Meet Our Instructors
John Armstrong
Drawing & Painting, Singing
John Armstrong's key objectives in founding the Open Arts Studio with his wife Lucy is to provide students with a classical foundation in music, visual and performance arts while creating a safe, noncompetitive and enjoyal classroom atmosphere. He teaches the Open Arts Drawing Method, singing, voice overs and improv. He has a Bachelor of Music from Central Washington University and received his Masters degree in Music & Classical Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado. John has created and studied art since his childhood.
Chris Cozine
Drawing, Painting & Pouring Picasso
Chris has loved painting since she was old enough to pick up a brush. “My Father did not always appreciate my art on the side of his garage or on my bedroom walls. Little did he realize then the obsession & and the passion that drove me to create with paint.”
She is a native of Puyallup Valley. She has also had the privilege to live in many areas of the United States while her husband was serving in the USAF. She has also visited some exotic places throughout our world in recent years, on mission trips doing dental work for the extreme poverty stricken.
Her art education includes studies at Pierce College, Green River College, University of New Mexico, and private classes from local award winning artists. She is an award winner in her own rights and has sold her works to private individuals as well as puzzle companies.
Chris instructs children and adults. She teaches both groups and private individuals. She teaches continuing education adult classes in three painting mediums at Pierce College South Hill Campus, and teaches adults & children at the Open Arts Studio, Tacoma, Washington. Chris has also opened her own studio to students in painting mediums as well as drawing mediums.
She continues to study and read about art and techniques. Chris believes that every artist continues to evolve and improve on their technique.
Philosophy: Take time to see the world around you and express yourself in painting. Let yourself be free and HAVE FUN creating.
She is a native of Puyallup Valley. She has also had the privilege to live in many areas of the United States while her husband was serving in the USAF. She has also visited some exotic places throughout our world in recent years, on mission trips doing dental work for the extreme poverty stricken.
Her art education includes studies at Pierce College, Green River College, University of New Mexico, and private classes from local award winning artists. She is an award winner in her own rights and has sold her works to private individuals as well as puzzle companies.
Chris instructs children and adults. She teaches both groups and private individuals. She teaches continuing education adult classes in three painting mediums at Pierce College South Hill Campus, and teaches adults & children at the Open Arts Studio, Tacoma, Washington. Chris has also opened her own studio to students in painting mediums as well as drawing mediums.
She continues to study and read about art and techniques. Chris believes that every artist continues to evolve and improve on their technique.
Philosophy: Take time to see the world around you and express yourself in painting. Let yourself be free and HAVE FUN creating.
Shonda Bowden's Artist statement
"Color, balance, and beauty are what gives me great pleasure and joy in life, and you can apply that to a room, a wardrobe, a canvas…anywhere.”
Originally from Colorado, Shonda has loved to draw and paint since she was in kindergarten. She remembers drawing a horse when she was five years old that surprised even her. “Wow, that is a pretty good horse” she said to herself. Ever since then, she has wanted to be a real artist. Shonda took as many art classes she could throughout her education. She was selected to paint her first mural in sixth grade on a wall in the cafeteria. Then in high school she designed programs for various events and entered competitions winning awards here and there.
After high school Shonda was able to keep creativity in hand during various employment including, make-up artist, retail merchandising and interior design. But painting was consistently on the side. While managing a team of visual merchandisers, her employer hired her to paint several murals in her home. Later Shonda and her husband ran a faux finishing business where she did several installations of specialty paint finishes and many murals. This led to her own interior design/consulting business. Along with that she was asked to teach wine and painting classes.
As far as education is concerned, when time allowed, Shonda took life drawing and painting classes at the Denver Art Student’s League where she was taught by various working artists; however, she is primarily self-taught.
Now living in Tacoma, Shonda is mainly inspired by nature’s scenery and is thankful that, “The Creator gave her a dose of creativity.” And now living in the Pacific Northwest, there is no shortage of beautiful material to bring her ideas.
Shonda currently teaches the Pouring Picasso classes for the Open Arts Studio. She loves sharing the gift of painting with anyone who is willing to let go and enjoy the process and pleasure that painting can give.
"Color, balance, and beauty are what gives me great pleasure and joy in life, and you can apply that to a room, a wardrobe, a canvas…anywhere.”
Originally from Colorado, Shonda has loved to draw and paint since she was in kindergarten. She remembers drawing a horse when she was five years old that surprised even her. “Wow, that is a pretty good horse” she said to herself. Ever since then, she has wanted to be a real artist. Shonda took as many art classes she could throughout her education. She was selected to paint her first mural in sixth grade on a wall in the cafeteria. Then in high school she designed programs for various events and entered competitions winning awards here and there.
After high school Shonda was able to keep creativity in hand during various employment including, make-up artist, retail merchandising and interior design. But painting was consistently on the side. While managing a team of visual merchandisers, her employer hired her to paint several murals in her home. Later Shonda and her husband ran a faux finishing business where she did several installations of specialty paint finishes and many murals. This led to her own interior design/consulting business. Along with that she was asked to teach wine and painting classes.
