Our ARTrageous Staff

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART?

When I walked into Young At Art Children’s Museum when I was 18 years old. I fell in love with the idea of introducing the elements of art and art history to young children. I learned so much working there and being pART of the exhibit changes and developing programs for their Early Childhood programs. This amazing place went from a small space in a strip mall to one of the largest in South Florida. If you ever are in the area, check them out. www.youngatartmuseum.org

 

What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

Franconia Sculpture Park, which is why this year we took our staff on a field trip there during our annual Staff Retreat. This outdoor park is filled with amazing sculptures made from metal, wood, plastic and other materials from artists all over the states. Each time you visit you see something new and is open year round near Taylor Falls. Go on a road trip adventure to see for yourself. www.franconia.org

 

What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

I love hosting birthday pARTies at the studio! I love finding out what that child’s interests are and coming up with a custom project to make with their friends. It’s also fun to see what the parents do on their end and how it all comes together for a truly ARTrageous celebration. Plus you sometimes get a piece of cake!

 

What is your all time favorite quote?

Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. - Pablo Picasso

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART?

My earliest memories and inspiration towards the arts came from my sister Amanda. She was always teaching art or working to create something amazing!

 

What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

I love the comic shop by my house! The staff goes above and beyond to make a super creative space that always looks like you are really in these comics. There is also an art gallery in the loft of the shop that has a rotating theme where local artists can submit a piece!

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What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

Checking out the newest featured ARTists and getting to know them and ther work!

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What is your all time favorite quote?

"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you."

Dr. Seuss

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART?

I have always loved everything about art. My mom used to say, “Melanie has been making art since the moment she realized that, not only do crayons taste delicious, but they also make beautiful lines!” She was the one who first introduced me to art. When I was young, my mom was an oil painter. She decided to switch to water-based acrylics when, one day, she unfortunately discovered that oil paint is very difficult to wash off of an enthusiastic toddler. I can remember, many pleasant afternoons, sitting on the floor with my snack and watching Bob Ross on channel 2 with her.

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What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

January 2018, I had the good fortune to be able to travel to Amsterdam. The entire city smelled of rain and coffee and art was everywhere. It was in the architecture of the old buildings and in the museums on every corner. The Van Gogh Museum was my favorite. Van Gogh works on acrylic with color but also texture. The paintings seem to almost “move” with the directional strokes under your eyes.

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What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

My favorite thing to do at ARTrageous is to watch people come out of their shell when they create and have fun. Adults and children alike. At first, some people are shy or intimidated or just don’t have the confidence to know that whatever is created is only half the fun. It’s the journey and the creative process where the magic happens! People laughing and opening up - stress melts away and whatEVER the creative project is that’s made, the good feeling that was generated during the making of it, is infused in it, so that they remember and feel a little bit of it every time they look at it in the future.

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What is your all time favorite quote?

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off of our souls.”

- Pablo Picasso

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART?

While I've always loved to draw, I was first really inspired to draw cartoons by my elementary school art teacher, Mrs. Reynolds. Her encouragement and passion for all types of art gave me confidence that would lead me to become a comic artist.

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What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

I would have to say nature because I feel the most inspired when surrounded by natural beauty. It's a great, quiet place to calm your mind and let your creativity wander. 

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What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

I absolutely love getting to know the kids I work with. It's so much fun to see how they create art, but also so memorable to introduce them to new ideas and techniques. For instance, showing them something like Salvador Dali's "The Persistence of Memory", and watching their reactions to the melting clocks, is just priceless! 

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What is your all time favorite quote?

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

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Visit Chalsea's Etsy Shop 

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART?

My Grandma Hoevet, Aunt Jeanie and my Mom were my first inspirations to the idea of becoming a creator when I was a younger person. My Grandma was a great influence in my creative life; she was a great quilter, knitter and sewer making amazing family heirlooms.  My Aunt Jeanie and her husband Uncle Frank are now retired from their craft making amazing things from wood and old barns scatted throughout the farmlands of Nebraska. My mom ensured to keep in involved in my craft and her along with my husband were my biggest supporters during my jewelry school days and setting up my basement studio.

 

What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

The most Artistic place that I’ve been to so far it the Galleria dell’Accademia to view the statue of the David.  Matter of fact, our entire time in Italy seeing all the museums and landmarks in Rome and Florence was one of the most Artistic places I have ever been.  The history and art will astound you.  

 

What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

My favorite thing to do at ARTrageous is the community events!  I love meeting fresh new faces to create with and to tell them all about the great studio and all we have to offer.

