Instructors

Drake/Geldon

(Instructor)

Lois Ames Lois has taught drawing and painting in art centers in PA, NY, NJ and Texas. She has successfully exhibited in numerous galleries in Philadelphia, New York and surrounding areas; as well as Dallas. A classically trained artist, Ms. Ames is currently exploring new techniques working in oils and pastels.

Ed Barker Ed Barker graduated from North Texas State University with a Master’s in Art Education. He has continued studies in casting and jewelry repair from the Wilkinson School of Jewelry in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ed specializes in fabricated and cast jewelry, emphasizing organic and graphic designs. He has extensive experience using metal as well as stones as focal points.

Barrie Curtsinger Barrie Curtsinger grew up in Dallas and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dallas with a major in Ceramics. She and her husband moved to Ohio for a number of years where they owned and operated a studio-gallery. Barrie also taught ceramics at Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio for the four years prior to moving back home to Texas. Her main interest in clay is handbuilding, but she enjoys throwing also.

Nora Dorfer Nora Dorfer is a multi-media artist holding both BFA and MFA degrees from Memphis College of Art where she was also the adjunct faculty. She has taught at two other colleges as well as in several continuing education programs. While she teaches all levels and styles of art, her own work is primarily abstract to non-objective. Ms.Dorfer has exhibited in several southeastern states as well as Germany and has had numerous solo exhibitions. She is included in the archives of the National Museum of Women in the Arts Washington, D.C

Kathy Drake Kathy Drake, a Dallas native, has been a master wax designer and carver for the last 38 years. She has carved for the local Dallas jewelry industry as well as jewelers around the U.S. Sculpting wax, stone and clay is her passion. Her undergraduate studies started at Austin college in Sherman. She was graduated with a BA in Art from Trinity University in San Antonio. Further studies include the Southwest Craft Center and the McNay Art Institute in San Antonio, as well as Pratt Art Institute in NYC. After returning to Dallas in 1973, she worked with Quong Group at the Quadrangle and with Buckle and Abeita Jewelers at Olla Podrida. In 1975 she began teaching stone and wood carving, ceramic sculpture and jewelry design at the University of Texas at Dallas. During the same time she was a founding member of the 500 Exposition Gallery in Deep Elm. In 1980, Kathy launched her own custom design business, offering her wax sculpting skills to the jewelry industry; to wholesale and retail clients and designers around the world. Kathy is always amazed at the versatility of wax and the limitless possibilities of the material. New trends and looks keep designing and carving fresh and exciting. Kathy loves to share and teach her knowledge and skills.

David Elliff David started in the printing business in 1969. He has worked in every phase of the business including hand-setting type out of the California Job Case, composing and running a letterpress. David currently works at UTA as a manager of the University owned print shop.

Diane Flynn Diane Flynn began studying glass in 1978. She has studied architectural glass with Dennis McCredie and Tiffany-style lampshades with Joe Porcelli. She has operated her own glass studio since 1985 and has evolved into a hot glass artist, specializing in fusing and lampworked beads. Diane has attended University of Texas at Arlington’s glassblowing program. Her blown glass art has been displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art’s gallery store.

Susy Garner

Mike Geldon In 1977 Mike graduated North Texas State University with a Bachelor Of Fine Arts Degree. He has a Metalsmithing Major & a Ceramics Minor. From 1979 to 1985 Mike worked as an apprentice at the D.J. Grey Jewelry Manufacturing Company in downtown Dallas. In 1986 he started his own company, specializing in lost wax centrifugal casting, various finishes & polishing with oxidation. This company is still in business today.

Kristen Giles Kristen Giles studied art and ceramics at Trinity University in San Antonio and at East Texas State University. She has continued her education with classes at the Southwest Craft Center, San Antonio, and the Craft Guild. Kristen’s main interest is in high fire stoneware, with a special interest in glaze formulation and application.

Sharon Gillespie Art has always been an expression of my emotions and feelings, my gateway to discovery, and a part of who I am. I have always loved creating things and discovering how and what they are made of. The best part of being a girl scout was getting to do arts and crafts. I remember one of the first things I created (that I would consider art) was a scrapbook made of wood, twigs and paper. I was so proud of that little book and will never forget the Scout Master who showed me how to do it. As I have reached maturity and gone through different phases of my life, many different art mediums have come across my path and I have embraced each one. Buying art supplies gave me a feeling of a new beginning and renewal of my soul. When my children were young, I opened a small yarn shop and soon bought a craft store that offered art lessons and I took every class I could. When the kids were older, I purchased a mail-order business that sold egg supplies, which birthed a new idea and a new business of four owners and became known as Collage Gallery and Studio. I taught classes (my passion) and sold supplies for making jewelry and stained glass fusing. When I discovered precious metal clay, it captured my imagination as nothing else had. Now I had something with few limitations, easy to work with, and fast. I took classes from all my favorite artists and the rest is history. I later became a PMC Senior Teacher with PMC Connections. I have taught at ARROWMONT SCHOOL OF ARTS AND CRAFTS in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Purdue University at the PMC World Conference and many classes at my Waco Studio. To say that I love my life and the fulfillment that I have received from metal clay is an understatement. If I can pass this love on to others, I have accomplished my life’s work. I currently live in Frisco, Texas and have a studio in my home.

