of monochrome, embracing the vibrant hues of the sunset-lit prairies and the rich tones of the rock filled canyons. 

Her art represents more than what is delivered 2 dimensionally; it also represents love lost, love gained, the laughter shared between friends, and the quiet moments of introspection beneath a starlit Texas sky. Laura's art isn't just about paint and brushstrokes—it's a reflection of who she is and her generous spirit. She's not one to simply paint a piece and call it a day; she's out there, boots on the ground, building spaces and places to celebrate other folks and members of the community. Laura is the epitome of a true Texan,  always ready to lend a helping hand and share a good laugh.

 
 
 

Learn more about Laura in our Q & A!

How did your business come to exist?

I started producing artwork in Houston, through the pursuit of love. That of course grew over the years and has made many twists and turns. It has developed into its own love story; with me and my love for self expression.

Who or what is your biggest influence?

My biggest influences are Mark Maggiori for his art/talent, Kevin Chupik who is an all around good human and artist, and I’m a big fan of my dad and his work ethic

What are you working on right now?

Lighting and sculpture pieces. Neon cowboys and wire hat sculptures for example.

 
 

How did you arrive where you are today?

Standing back up after getting knocked down.

What are your thoughts about your city's creative scene for artists, designers, crafters, makers, and/or small businesses?

 I oscillate between Denver and Houston which both have THRIVING creative scenes. I have to say the amount of creatives that inspire me in these two locations is sometimes overwhelming, in the best way. I am constantly in awe of how these folks can be creative, run a business, and manage life in times of genuine crisis/chaos. It definitely pushes me to keep going and to do things bigger than i did yesterday.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like hobby projects and creating spaces. That could be as simple as clearing brush off of a fence line or re-designing a hotel/space/concept...it goes without saying, I'll also never turn down a round of golf.

 
 
 

What is the best piece of advice that you ever received?

Say yes when you feel like no is easier, take the opportunity, shoot the shot, fail fast....people doing more than you won't have time to talk negatively, there are too many!

What is your biggest challenge?

 Battling depression and my own thoughts.

Where do you find inspiration?

Travel, other humans, architecture, nature

 
 
 
 

Get in touch with Laura Goodson

Website: https://lauragoodsonart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauragoodsonart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraGoodsonArt/

If you are a local artist/crafter/maker/indie business owner and would like to be featured on our blog, please fill out this form or contact Ashley at ashley@westandmainhomes.com with questions...we can't wait to learn all about you!

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Just Listed: Country Living Meets City Convenience: Your Wadley Farms Retreat Awaits!

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Home is where you should unwind and truly embrace life, and this property in Wadley Farms offers the perfect space to do just that.

Nestled on a few acres, this home blends comfort, functionality, and the freedom of country living with the convenience of city proximity. The main floor offers two spacious areas—perfect for casual meals in the eat-in kitchen or formal dining occasions. The basement is a versatile haven, ready to be transformed into a game room, media lounge, or whatever suits your lifestyle. It’s your canvas—bring your vision to life! Outside, the expansive yard is perfect for BBQs, deck dinners, or simply enjoying the serenity. If you’re dreaming of a farm life, you’re in luck! The county allows for horses, goats, chickens, and more, so you can bring those dreams to reality. The upper level provides three comfortable bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The primary suite is a true retreat, featuring a large closet, a newly remodeled shower, and a dedicated space to get ready for your day. The two additional bedrooms are generously sized, offering flexibility to suit your needs. Store your RV, boat, or other outdoor gear in the three-car garage, a custom outbuilding, or right on the property. And with just 19 miles to downtown Denver and 25 miles to DIA, you can enjoy the peace of country living while remaining close to all the conveniences of the city. Your perfect balance of space, comfort, and accessibility awaits!

Listed by Emily Johnson for West + Main Homes. Please contact Emily for current pricing + availability.

