Patty Paul has a BA from the University of Denver in Theater. She has worked on sets for Walt Disney, the Rolling Stones, Willy Nelson and many more shows at Red Rocks Amphitheater. She has also painted logos on the basketball court for the Nuggets at the former McNichols Arena in Denver, CO. In 2010 she received her teaching certificate through the Stanley British Primary Teacher School Preparation program. Combining her background in painting, drawing and stage sets with her love for researching children’s literature. Patty guides students through a variety of techniques, materials and images to create projects that offer new insight into the story that inspires the visual art. Patty will be teaching in our school-day-out workshops and she will be teaching an after school art program at Carson Elementary.
Kim Kiefer has a BA in Art History from Northern Illinois University enabling her to manage The Joel Oppenheimer, Natural HIstory Art Gallery in Chicago. With a strong background in Visual Communications, she has worked in the Graphic Arts Department of the Brookfield Zoo. Parenting a 5 year old, Kim has observed how young learners flourish using play-based, creative activities. She brings this passion and energy to the Art Garage. Her classes are based on principles from Early Childhood Education, children literature, games and music. She will be teaching a toddler-parent class for 2-3 year olds and an independent 3-4 year old class where students will make visual applications of letters, words, numbers and favorite characters.
Barb McKee graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a BFA in Applied Design. Working as a designer in the textile industry, she created repeat patterns for wall-coverings and upholstery fabrics. From the University of Kansas, she received an MFA in Textiles, focusing on large scale mixed-media sculpture and drawing. After teaching at Miami University, Colorado State University, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, she focused on public art commissions, working directly with civil engineers to change the surface of concrete walls as part of various highway widening projects across the country. Her background in Textiles and Applied Design informs aesthetic treatment to walls along 1-25 in Denver (TREX), Highway 4 near Antioch, CA and more. As founder and Interim Director of the Art Garage, she will also be teaching classes emphasizing drawing, painting, construction and repeat images.
Marion Richardson has more than 18 years of experience teaching painting and drawing to students of all ages through such DPS schools as Smiley Middle School, Steck, Park Hill, Merrill, and Hallet Fundamental Elementary School. He has also taught at Sunrise Senior Center in Glendale, CO. As a self-taught artist, his drawings and paintings give Realism new definition. A master, he is able to teach students how to execute such techniques as blending, shading, stippling, feathering, drawing and more. Students always leave with a deep understanding of certain paint techniques, color mixing and with a painting ready for a frame!
Elias Armao attends Denver School for the Arts concentrating in Graphic Arts with an emphasis on Symbology. He is preparing his senior portfolio. While at DSA he has painted several backdrops and created a theater set. For the past two years he has participated on the committees, including the hiring committee for the new Visual Arts Teacher at DSA. Elias will bring a unique perspective to the class that he will co-teach with Courtney Throndson entitled “Portfolio Review”. He will provide such information as drawing prompts used to strengthen a students ability to think visually. When he is not in school, he is an Intern at the Art Garage hand painting signs that will be on view in the parking lot soon and he is a drummer in a band!
Courtney Throndson has been teaching art at Montclair Elementary for the past 5 years. She graduated with a BFA in Metals and Jewelry Design from CSU in Ft. Collins, CO. Courtney’s teaching methods include community building while introducing advanced techniques in a variety of medium; paint, metal, glass and more. She will co-teach a class with Elias Armao called “Portfolio Review” where she will guide students through computer applications including resumes, cover letters, artist statements, interviews and more. This class will not guarantee that your student will be accepted to a school but instead. will show them how to prepare a professional portfolio.
Patricia Barr-Clarke is a nationally recognized Watercolorist exhibiting her work through galleries in Santa Fe, NM and Vail, CO. She is a signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society and the Park Hill Art Club. She has had the pleasure of traveling the world painting landscapes in Spain, Egypt and more. Pat has been teaching students of all ages and skill levels for the past 26 years. She supports the development of the Art Garage as a non-profit, offering strength and knowledge drawn from her experience as co-founder of the Park Hill Bike Depot. She will be teaching “Painting” for children on Tuesday afternoons and adult “Watercolor” classes on Tuesday evenings.
Phil Bender graduated from Metro State University with a BA in Studio Art. He has held several one-person exhibits including the Denver Art Museum, The Lab at Belmar and every year since its inception at Pirate: Contemporary Art in Denver. In 2011 Phil was awarded the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, honoring his work as the founder of Pirate: Contemporary Art. He has experience teaching at DAVA (Downtown Aurora Visual Arts) and through VSA Colorado-Access Gallery in Denver. He will be teaching classes inspired by his interest in multiplicity and composition. Likewise he will be offering a class on “The Day of the Dead”.
Amy Chavez received a BFA in Ceramics and Sculpture from the Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. She has also served in several Artist-in-Residency programs across the USA. She exhibits her work regionally, nationally and internationally. We are fortunate to have Amy teach at the Art Garage as she is the full-time art teacher at Denver School for Science and Technology. She will be teaching hand building techniques and glazing to adults on different days through December. Amy’s classes are fun, comfortable and students will learn new information regardless of their skill level or past work in Ceramics.
Brian Brennan graduated from the Rocky Mountain School of Art and Design with an emphasis in Illustration and Cartooning. He has been teaching at the Art Garage for the past 3 years. Brian interest in generating comic book characters has allowed him to work as a colorist for a comic entitled “Thorn”. This fall, Brian will teach classical illustration techniques where students learn linear, aerial, spacial and various point perspectives. Final drawings will show realistic proportion, shape, color and form.
Jack and Pam Farrar have created a public art experience in the alley between Hudson and Holly St. at 22nd Ave. This in turn has created a movement where each year neighbors enter a juried competition, “Alley Art Contest”. Supporting our interest in recycling, it is with pleasure to have Jack and Pam teaching a set of classes entitled “Found Objects” and “Alley Art”. Jack and Pam will show students how to recognize uniques qualities and applications of found materials, encouraging students by providing materials, building skills and more. Making art from other materials is natural to the creative process.
Thanks to all of our past instructors for their work at the Art Garage: Melinda Stewart, Missy Fauser, Laurie Counterman, Anita Sohst, Sara Mayo, Patti Brock-Erickson, Jessica Kreutter, Britt Mosely, Brigitte Haegdorens, David Lukens, Leslie Dawe, Sommer Browning, Molly Brown, Chris Hernandez, Tami McGuan and Kira Vanderploeg. Your passion, dedication, integrity and master of teaching has impacted students.
Circles from top to bottom: Mask made in Patty’s class, Finger Puppets made in Kim’s class, Antioch Drawing by Barb McKee, Graphite Drawing by Marion Richardson, gas! Logo designed by Elias Armao, Painted Mask by Courtney Throndson, Watercolor by Patricia Barr-Clarke, Asemblage’ by Phil Bender, Turquoise Trim Tea by Amy Chavez, Coloration of Thorn by Brian Brennan, Alley Art, Jack & Pam Farrar.
6100 East 23rd Avenue Denver, Co 80207 artgaragedenver@gmail.com
