Unapologetic color.

Wild vistas.

Pure Joy.

Caley Van Cleave, contemporary landscape painter, overlooking the Colorado National Monument at dusk chasing the golden hour in the desert in Fruita, CO. Photo credit to Kevin Ingham.

My Approach

After years spent navigating the rigid lines and blandness of corporate life, my art is an intentional act of rebellion. I paint to reclaim the vibrancy that often gets bleached out of modern daily life.

I have a ‘no-beige’ philosophy because the wild is anything but boring. My art reflects this bold richness of the landscapes I wander through in Colorado and our greater American west.

It’s a chaotic, stunning, and f*cking electric experience that deserves to be celebrated in full color.

May my abstract landscape paintings stir your soul and bring joy. At the end of the day that’s what this wild and crazy life is all about…capturing these glimmers and sharing them with others.

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Chasing Winter Collection

This year, the snow didn’t show up, so I went into the studio and made my own. This collection is a heartfelt attempt to conjure the snow I couldn’t find on the peaks. From electric blues to neon whites, these pieces are how I filled the cup that the mountains left empty. It’s my way of finding the healing quiet of the powder even when the ground stayed bare. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s the only way I knew how to survive a winter that wasn’t. I hope you can feel the soul of the winter I so damn wished for in every stroke.

'Buffalo and Red Mountains in Winter' | Original Painting | Chasing Winter Collection
$3,221.00

This piece is near and dear to my heart as my home rests at the feet of these two beautiful mountains, Buffalo and Red, in Silverthorne, Colorado. From my deck, I’m able to watch the changing moods, colors, textures and light over these peaks throughout the year. It was only right to include a piece capturing these two peaks in the Gore range in the snow focused collection. In the winter evenings, the sun sets between Buffalo and Red mountain often blanket the surrounding trees and snow in a pink glow. May you feel the sacred warmth of the sunset glow across the cold snow packed peaks. I know my soul feels the ache of home when I witness one of these magical evenings in our valley. While this year left me personally longing for more snow, I do believe this piece was born of my hope to see a deep snowy winter in the near future here at home.

You’ll find several “easter eggs” in this painting. Given the piece is grounded in a real life location, my home, I felt it important to tie in the coordinates for both Red and Buffalo mountains in the details of the ridgelines to bridge the dreamlike painting and the IRL location. Likewise, strokes of the brush also contain murmurs of conservation. These emerge to capture my personal longing to preserve our stunning backyard, the Gore range. Likewise, the subtle prompts to “save” play on the impulsive feeling when a view is just too good and all you want to do is save it in your heart and mind forever. Finally, there is a nod to the joy Buffalo brings to those backcountry skiing souls tackling the famous Silver Couloir. For many, this is a bucket list in our local community reserved for the most pristine snowpacks. May these conditions come again in our near futures. While we wait, this piece is sure to lift your spirits and entice you to dream of upcoming mountain adventures.

Artwork Details:

  • Medium: Professional Golden & Liquitex heavy-body acrylics

  • Surface: Wood panel

  • Size: 30 × 40 × 1.5 inches

  • Protection: Golden Isolation Coat + UV-protective Liquitex satin varnish

  • Signatures & Authentication: Hand-signed by the artist on back and front of the piece; includes an official Certificate of Authenticity.

Chasing Winter Collection

This year, the snow didn’t show up, so I went into the studio and made my own. This collection is a heartfelt attempt to conjure the snow I couldn’t find on the peaks. From electric blues to neon whites, these pieces are how I filled the cup that the mountains left empty. It’s my way of finding the healing quiet of the powder even when the ground stayed bare. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s the only way I knew how to survive a winter that wasn’t. I hope you can feel the soul of the winter I so damn wished for in every stroke. Take a look at other pieces in this Chasing Winter Collection here.

All original paintings are final sale. If you have questions about the artwork, reach out to me.

Where To Buy In Real Life

2026 Breckenridge Fine Arts Festival

July 2, 3, and 4th - Breckenridge, Colorado

Come say howdy in person this summer! I’d love to meet you and share my delightful contemporary landscape paintings with you in real life (IRL for the win!).

Featured Artwork

'Peak One of Tenmile Range' | Original Painting | Chasing Winter Collection
$984.00

This abstract painting depicts the beloved Peak One of the Tenmile mountain range in Frisco, CO. As the first peak visible in the range from I-70, this mountain is the backdrop for the small mountain towns of Frisco and Dillon. I’ve fallen in love with this mountain pillar in all seasons, but it’s winter beauty really hits your soul deeply. At 12,805 feet, it’s the northernmost major mountain in the Tenmile range (which encompasses Breckenridge ski resort). With such prominence over Dillon Reservoir, I’ve adored hiking to it’s summit with view over the valley and the Gore range.

