We occasionally like to highlight some interesting folks crafting Colorado experiences and art. If you know someone who belongs on our Characters of the Craft pages, let us know.
Tessa Rausch
Self-taught artist
Age: 25
What do you love about your job? Being my own boss. Being able to create and do what I love on my own terms and at my own pace.
What is the hardest part of your job? Being the boss. Which contradicts my last answer but it is definitely a love-hate relationship. Not only am I the creator behind my own business, but I am also the social media manager, sales manager, business manager, photographer, and everything in between. Doing it all on your own is hard work.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? The people in my life and the art I get to create each day.
What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? I get extremely burnt out being around groups of people, which is strange because I am a bartender and also a live-painter. I also love music, which usually brings me to a lot of packed venues.
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? The mountains. To be able to disconnect is one of my favorite things. I am forever grateful to have that escape so accessible!
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? Rails End Beer.
Craig Engelhorn
Head distiller and co-founder of Spirit Hound Distillers
Age: 62
What do you love about your job? I get to make whisky for a living, seriously? I’ve had pretty decent success in the beverage/alcohol business, both in the beer world (I was the original brewer at Oskar Blues), and also in the spirits world – Spirit Hound even got Whisky of the Year in London last year – unbelievably fun for me. Actually, one of my favorite things is the amazing range of people I meet in our tasting room - from all over the place. I like to hear their stories, find out their history, you know, make a connection.
What is the hardest part of your job? Making spirits is a very detail-oriented operation. There can be a lot of things all happening at once, and it can get a little overwhelming at times managing all of the balls in the air. I also have high expectations for the products we produce, and that takes extra work and attention as well.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? Knowing that I get to go to work with and for some very amazing people, in a successful business that I helped to create. Plus, our cat gets really annoying in the morning.
What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? A lot of people I know refer to me as the professor, because I know a lot of shit and am a pretty good problem solver. What they don’t know is that I really consider myself the student, because for all of those things I know about, there are so many more things that I need to learn.
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? Honestly? Don’t laugh. Our home right here in Lyons. We have a cute little cabin up high in town with amazing views and a secluded yard. It’s very unique, but I hardly get to actually be home and spend time enjoying it. I’ve considered telling everyone that we’re going out of town on vacation, and then just stay home.
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? This is a very, very difficult question. I have a lot of favorite places, mostly up and down the Front Range. I’ll narrow it down to an amazing restaurant, relatively new to Lyons, called Marigold. They are a slice of upscale urban amazingness right here in our small town. Chef Theo is highly regarded (he’s in the running for a James Beard award, I’ll have you know), the amazing menu changes regularly, the wine list and cocktails are well above par - love it.
Jim DeLutes
Director of the Denver Arts Festival and the Affordable Arts Festival
Age: 70
What do you love about your job? Helping artists make a living doing their art is number one. A close second is the high energy of the patrons and the artists at my Affordable Arts Festival. People line up for hours; the gates open, and they run and buy—lots of fun for artists and the patrons. Plus, after 13 years, we have raised $300,000 for the scholarships at Arapahoe Community College.
What is the hardest part of your job? The months of working on the logistics of the show. Putting together a promotions plan, the permits, the layout of the booths to name just a few. Some days, it feels like juggling running chainsaws.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? My wife and I work at home and I look forward to spending my day with her. We’ve been together almost every day for over 20 years, and she is my favorite person.
What’s one thing about yourself that most people in your circle wouldn’t know? Most friends know that I love driving. What they may not know is that by the time I was 19, I had driven to 49 states (Hawaii had to wait).
What would be your favorite Colorado staycation destination? Why? Trappers Lake in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area is stunning, with hiking, horseback riding and fishing. It’s definitely rustic, with cabins to rent, some built 100 years ago.
What’s one of your favorite places to eat or drink in Colorado? Scalzotto Italian Restaurant (Westminster, Broomfield and Loveland) has some of the best Italian food. Comparable to dishes we had in Italy.