A Loyal Customer Base Makes Silver Song Studio Sing

by Mary Wolbach Lopert

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Katy Luepshen and Ron Meek of Silver Song Studio relax in front of Katy's 1996 mural which graces the north wall of the Gunbarrel Square Shopping Center.

Photo by Mary Wolbach Lopert 

When the husband and wife team of Kathryn (Katy) Luepshen and Ron Meek opened the Silver Song Studio in Gunbarrel Square Shopping Center four years ago they immediately put their mark on the building. Sheri Valentiner of the Colorado Group, which manages the shopping center, asked Katy if she knew anyone who might be interested in doing a mural on the western wall across from Burger King. 

Katy, a talented artist in her own right, had the perfect pattern and it quickly became a family project. "The wood was cut and painted in the backyard," she said. "Ron and the kids screwed the wood in. It was very challenging."

Silver Song is a full service custom framing store. "We mount everything from posters on foam board to conservation framing which preserves artwork that is rare and valuable," Ron stated.

Silver Song is their second store. They opened their first shop in Louisville 10 years ago. They divided their time between the two shops for two years but finally realized that the Gunbarrel location offered more room to grow.

"We have good walk-in business, a loyal customer base and good repeat business," Katy said. "Fifteen to twenty percent of our customers are from Louisville and have followed us here. There is better parking here and the customers like not having to drive to Boulder."
Katy and Ron have framed such diverse items as rattlesnake skins, an original Tony Bennett oil painting, autographed footballs and a Bedouin face mask.

They have a wide variety of original work by local artists on consignment. Niwot artist Carolyn Bradley and Longmont artist Becky Everitt are well represented. Ron, who is also a talented artist, has his watercolors, abstracts and photographs on display. In addition to the paintings and photographs there is also silver jewelry, hand painted tiles and cards, all made by local artists.

Silver Song Studio is located at 6565 Gunpark Drive, #155 in the Gunbarrel Square Shopping Center, 303-530-3118. They are open Mon. through Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.