Lauri Cragg
Lauri is a Houston-based artist specializing in water-based media. She holds a B.A. in Studio Art and Psychology from Southwestern University and holds a Masters in Occupational Therapy. Lauri has attended the Glassell School of Art through the MFAH.
She is the Founder of the studio and has been teaching all ages for over 20 years.
Ellen Anne Burtner
Ellen Anne is Lead Teacher at the studio. She has a BFA focusing in oil and egg tempera painting and printmaking from Southwestern University. She discovered the joy of creating in a cooperative environment while interning with two artists in NYC. Ellen Anne started assisting Lauri Cragg with classes three years ago and under Lauri’s instruction explored watercolor, pastel, and collage. Ellen Anne continued her printmaking education with classes at the Glassell Studio School after graduating which inspired her to start the Printmaking and Drawing classes at MDUMC. She now helps teach Multi Media, Collage, Printmaking, Watercolor, Pastel, and Drawing, as well as assisting with the student age classes. She takes every opportunity to include animals in a project as well as the color purple!
Patty Thrash
Patty is our newest teacher. After teaching first and third grade for 34 years, Patty has been studying art for the past nine years at our studio, concentrating in pastel, acrylic, and watercolor. She will be assisting in our classes, and we are very proud to have her on the team.
Mary Lipnick
I come from a very artistic and creative family. I never felt like I had any artistic ability until I started taking art classes from Lauri Cragg about 14 years ago. Lauri helped me unleash my inner artist! I started with basic drawing classes and progressed into painting with watercolors, acrylics, mixed media and pastels. As I learned more about pastel painting I fell in love with it, and now it is my medium of choice. About 3 years ago I started assisting with the adult pastel class and have enjoyed not only helping our students learn about pastels but also continuing to develop my own style of painting through teaching. I also assist with the kid’s classes. Kids have no fear and are so creative. It is truly an amazing experience to help them develop their artistic abilities and watch them grow as young artists.