 
 
 

Have questions?
West + Main Homes
(303) 935-8787
hello@westandmain.com

Presented by:
Emily Johnson
303-704-3045
emily@emilysellsdenver.com


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Ski-haw! People on skis towed behind galloping horses compete in the wildest winter race in the West

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The Colorado skijoring season opened last weekend in Ridgway with novice riders hanging on tight hoping for a piece of the purse. Not all of them finished upright.

Imagine yourself clicking into skis with the goal of going as fast as you can through freshly groomed snow — but instead of gravity drawing you down the mountain, a horse and rider pull you with a tow rope at about 30 to 35 mph along a closed course as you navigate obstacles while spectators record your every move with their phones.

Skijoring — pronounced skee-jor-ing — combines the Norwegian terms “ski” and “kjøre” (“to drive”) into a team activity that originated many hundreds of years ago as a form of winter transportation (think the Tang Dynasty in China) and depending on the country, skiers were pulled by reindeer, elk, dogs and eventually horses.

The once winter travel mode is now a popular winter sport with competitions held each winter in the snowiest towns in the American West. In Colorado, skijoring has a rich history that is celebrated in competitions all over the state.

In Ouray County, right near the base of the towering San Juan mountains, dozens of racers, horses and riders form teams to best each other in timed competition over three days each January at the Ouray County Fairgrounds. This year was San Juan Skijoring‘s 9th annual festival and it drew riders and spectators from around the region and beyond to race behind horses Jan. 10-12.

San Juan Skijoring organizer Richard Weber III said the Ridgway festival would have “the highest level of skijoring competition that has ever been held in skijoring.”

Other competitions held in Silverton and Leadville are much older than the one in Ridgway. But Weber said by offering large purses San Juan Skijoring has grown in popularity year after year.

From novice competitions to “big air” contests where racers jump over full-size trucks, San Juan Skjoring has become a favored destination for competitors and spectators alike.

If racers have good, fast runs that are free of mistakes and penalties, there is big money to be made from just a few minutes of competition.

 
 

The production side of the Ridgway event has grown too, with professional video and broadcasters brought in to turn the competition into a live-streamed event that was broadcast to the world and still can be watched by subscribers to The Cowboy Channel.

As Weber and organizers already look ahead to the 10th annual festival, he says there will be plenty of big money to go with the big air that has become a staple of San Juan Skijoring.

Where to watch skijoring next:

Skis and Saddles SkiJor Pagosa:  Jan. 18 -19. Races start at 8:30 a.m. both days at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds in Pagosa Springs.

Estes Park Skijor: Jan. 24-26. Races start at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Estes Park Events Complex.

Coal Mountain Skijoring: Feb. 7-9. Races start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Moffat County Fairgrounds in Craig.

Silverton Skijoring: Feb. 15 -16 on Blair Street in Silverton on both days.

Leadville Ski Joring 78th annual competition: March 1- 2. Starts at high noon on Harrison Avenue in Leadville each day.

Grand Lake Skijoring: March 8-9. Races start at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday on Grand Avenue.

Read more at The Colorado Sun

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Finding qualified contractors is the biggest obstacle to reno projects

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A survey of four generations, including baby boomers, showed that anxiety is a key inhibitor for homeowners taking on renovation projects.

Home renovation projects could bring a variety of safety and efficiency improvements to older construction, but anxiety is a key element keeping many homeowners from exploring renovation projects. This is according to a report conducted by Renewal by Andersen, a home improvement company.

The study surveyed 2,500 homeowners across four generations: Gen Z, millennials, Gen X and baby boomers, all equally represented in the results. While affordability is not a pronounced renovation concern for members of the baby boomer generation, quality of work remains a key concern keeping older homeowners on the proverbial sidelines for renovation projects.

“Baby Boomers are worried less about budget overruns than the other three generations, but all four groups ranked poor quality of work, budget overruns and hiring the wrong company/contractor in the top three,” the results said.