 

What is your all time favorite quote?

“I’m on the path that leads to awesome!” – Kid President

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART? 

I was first introduced to Art by the world around me. My earliest in Sparta ion definitely came from some of my favorite cartoons like Bratz and Spongebob. After being educated on various ways to create, I found myself drawn to Haitian paintings much like the work I grew up seeing in my home that depict nature and all of Haitian culture. 

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What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

I think the most artistic place I have been is the Louvre museum in Paris. France. It is not only Huge but it also has some amazing interior design and architecture.

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What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

So far I would say my favorite thing to do at ARTrageous is hosting parties. I enjoy leading friends into exploring and expressing themselves with visual arts.

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What is your all time favorite quote?

“ If you’re always trying to be normal, you’ll never knew how amazing you are.” - Maya Angelo

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART?

Walt Disney and the animation team at Disney introduced and inspired me to create art when I was 5, after I saw The Lion King for the first time.

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What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

The most artistic place I’ve been to is probably the Walker Art Center and the miniature golf course there. All the pieces I saw were so inspiring and had just amazing stories behind them.

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What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

My favorite thing to do at ARTrageous is to spend time with the kids and see how amazing their finished pieces of art turn out! 

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What is your all time favorite quote?

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think” - Winnie-the-Pooh

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART?

I was first inspired to be creative by my six grade teacher. As a student that struggled in school, he introduced art and music as our core lessons. It was a way for me to express myself while learning, and participating in class. This style of learning helped build my self confidence. I still model my teaching style after his  to this day.

 

What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

Museum of Pop Culture, is the most artistic place I've visited. From the art work, sculptures, music! It is an amazing place to visit!

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What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

I love the open ended activities at ARTrageous. Children are given materials and are encouraged to add as much as they want. Imagination and acceptance is a promoted and encouraged. I believe that the process is more important than the product. 

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What is your all time favorite quote?

"The goal of early childhood education should be to active the child's own natural desire to learn"         -Maria Montessori 

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART?

From the moment I was born I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by talented artists and creative individuals, the most prominent of which was my father. He was a multifaceted artist with a love and skill for architecture, painting, all things rock n roll, and so much more. He is who made me the musician and Vocalist I’m proud to say I am today. He and Amanda were good friends and is the reason I get to work at the wonderful ARTrageous!

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What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

The fall of 2023 I had an amazing opportunity to travel across Europe alone and soak up the art and culture of many countries. The most impactful was the Louvre museum in Paris, it was breathtaking, I spent nearly 6 hours wandering throughout it getting lost in the beauty of it all.

What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

While I love all my activities at ARTrageous, my favorite has to be working birthday parties! I love all the different themes (my favorite being Taylor Swift, though I hope to work a Harry Potter one soon!) and enjoy all the festivities!

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What is your all time favorite quote?

This one’s easy, it’s by my all time favorite artist David Bowie -“I’m an instant star. Just add water and stir.” Well said David, well said.

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART? 

My 1st and 2nd Grade teacher Mrs. Popkins

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What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

Puerto Rico. Why? The language, the music, the dancing, and the graffiti all mixed together with the waves and the salt and the sky.

 

What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

My favorite thing to do at Artrageous is to see all the masterpiece’s our kids come up with! They are so creative and they never fail to surprise me with their artistic abilities. (And teasing Amanda about splatter painting the studio when she’s out of town!

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What is your all time favorite quote?

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced” – Vincent Van Gogh
 

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART? 

My great uncle Orvid Soren Jorgenson was a great American sign painter who gave me my first art supplies and taught me how to use them as a child.

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What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

Traveling to the Guggenheim Museum to see the Hilma af Klint exhibit. Not only was the show beautiful in color and shape, it was a spiritual experience that brought tears to my eyes

 

What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

I take great satisfaction teaching specific skills related to making art. This will be my first summer season at ARTrageous.

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What is your all time favorite quote?

“Every blade of grass has its angel bending over it whispering grow, grow." The Talmud

When and who first introduced or inspired you to create ART? 

Probably my grandma when I was around 8-10 years old.

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What is the most ARTistic place you have been to and why?

A friends shared studio space. The creative energy and the people there made the whole environment feel super artistic.

 

What is your favorite thing to do at ARTrageous?

I love to paint at ARTrageous!

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What is your all time favorite quote?

“The function of art is to do more than tell it like it is - it's to imagine what is possible.” - Gloria "Bell Hooks" Watkins