As far as education is concerned, when time allowed, Shonda took life drawing and painting classes at the Denver Art Student’s League where she was taught by various working artists; however, she is primarily self-taught.
Now living in Tacoma, Shonda is mainly inspired by nature’s scenery and is thankful that, “The Creator gave her a dose of creativity.” And now living in the Pacific Northwest, there is no shortage of beautiful material to bring her ideas.
Shonda currently teaches the Pouring Picasso classes for the Open Arts Studio. She loves sharing the gift of painting with anyone who is willing to let go and enjoy the process and pleasure that painting can give.
Michelle’s Artist Statement
As a little girl I was always a doodler and I remember my first art studio was underneath the basement stairs when I was around 7.
In my life’s journey over the past 25 years from Kota Kinabalu on the island of Borneo to Beijing, China and Manila, Philippines to Whistler, B.C. and now to a quiet town south of Seattle called Ruston in the USA, my own introspective path and the colorful lives of the people and artists I have met along the way have been the biggest influences in my work.
I recall a crystalline moment when we first arrived in Kota Kinabalu in 1989 and without having the necessary work papers to continue my career path, I decided all I could do was take up painting again to keep my sanity and so I started studying the Master’s such as Degas and Michelangelo and basically teaching myself human anatomy, color theory and portrait drawing and painting as typhoons came and went.
Around 10 years ago when I lived in Whistler, I formed my company “YinspirationArt Studios” and completed 36 illustration covers for Pique Newsmagazine. Then in addition to offering high quality reproductions of my work, I recently launched my series of Meditation Journals which enjoy distribution into 24 retail outlets in North America.
After over 20 solo and group art shows and 4 trade shows, I feel truly blessed to live this life that revolves around art which now includes teaching at the highly reputable Open Arts Studio in Tacoma. 2013 marked the beginning of my teaching career when I was invited to do an Artist’s Residency with at-risk young teens at a middle school in Hood River. It changed my life and now I have three artist’s residencies scheduled for the coming year between Whistler, BC and Hood River, Oregon in addition to my drawing and painting teaching at Open Arts Studios.
I am represented by White Dog Gallery in Whistler, BC and the Columbia Centre for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon.
Visit my website: www.yinspirationart.com
As a little girl I was always a doodler and I remember my first art studio was underneath the basement stairs when I was around 7.
In my life’s journey over the past 25 years from Kota Kinabalu on the island of Borneo to Beijing, China and Manila, Philippines to Whistler, B.C. and now to a quiet town south of Seattle called Ruston in the USA, my own introspective path and the colorful lives of the people and artists I have met along the way have been the biggest influences in my work.
I recall a crystalline moment when we first arrived in Kota Kinabalu in 1989 and without having the necessary work papers to continue my career path, I decided all I could do was take up painting again to keep my sanity and so I started studying the Master’s such as Degas and Michelangelo and basically teaching myself human anatomy, color theory and portrait drawing and painting as typhoons came and went.
Around 10 years ago when I lived in Whistler, I formed my company “YinspirationArt Studios” and completed 36 illustration covers for Pique Newsmagazine. Then in addition to offering high quality reproductions of my work, I recently launched my series of Meditation Journals which enjoy distribution into 24 retail outlets in North America.
After over 20 solo and group art shows and 4 trade shows, I feel truly blessed to live this life that revolves around art which now includes teaching at the highly reputable Open Arts Studio in Tacoma. 2013 marked the beginning of my teaching career when I was invited to do an Artist’s Residency with at-risk young teens at a middle school in Hood River. It changed my life and now I have three artist’s residencies scheduled for the coming year between Whistler, BC and Hood River, Oregon in addition to my drawing and painting teaching at Open Arts Studios.
I am represented by White Dog Gallery in Whistler, BC and the Columbia Centre for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon.
Visit my website: www.yinspirationart.com
Peter Giardina A.K.A. "PECO", Guitar
Peter Giardina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Youngstown State University in Ohio. He earned his Master's degree in Education Technology from City University. Peter has been working as a public school teacher for 11+ years and has a background in the Orff and Kodaly teaching methods. He has taught guitar privately for 20+ years. Peter has expierence in many areas and styles of guitar such as fingerstyle, classical, electric rhythm and blues as well as rock. He has participated in many cover bands, tribute bands and original bands. Peter is also an aspiring singer and songwriter.
Risa Kaneko, Ceramics
Risa Kaneko was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She moved to the states to attend school and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma Washington.
Art is big part of her life, and she has studied several artistic processes such as, painting, photography, graphic design, sculpture and ceramics. She is very thankful and happy to be part of Open Arts Studio, working with teachers and students creating an exciting learning experience.
Art is big part of her life, and she has studied several artistic processes such as, painting, photography, graphic design, sculpture and ceramics. She is very thankful and happy to be part of Open Arts Studio, working with teachers and students creating an exciting learning experience.
