Inspired by their love of art, two Denton artists have opened their first local studio.

University of North Texas graduates Robin Huttash and Lin Hampton opened A Creative Art Studio off the Denton Square a couple weeks ago. They have ideas to turn their studio into a place where anyone could take classes, see local students’ art and embrace their artistic horizons.

“We love sharing art and have a history of teaching art classes; we love doing the art but also want to share the arts with others,” Huttash said. “We want them to see and create art in an inspiring environment.”

In order to do so, they moved into what used to be a medical supply business at 227 W. Oak St., Suite 101. Hampton and Huttash worked with the 1,500-square-foot space, which already had brick walls and high ceilings.

DRC/Barron Ludlum

University of North Texas graduates Robin Huttash, left, and Lin Hampton recently opened an art gallery off the Denton Square called A Creative Art Studio. Huttash, who specializes in stained glass, and Hampton, a painter, will soon begin offering art classes at the studio.

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“We will add more lighting to accent the art,” Huttash said. “We are in the process of building more tables for our classes and making everything portable. We are trying to keep our space mobile, keeping it transitional.”

Both say that starting the business just sort of happened. They say they had discussed having a place where they could work outside of their home studios. Having known each other for 27 years, they made a decision to become business partners in late October.

“I was driving down the street, and I saw it,” Huttash said about finding the building. She said she saw herself making stained glass in the building and went from there.

Since then, all they have talked about is what do with their new endeavor, including reaching out to the Denton art community, adding classes and creating local artist support.

“We both have kids around the same age, and they told us that you go to school and at the university level you have access to different tools and things to create your art, but once you graduate you do not have access to that,” Huttash said.

“We are hoping to provide a place where people can have access as well as establish artist support services to help people get into galleries,” Hampton said.

Both artists have reached out to their friends, asking them to contribute pieces they want to sell. Along with the art, they also have pottery and jewelry for sale. 

“We have a jeweler from Austin and a painter from Fort Worth,” Huttash said. “The jeweler from Austin lived in Denton and taught here too, so we are keeping it local.”    

Huttash and Hampton attended UNT in the 1970s. They did not know each other then, but throughout the years they crossed paths, Huttash said.

Their love of art started years ago. In about fourth grade, Hampton became fascinated with a bluebonnet painting. Huttash was curious about prisms.  

“I remember the first original painting I saw,” Hampton said. “I had only seen cutouts from magazines before then. I think that was what inspired me to paint. I remember the texture of the paint, the vibrant blue colors that were so intense. I remember the smell of it too, everything about it.”

The painting was by a mentally disabled resident of the Fort Worth State School. Ever since then, she said, she has just wanted to paint.

Huttash’s introduction to glass works was during childhood. She remembered lying on the grass, looking at the clouds through prisms and becoming totally fascinated with the rays of lights.

“She was like the little kids that ran around with the prisms to their eyeballs,” Hampton said, as both artists broke out in laughter.

“I would look at the clouds and look at the shapes and how the light would come through the clouds,” Huttash said.

Jamie Pritchett, a Denton freelance graphic artist and friend of Huttash, said it was nice to see her finally realize her dream. They met as teenagers when they were working at a local Burger King.

“We have been friends ever since,” Huttash said.

Pritchett said he has seen her work from her home studio, teaching as many people as possible about the art of stained glass.

“I really like Robin’s work. I have always liked it. She has a good level of craftsmanship,” Pritchett said. “This is someone who has a handle on design and is using it to her creative advantage.”

Having embraced their talents, they create art that they and others can enjoy. Hampton makes oil, acrylic and pastel paintings that mimic life with images of landscapes and pets, and Huttash uses inspiration from the beauty of nature to create stained glass.

At the studio, they say, they want to learn each other’s craft and teach others to find their artistic side. In January they will begin to offer classes for children and adults and open the studio for special gatherings. They also look forward to talking to local student artists who want to display their work at the new studio.

Since they opened the business, they have spent many hours moving their art and tools from their home studios to their new location. When making art, they say, time seems to go by quite fast, especially since they are doing what they love. Now they want to share their passions with others.

“A lot of people were saying in times of a bad economy it’s a bad time to start a business,” Huttash said.

“I can’t tell you how many times we have heard that,” Hampton said. “But life is short — if you wait for the economy to be right, you never get to fulfill your dream.”

KARINA RAMÍREZ can be reached at 940-566-6878. Her e-mail address is kramirez@dentonrc.com.

A CREATIVE ART STUDIO

Where: 227 W. Oak St., Suite 101

When: Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday by appointment only

Contact: 940-442-1251

On the Web: www.acreativeartstudio.com