Upcoming Events

Calling all Star Wars fans!!! Join Jeff Lung, "Master Doodle Artist," for this interactive workshop highlighting favorite Star Wars characters in celebration of the "May the 4th" date in 2024.

Participants will choose their favorite character to transfer onto an 8x10 canvas panel. Then, after an overview of doodles and general background painting tips by Jeff Lung, the characters will come to life!! Participants will leave with a finished piece of work suitable for framing.

All supplies provided. NO experience needed. $65 pp. To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/863139562667

Join us for a special Mother's Day bracelet making party with Cecille Wright, of Fern Home and Fashion, who will guide you through choosing special crystals for your one-of-a-kind bracelet creations.

Saturday, May 4th from 3-5PM.

2 bracelets $30

3 bracelets $40

4 bracelets $50

**price is per person**

Light refreshments will be served.

For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/874032624107

Turn your own photos into encaustic works of art with Shauna Martin! In this workshop, participants will create (2), 5x5 encaustic photos on wood panels.

In this specialty workshop, you’ll be using your own black and white photos and tissue paper of all colors to create beautifully layered compositions! We will offer an assortment of images, but you are welcome to bring more; your favorite tissue paper (plain or pattern); favorite writings, quotes, poems, magazine cutouts, hand-made papers, fabric, etc. Essentially, if you like scrapbooking or journaling, this workshop is for you!

This 2 hour workshop is designed for artists of all levels, even those new to encaustic painting. All supplies included.

$85 per person. Class size limited to 6.

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/861771771567?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join local artist Jennifer Vahlbruch for a "Coffee Talk" at Third Gen Coffee. Vahlbruch will be discussing her latest collection entitled "The Hyrdants" while you enjoy a cup of coffee in the upstairs portion of Third Gen Coffee, just a few steps away from the gallery.

“The Hydrants” are about us humans and our society. Who are we? How are we seen? What makes us who we are?

This ongoing project covers an important social theme to be discussed. There is no pre-defined meaning for any piece of “The Hydrants”. Every viewer comes with their own personal circumstances and is invited to interpret my hydrants individually and give them a meaning that suits them. How do I feel? Who am I? Where do I want to go? There is no right or wrong. The hydrants are there for everyone, everyone can use them, and this creates a multitude of equally valid, unique meanings. I love to hear all the different perspectives on all those hydrants.

Once I discovered the potential of the initial meaning of “The Hydrants” project, I formed a series “WE . same but different” with the ambition to create art with a purpose. Some pieces of this series “WE . same but different” are also currently used in a pilot project in Life Coaching and psychotherapy.

Join us for the Opening Reception of "Dimension," featuring a variety of 3D works by Texas artists. Juror presentation at 7 p.m.

Featured artists include:

Angela Corson, Caroline Carey, Christine Alexander, Corey Robbins, Claire Cusack, Doni Langlois, Eric DePan, Ginette Mailloux, Jack Gron, Jessica Phillips, Larry Akers, Michelle Ellis, Natasha Kanevski, Rikki Mitman, Ron Loyd, Ron Martel, Sarah Rimboch, Suzanne Horner, Suzette Schutze, Tiffany Nesbit, Tracy Wilson & Valerie Gudell 

Join artist Allan Ginsburg for this hands-on workshop exploring watercolor techniques and Monstera leaves!! No experience necessary.

Ginsburg will walk workshop participants through some watercolor basics and warm-up techniques, before moving on to completing their own frame-worthy leaves.

Participants will be provided watercolor packets that include information and tips for reference and ALL supplies needed for the workshop. $75 pp. Limited to 8 attendees.

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/881484432667

Join us for our final Spring outdoor arts market before breaking for the summer, featuring works by over 25 Houston artists!!!

Plus, browse the current show in the gallery entitled, "Dimension," featuring a collection of 3D works by Texas artists.

Ardest Gallery features 2D and 3D works by 40+ Texas artists plus an assortment of affordable ready-to-frame works, ceramic, glass, wood sculptures, jewelry and more!!

Stay tuned for the line-up of artists participating in this month's market!! 

#NationalWineDay is May 27th, and we are celebrating in a BIG way in the gallery with our special event entitled "The Art of Wine" in partnership with our neighboring business, Amerigo's Grille. This is not your typical wine tasting.....join us as we explore creative cocktail options featuring wine.

Their head bartender will join us in the gallery along with 3, unique wine cocktails to share along with commentary. Light bites to accompany.

Visitors to the event will have ample time to browse the newest gallery show entitled "Dimension" featuring a collection of 3-D works by Texas artists. In addition to this show, visitors to the gallery can browse contemporary artworks by an additional 40 Texas artists.

Following "The Art of Wine," head down to Amerigo's Grille for an artisan meal. Amerigo's Grille is a chef-driven restaurant showcasing a revolving menu built on a foundation of the freshest ingredients, hand-selected for every dish. Our executive chef pairs innovative culinary techniques with upscale Italian cuisine in each dish to create a work of art on every plate.

