Today we’d like to introduce you to Pat Kochan.
Artisan’s Studio/Gallery Celebrates their 36th Anniversary Founders: Naomi Brotherton (recently retired), Dorothy Barta (retired) and Leo Smith (deceased in 1988.
In 1980 in a tiny studio space in Walnut Hill Village Naomi Brotherton, Leo Smith and Dorothy Barta started what would become Artisan’s Studio/Gallery. Late on they moved to Kramer School. )
Nearly ten years later in 1989 Naomi, Leo, Dorothy, Pat Kochan, Vige Barrie and Nancy Cook all reopened as Artisan’s in the Preston Royal shopping center. Pat, Nancy, Dorothy and Vige had their studios there; Pat started teaching that year. Rent kept going up so we moved again.
In 1993 Naomi, Pat, Nancy Cook and Jane Stephenson moved to a 2600 sq. ft. space at 4300 Alpha Rd in Farmers Branch and rented out space to five or six other artists. They got tired of being landlords.
In 1996, the partnership changed again to Naomi, Pat and Charu Shah when they moved to their present 1500 sq. ft. space in Farmers Branch. When Charu (deceased) left in 2003, Jo Taylor joined them 2 years and left in _2006. Lyn Vermillion joined in 2007 and then left at the end of the year. Since 2007 until 2016 Naomi and Pat remained the constants of Artisan’s. In 2016, Naomi retired at the age of 96 (but still remains a once a month teacher at Artisan’s). In 2017 Beverly Boren (teaches oil and watercolor classes) and Judy Harrison (teaches beginning watercolor and handles acrylic painting parties for groups) joined Artisan’s.
They have sponsored additional workshops by professional artists from around the country over the 36 years: Robert Wood, Zoltan Zsabo, Charles Reid, Milford Zornes, Dan Burt, Ruth Wynn, Jeanne Dobie, Paul Jackson, Betsy Dillard Stroud, Mark Mchaffey, Jerry Stitt, Ted Nuttall, Frank Francese, Rob Erdle and others.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Our challenges were to keep artists in our studio to help pay the rent. We each have our own business and then still had to worry about keeping Artisan’s going. It is difficult to promote yourself and also to create paintings of quality at the same time. Artists really prefer to just create and use the right side of their brain. I decided to write a book containing all of my downtown Dallas paintings and to tell my story of painting that series. It took me 6 years off and on the complete the book and it was published in 2005 by Brown Books here in Dallas. It was a great boost to my art career. There were many book signings beginning at the Hotel Adolphus and Neiman Marcus. Thanks to Carson Art responsible for many of my commissions for hotels and etc. and Rob Roby and the Belo for collecting many of the downtown paintings and many designers, my paintings continue to live in wonderful places.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
First of all we are not a company. We are artists sharing space and rent. Each artist has their own business and own clients. We operate together as a group for openings of new work and to teach classes.
What sets us apart is success for us is creating paintings first for ourselves and 2nd for the enjoyment of the viewer. We are not driven by how much money we make as much as how much joy we can create.
We love teaching this joy. We love what we do; it is the best job to have.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I loved the outdoors, family events, tumbling at the Dallas Athletic Club downtown, dance lessons downtown, attending Rusk Jr. High and Hillcrest High School. I still enjoy my high school friends and have lunch with them every other month. I attended University of Colorado where I met my husband of 57 years. I started playing golf and tennis after my husband and I moved back to Dallas after traveling for 4 years across the country with his job. Art did not become my interest until after I have my first child.
Pricing:
- Framed Pieces: Large non commissioned Framed piece – $5,000 watercolor Medium non commissioned Framed piece – $ 1,500 to 2,500 Small non commissioned Framed piece – $ 800. Very small non commissioned Framed piece – $300
- Unframed Pieces: Large Non commissioned piece unframed – deduct $500 Medium non commissioned piece unframed – deduct $150-200 Small non commissioned piece unframed – deduct $80
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artisansstudio.com
- Phone: 972 488-8182
- Email: PatKArt@aol.com
- Facebook: Artisan’s Studio-Gallery
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