In this piece, I’ve captured this sacred pillar of our Summit county community under the snow of winter. To marry this abstract landscape painting to the peak in real life (IRL), I’ve incorporated the key coordinates into the ridgelines and also highlighted the classic ski couloir. This peak really touches your heart in the early morning or evening hours under the soft hue of pink skies. I hope that you feel this presence deeply through this piece. If you ever find yourself in the area make sure to add a side quest to hike or ski Peak One onto your to-do list. You’ll thank me for sure.

Artwork Details:

  • Medium: Professional Golden & Liquitex heavy-body acrylics

  • Surface: Wood panel

  • Size: 20 × 16 × 1.5 inches

  • Protection: Golden Isolation Coat + UV-protective Liquitex satin varnish

  • Signatures & Authentication: Hand-signed by the artist on back and front of the piece; includes an official Certificate of Authenticity.

Chasing Winter Collection

This year, the snow didn’t show up, so I went into the studio and made my own. This collection is a heartfelt attempt to conjure the snow I couldn’t find on the peaks. From electric blues to neon whites, these pieces are how I filled the cup that the mountains left empty. It’s my way of finding the healing quiet of the powder even when the ground stayed bare. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s the only way I knew how to survive a winter that wasn’t. I hope you can feel the soul of the winter I so damn wished for in every stroke. Take a look at other pieces in this Chasing Winter Collection here.

All original paintings are final sale. If you have questions about the artwork, reach out to me.

'Winter Alpine Lake' | Original Painting | Chasing Winter Collection
$1,595.00

This original piece is inspired by an alpine touring day in deep powder to an alpine lake outside of Breckenridge, Colorado. Some days on the trail in winter can feel the exquisiteness of our craggy mountains deeply in your bones. Although winter is typically projected as being shades of white, I often see the sky and atmosphere lending their color via reflections to the white snow. In this piece, you’ll see bold brush work in deep pinks, purples and blues rather than an austere white snow surrounding the iced over lake. It’s this colorful edging of the winter world that awakens my soul as my skis slice through powder on the trail. May you feel this joy too.

Artwork Details:

  • Medium: Professional Golden & Liquitex heavy-body acrylics

  • Surface: Canvas

  • Size: 24 × 30 × 1.5 inches

  • Protection: Golden Isolation Coat + UV-protective Liquitex satin varnish

  • Signatures & Authentication: Hand-signed by the artist on back and front of the piece; includes an official Certificate of Authenticity.

Chasing Winter Collection

This year, the snow didn’t show up, so I went into the studio and made my own. This collection is a heartfelt attempt to conjure the snow I couldn’t find on the peaks. From electric blues to neon whites, these pieces are how I filled the cup that the mountains left empty. It’s my way of finding the healing quiet of the powder even when the ground stayed bare. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s the only way I knew how to survive a winter that wasn’t. I hope you can feel the soul of the winter I so damn wished for in every stroke. Take a look at other pieces in this Chasing Winter Collection here.

All original paintings are final sale. If you have questions about the artwork, reach out to me.

'Happy Ski Hut' | Original Painting | Chasing Winter Collection
$984.00

There is a distinct kind of magic that only happens when you’re tucked away in a remote ski hut, off-the-grid and surrounded by towering peaks. This piece was born from my absolute love for passing time with family and friends in the stunning ski hut systems of the West sharing laughs, tired legs, and good company after a long day in the snow.

Based on a real-life A-frame ski hut in Alaska, this piece captures that exact feeling of cozy, pure backcountry joy.

Look closely at the snow—true to form, you won’t find any flat white here! Instead, I’ve dialed up the intensity with electric blues and cool teals to make the fiery, unapologetic orange of the hut truly pop. Complete with skis on the porch and a subtle reminder above the door, this piece is a vibrant celebration of the winter spaces that feed our souls.

Bring the warmth of winter adventure into your space.

Artwork Details:

  • Medium: Professional Golden & Liquitex heavy-body acrylics

  • Surface: Wood panel or Canvas

  • Size: 20 × 16 × 1.5 inches

  • Protection: Golden Isolation Coat + UV-protective Liquitex satin varnish

  • Signatures & Authentication: Hand-signed by the artist on back and front of the piece; includes an official Certificate of Authenticity.

Chasing Winter Collection

This year, the snow didn’t show up, so I went into the studio and made my own. This collection is a heartfelt attempt to conjure the snow I couldn’t find on the peaks. From electric blues to neon whites, these pieces are how I filled the cup that the mountains left empty. It’s my way of finding the healing quiet of the powder even when the ground stayed bare. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s the only way I knew how to survive a winter that wasn’t. I hope you can feel the soul of the winter I so damn wished for in every stroke. Take a look at other pieces in this Chasing Winter Collection here.

All original paintings are final sale. If you have questions about the artwork, reach out to me.