$40 pp. This price includes 3 wine cocktails and an artisan charcuterie board.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/887854786567

In this class students will choose 3 pre-cut glass shapes to decorate with various sized (and colored) crushed glass and other fun glass decorating baubles to bring their suncatchers to life. 

Pieces will be fired and available for pick up the following weekend.

$65 per person. No experience needed.

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/880475173947

Learn to paint with wax with Houston artist Shauna Martin. Leave this workshop with your very own encaustic work of art on wood!

In this specialty workshop, you will learn all about painting with wax and fusing with heat! We’ll also learn incising and tinting the surface with pigment sticks.

ALL supplies included. We have plenty of supplies here but you are welcome to bring more; your favorite tissue paper (plain or pattern); favorite writings, sayings, poems, magazine cutouts, hand-made papers, fabric, etc. Basically, if you like scrapbooking or journaling, this workshop is for you! This 2 hour workshop is designed for artists of all levels, even those new to encaustic painting. You will leave this workshop with your very own 8”x10” encaustic work of art on wood!

$75 per seat. Ages 14+.

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/881161667267

Join artist Silvina Pinal in the gallery for a hands-on Nerikomi workshop where participants will create their own, unique porcelain bowl.

Nerikomi is an Ancient Japanese technique using colored porcelain to create a pattern that inserted into a form will produce a mold in which the structure is the colorful designed pattern itself seen throughout the inside and outside walls of the piece. Nerikomi is an extraordinary art process that will attract and captivate your mind and spirit.

WORKSHOP DETAILS:

Students will learn how to stack up layers and pieces of colored porcelain. Cut slices and join them to create a pattern to be inserted into a round form 10” wide x 1, 1/2” tall. The mold will be left inside the form until stiffened for further handling like sanding, etc.

The instructor will take the pieces to be fired once, to a final temperature, in an electric kiln. 

The students will pick up their work at the Gallery, approximately 2 weeks later.

$120 per person. No experience needed.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/880488142737

Join us to create a woven glass wall piece with glass artist Mary Torres!! If you have always wanted to know how to weave glass, this workshop is for you. No experience necessary.

You will choose your colors and additions from a wide variety made available to you on class day. You will be nipping your glass strips to size as needed, but don’t be afraid instruction, safety glasses and gloves will be provided. The woven glass panels will be fired and mounted in a white, black or silver 9 x 9 frame. 

Your piece will be ready for pick up at the gallery approximately two weeks after the class. Other arrangements can be made if necessary. 

Class Size- 8.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/887640154597

Join us as we explore the "Art" of book folding with Julianne Mahler!! Each class participant will create a folded heart within their choice of book, using a personalized pattern created by the artist.

Using a pencil and ruler, each participant will create folds on designated pages, ultimately creating a unique heart design upon completion. The book will be finished using your choice of ribbon, and the final product will be a wonderful shelf-worthy piece of literary art!

PLUS, as a class bonus, a 2nd book folding pattern will be provided to each participant to use at home along with their choice of book (Value $5). Julianne's original book folding patterns are also available for purchase in her Etsy shop.

Whether you are looking to add unique artisan decor to your home's shelves or are looking for a creative, relaxing hobby, this workshop is for YOU!

No experience necessary. All supplies are included. $50 per person.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/885098672957

Turn your own photos into encaustic works of art with Shauna Martin! In this workshop, participants will create (2), 5x5 encaustic photos on wood panels.

In this specialty workshop, you’ll be using your own black and white photos and tissue paper of all colors to create beautifully layered compositions! We will offer an assortment of images, but you are welcome to bring more; your favorite tissue paper (plain or pattern); favorite writings, quotes, poems, magazine cutouts, hand-made papers, fabric, etc. Essentially, if you like scrapbooking or journaling, this workshop is for you!

This 2 hour workshop is designed for artists of all levels, even those new to encaustic painting. All supplies included.

$85 per person. Class size limited to 6.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/881507511697

Sgraffito your own clay flower pot with celebrated ceramic artist Tiffany A. Nesbit.

In this 2 hour workshop, Tiffany will guide you through painting and carving designs with underglaze, on a wheel thrown planter.

Each student will receive a 5”x4.5” unfired planter to decorate. All clay supplies are included, and no prior experience is necessary. Firing process is included in the workshop, and typically takes 3-4 weeks to return work.

Price per seat: $115, 8 seats available.

Tiffany is native to New Orleans, Louisiana but is currently working in Houston Texas teaching sculpture at San Jacinto North Campus, along with teaching wheel throwing at Third Coast Clay. She sells her work at monthly art markets such as the First Saturday Art Market, and Art in the Woods at Ardest Gallery, along with larger festivals like Houston's Bayou City Art Festival. She has earned an MFA at the University of Houston in 2022, and a BA at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2018.

To Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/884646390167