All four generations agreed that the biggest obstacle to beginning home renovation projects is “finding qualified and trustworthy companies/contractors,” with the most important factors to all generations for such projects being ““transparency in pricing” and “level of service,” respectively.

Baby boomers are far less concerned than the other three generations about the affordability of such projects, and more than half of all survey respondents said they would fund renovation projects from savings. Baby boomers led the way in this respect, with 60% of boomer respondents saying savings would be the primary funding source for renovations.

Younger generations said they would use other sources including credit cards or a second job (Gen Z), a home equity line of credit (HELOC, Gen X) or a personal loan (millennials).

Home prices and mortgage rates also factored into the perspectives of those planning for home renovation projects. 46% of millennials and 44% of Gen Z’ers said that these attributes make them feel “stuck” in their current homes, while only 38% of Gen X’ers and 29% of baby boomers responded similarly.

Of all the surveyed generations, baby boomers feel the most confident (39%) that they can afford an emergency home improvement or renovation project costing $5,000. Gen Z’ers were the least confident (14%), and 25% of all cohorts collectively had such confidence.

Recent tabulations by Freddie Mac, the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) and data analytics firm RiskSpan may shed some light on the confidence of baby boomers to afford such projects. Based on Federal Reserve data, Freddie Mac estimated that older homeowners are sitting on as much as $17 trillion in housing wealth, or roughly 50% of all U.S. home equity.

That figure of $17 trillion held by homeowners born in or before 1964 is a higher estimate than that of NRMLA and RiskSpan, which most recently pegged the total home equity held by homeowners 62 and older at $14 trillion at the end of Q3 2024.

Read more at Housingwire

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One Homebuying Step You Don’t Want To Skip: Pre-Approval

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There’s one essential step in the homebuying process you may not know a whole lot about and that’s pre-approval. Here’s a rundown of what it is and why it’s so important right now.

What Is Pre-Approval?

Pre-approval is like getting a green light from a lender. It lets you know how much they’re willing to let you borrow for a home. To determine that number, a lender looks at your financial history. According to Realtor.com, these are some of the documents a lender may ask you for during this process:

  • W-2s from the last two years

  • Tax returns from the last two years

  • Pay stubs from the last 30 days

  • Bank statements from the last 60 days

  • Investment account statements (if applicable)

  • Two years of history of where you’ve lived

The result? You’ll get a pre-approval letter showing what you can borrow. Keep in mind, that any changes in your finances can affect your pre-approval status. So, after you receive your letter, avoid switching jobs, applying for new credit cards or other loans, or taking out large sums of money from your savings.

How It Helps You Determine Your Borrowing Power

This year, home prices are expected to rise in most places and mortgage rates are still showing some volatility. So, since affordability is still tight, it’s a good idea to talk to a lender about your home loan options and how today’s changing mortgage rates will impact your future monthly payment.

The pre-approval process is the perfect time for that. Because it determines the maximum amount you can borrow, pre-approval also helps you figure out your budget. You should use this information to tailor your home search to what you’re actually comfortable with as far as a monthly mortgage payment. That way, you don’t fall in love with a house that’s out of your comfort zone.

How It Helps You Stand Out

Once you find a home you want to put an offer on, pre-approval has another big perk. It not only makes your offer stronger, it shows sellers you’ve already undergone a credit and financial check.

When a seller sees you as a serious buyer, they may be more attracted to your offer because it seems more likely to go through. As Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, says:

“Preapproval carries more weight because it means lenders have actually done more than a cursory review of your credit and your finances, but have instead reviewed your pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements. A preapproval means you’ve cleared the hurdles necessary to be approved for a mortgage up to a certain dollar amount.”

Bottom Line

If you’re planning on buying a home, getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be one of the first things on your to-do list. Not only will it give you a better understanding of your borrowing power, it can put you in the best position possible to make a strong offer when you find a home you love. Connect with a trusted lender to learn more.

Read more at Keeping Current Matters

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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