Forrest Jackson Forrest Jackson began bookbinding at the Craft Guild in 1997 and has further studied with master bookbinders Sally Key, Jim Croft and Jan Sobota. Antiquarian in spirit, Forrest prefers repairing books published before 1830, but is happy to help with the restoration of newer books, as well.

Esther Kibby Esther has been a bookbinder for eight years and has studied with Sally Key, David Lawrence, Susan Grant and Jim Croft. She currently teaches at the Craft Guild of Dallas and is a professor of graphic design and photography at the Art Institute of Dallas.

Elizabeth Knodle Elizabeth Knodle received her BA Degree from Texas Women’s University and did graduate work in Denmark and Finland. She is a veteran art instructor in the DISD and Dallas Arts Magnet School. Elizabeth is an instructor with the Whole Beads Show and travels with them all over the USA to teach.

David Lawrence David Lawrence has taught hand bookbinding at The Craft Guild of Dallas since 2001. He has won several awards in the USA as well as UK and Czech Republic for his fine work.

Kip Maley At an early age, Kip discovered he had an enduring interest in molten glass. He has studied with some of the best artists in the U.S. Including Josh Mazet, Michael Barley, Mark McCourt, Dolly Ahles, and Judy Carlson. Kip has taught at the Craft Guild since 2005.

Virginia Marsh Virginia Marsh has an MFA degree from Ohio State University and taught at the university level for many years. She was artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts in Alberta, Canada, has exhibited her clay work widely, conducted workshops all over North America, has published numerous articles, and her work has been featured in major pottery books. She volunteers at the Craft Guild and continues to exhibit her hand-built and wheel-thrown work.

Lab Monitor

Carlos Montez

Marilyn O'Hara Marilyn began her jewelry career opening her own gallery on the beach in Cape May, New Jersey in 1975, selling her work exclusively. She earned a BFA degree from University of North Texas and worked on her MFA in Tucson at The University of Arizona. She has also studied Advanced Stone Setting at Gemological Institute of America. She has specialized in restoration of antique jewelry and has been commissioned for one-of-a-kind pieces for major companies, including Bachendorf’s and Zale’s. Since 1989, Marilyn has worked as a 'ghost designer' for several top designers in the US and has also exhibited in galleries and museums across the country with her own line of jewelry.

Alice O'Leary Alice's art training began at a very early age as the daughter of an accomplished artist, and continued at The University of North Texas with BFA in Fashion Design. After leaving the commercial field to pursue a fine art career, Alice studied with many nationally recognized artists such as Kevin Macpherson, Ron Rencher and Laura Robb, to develop her unique style of painting. Working primarily with oils, but also pastels and watercolors, she is inspired by color and the way light hits a subject and tries to capture that feeling on canvas. She has a strong background on color theory and uses a limited palette preferring to mix most of her colors in order to obtain a more unified color harmony in her paintings. Color, value and strong composition are stressed in all classes while students are developing their own style of painting.

James Olney James received his Bachelor of Science in ceramics in 2002 from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. He continued his education in North Carolina working as an apprentice for master potter Mark Hewitt from 2002-2005, and has enjoyed working and learning alongside master potters from Minnesota and New York. Abroad, James lived for two years in Tanzania as a peace corps volunteer exchanging ideas with local village potters. Recently, he has returned from travels throughout India, Nepal, and SE Asia learning about the traditions in pottery and culture there. James works primarily on the potter's wheel and believes holding sacred the entire process of making pots from earth to fire.

Barbara Reeves Barbara Reeves, Owner & Designer, B&B Designs I started my career with beading and wire wrapping in 2006. I wanted to create my own pendants for my beads. I heard about PMC that is .999 pure silver. I decided I want to know more. I took several classes and I was hooked! One day I decided I wanted to be a certified artisan and teach. I received my Level 1 certification October 2009, Level 2 June 2010 and Level 3 November 2010. In searching for classes there were hardly any on the weekends. I decided I would teach on weekends for those that wanted weekend classes. I haven't looked back since.

James Olney & Virgina Marsh

David Zappitelli David began his jewelry making career many years ago under the apprenticeship of a 53 year veteran jeweler. His background includes being the shop foreman for a renowned jeweler in Cleveland from 1971 – 1980. Since moving to Texas in 1980, David has worked as a professional jeweler with an emphasis in stone setting. He teaches metalsmithing, stone setting and polishing classes.

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