ArtFrog Art Academy moves to Marble Falls, offers free lessons to all ages
JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The frog grew too big for the lily pad.
For more than a year in its Burnet location, ArtFrog Art Academy provided free classes to students of all ages and abilities. Since moving to downtown Marble Falls in early July, executive director Heike Jost said the lily pad, pond and number of frogs are all growing.
“We are just expanding in programs. We are gaining volunteers by the week almost,” Jost said. “We are expanding in all directions — space-wise, volunteer-wise and program-wise.”
ArtFrog Art Academy received its 501(c)(3) status in February after its founding in November 2011. The academy does not charge for its programs or materials and relies on students to “feed the frog,” or offer donations.
Watch more about ArtFrog Academy here.
The new space, 301 Main St. #200 above GG Ganache on Old Oak Square, offers Jost the ability to hold larger and multiple classes.
However, the room is not wheelchair accessible, so Jost has partnered with the Marble Falls Public Library and other Main Street businesses to offer more accessible classes.
“We will offer two six-week-long classes and two open clubs on Mondays out of the Marble Falls library,” Jost said. Those classes, like all others for the fall semester, begin Sept. 9.
With the added space upstairs, Jost said many tadpoles — or students — are offering to teach or volunteer.
“We have students now that come and say, ‘You know, since you can have two classes at the same time, I’ll help teach,’” Jost said.
Summer kids camps and adult workshops continue into August before fall classes begin in September. Email info@artfrog.org Aug. 30-Sept. 7 to register for the six-week courses.
Jost said she has felt welcomed to Marble Falls and is also looking for others to join the ArtFrog mission. She said the academy is in search of board members and someone to help write for grants.
“I’m really proud to say that we have supported ourselves just with students’ donations so far,” she said. “But we want to serve more, and we want to do more and expand even more, so that’s why any help from volunteers would be awesome.”
Anyone interested in ArtFrog Art Academy can visit www.artfrog.org or find them on Facebook.
jared@thepicayune.com
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Art Frog Art Academy volunteer Judy Tull (left) discusses tie-dying techniques with workshop leader Herb Morehead (right) while Leah Nash puts the finishing touches on a T-shirt. The academy offers free workshops to youth and adults. It recently opened a location in Marble Falls at 301 Main St., Suite 200. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
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Meredith Farley mixes up some dye on her T-shirt project during a recent Art Frog Art Academy workshop in Marble Falls. The students colored the shirts on a Wednesday but let them soak for two days before revealing their designs on a Friday. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
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Herb Morehead (left) helps Isabelle Nash with a tie-dyed T-shirt project during a recent Art Frog Art Academy workshop in Marble Falls. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton
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ArtFrog Art Academy students show off their finished tie-dyed shirts July 12 at the academy’s new location in Marble Falls. Pictured are Isabelle Nash (front, left), Leah Nash, Meredith Farley, Lily Youngquist; Megan McVeigh (middle, left), Ashley Youngquist, Emma Youngquist, Aidan McVeigh; Jan Shapland (back, left), Mattie Cryer and Judy Tull. Staff photo by Jared Fields
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