Volunteer Lauri Green led her second dance class recently. She led the first class in traditional Hawaiian dance. Pictured above member artists participating in Lauri’s Latin Dance class. Cha cha cha!

Chris C. worked all afternoon on this backdrop for a Photoshop project he’s working on. All four volunteers helped him to paint it in after he drew the picture of the girls on a motorcycle.  “They were very nice to me. I love it, ” Chris said. From left to right: Volunteers Tiffany Tran, Laurel Marois, member artist Chris C. , volunteers Kayla Savage, and Jessica Silva. Want to be a Creative Clay volunteer? Click here!

Studio Manager Beau Smith surrounded by adoring member artists.

Robert B. painting one of his favorite characters, Alice from Alice and Wonderland.

JJ H. and Dolores M. in full concentration.

Volunteer Jessica Silva and Thor B. worked together for the entire studio time!

Leanne Turton of the Florida Business Travel Association made a visit to the Creative Clay studio recently. Her organization is giving a portion of the proceeds from their annual fundraisers in 2008 and 2009 to Creative Clay and RICH House in Tampa. The first fundraiser is coming up on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at the St. Petersburg Hilton Carillon from 5:00 - 8:00pm.

Leanne sat to have her portrait done while visiting the member artists in the studio. Member artists Dolores M. (above) and Carolyn R. (below) share their drawings with Leanne.

The Hooker Tea Company will partner with Creative Clay to create one-of-a-kind tea art. For the next couple of months member artists will be working in a new medium – tea. In the first two sessions, artists drew a variety of tea cups and tea pots. In the third session, they drew tea-related subjects with crayons and then died their papers using a concentrated tea mixture. The results are Tea-rific!

Basketball great, Michael Jordan, states,“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” Creative Clay member artists prove this statement true in their latest art show, Games We Play.

Games We Play, will feature purely unique depictions and artistic alterations of past, present, and imagined games. Member artists have explored this concept both independently and collaboratively over the last few months, and put their artistic intelligence to use creating some very unique and exciting takes on Games We Play. The show will feature a variety of juried artwork in all mediums. Original artwork ranges from one of a kind decks of cards to a large-scale drawing entitled, “The Snake Search”(artwork featured above). The gallery also features member artist designed t-shirts, gift items, and cards great for any occasion.

Please join us for an opening reception of Games We Play, Friday April 4, 2008 from 5-8 pm. Show runs through June 6, 2008.

Creative Clay’s mission is to make the arts accessible for every interested member of the community regardless of age, gender, ability and/or race.

Member artists Yalanda and John making music together with Creative Clay studio instruments.

Chris F. (above) says he thinks E! TV should come to Creative Clay to interview him about being an artist.

Two of Creative Clay’s February featured artists, Yalanda S. (above) and Steve S. (below), pose with their paintings.

John and Thor working hard on their paintings.