Having Fun With a Little Media Spot!

It was an early morning for JoAnn Steen, one of our Windows of Youth committee members, as she got up for a 6:20 a.m. spot on KPAX. Russ Thomas,  famous KPAX weather guy as well as one of our committee members was there to kick things off. Of course, he is a little more used to those early morning shots!

Ashlyn Schatz from Valley Christian School joins JoAnn and Russ and talks about creating her coffee table. It is a great way to get a feel for the project from the student perspective.  Please check out the clip from KPAX by clicking on the link below!

http://www.kpax.com/videos/mtm-live-interview-windows-of-youth/

This is all to promote the First Friday silent auction of the reclaimed windows that local area youth have turned into works of art. We have 56 windows now and they run the full spectrum of creativity.  There is definitely something there to please everyone.  Please go down to 420 North Higgins on Friday, May 3rd and check out Studio C.  You won't regret it!

Sentinel High School Finished Windows - Second Set of 2

Spread the Word!!!  This Friday, May 3rd, 5-7 p.m., silent auction at Studio C, 420 N. Higgins.  Come on out and bid on these amazing works of art!  

Isabel Snyders
Can You See the Sparrows?
Acrylic on Glass
27" x 28"

When presented with this project I thought that the best use of my window would be to work with my window.  I decided to paint sparrows who seemed to be on the other side of the window to give the feeling of looking at the sparrows flying outside of the window, rather than just sparrows painted on the window.

Katriena Maart
Dripping Creativity
Acrylic on Glass
28" x 31"

When our class was first given this assignment, I had no idea how to start.  The first idea that I had for it  was to splatter paint on the glass.  Splattering paint is messy, so I started to drip the paint down the window.  I knew that I wanted my window to have bright and vibrant colors.  The word "Create" was written by my lovely friend, Parker Smith, just as a joke, but I liked the idea so much that I traced over his handwriting with paint.

Devin Day and Josiah Doddema
Astral Phoenix
Etched Glass, Acrylic Paint
31" x 28"

Devin:  The Astral Phoenix design is my dad's design.  When the frosted window idea was presented to us, I thought that this design would look cool.  The cool thing about the design is that the beak of the phoenix is a moon and the flames make up the head.
Josiah:  I chose to partner with my friend Devin and he suggested the Phoenix. My idea was to paint the frame a dark, spacey look to give to the Astral Phoenix.

Allyssa Ruttenbur and Jesse King
Quarrelsome Koi
Acrylic and Tissue Paper on Glass
28" x 27"

We decided to paint a Koi fish together, since it is Alyssa's favorite fish.  After arguing constantly about which color to paint which part and how to make this painting look its very best, we settled our differences and completed this project.  Working together was very difficult, but in the end, we overcame our differences and began to get along.  To us, this painting now resembles friendship.

Payton Randall
Translucent Insanity
Acrylic on Glass
28" x 54"

I decided to express my imagination via abstract art, refraining from the pen and ink I have become accustomed to.  Really, the idea for the artwork just arrived spontaneously, so there is no reason for doing this besides artistic value.

Marcus Bartlett
Marcus's Garden City
Plastic Bottles, Tissue Paper, Permanent Markers, Acrylic Paint
19" x 28"

I like gardens so I made 3D flowers and I like colorful art pieces.  I used tissue paper and plastic bottles to make a transparency effect.  I like being in gardens because everything is unique in its own special way.

Sydney Pasternak

Life Cycle

Acrylic, Magazine clippings, Fabric on Glass

28" x 19"

Biking seems to be the "Life Cycle" for a large percentage of people around the world, and especially the beautiful city of Missoula, Montana.  I consider myself a fan of bikes and cycling, so when we layed our mark on these fun windows, I figured, "Why not something we Missoulians love?"  As a young artist, I have had this amazing opportunity to  help my own kind with expressing myself.  I find this project for the Youth Homes the most rewarding experience.  It is refreshing to see artists giving up their art for such a noble cause.  I hope for the best for the youth and the fascinating artistic works of the students!

Maddie Keast

The Frontier

Maps, Paper, Barbed Wire and Acrylic on Glass

18" x 36"

I used a rustic feel to channel an "Old Montana" feel.  I used old maps, aged paper, and barbed wire to make it seem worn down and give it a unified theme.  This project was really inspiring and nothing beats an opportunity to help others.  Thank you for looking at my window.  I hope you are as inspired by this project as I was.

Parker Smith

Country Time Window

Acrylic/ Chalkboard Paint on Glass

28" x 19"

My window was inspired by functionality.  I didn't just want to paint a window that might only be appealing to one person.  Instead, I wanted to try and appeal to a larger public with it being more "commercial" or something you might expect to find in your own home.  My window was recycled  but it was relatively new for a window, about 20 years old, and in perfect shape, without a scratch on it.  I wanted my window to have the appearance of an aged older window.  So, I had to age the frame quite a bit.  Half of my window is painted with chalk board paint so you can write memos on it and draw pictures if you want to.  The other half of my window as a lacey old design painted on the back of the glass.  I really enjoyed making this window, but I wish I had more time to work on it and add more details. I'm happy about the outcome of my window and I hope it raises a lot of money for local youth homes.

Brittany Finch

Elder Spirit

Etched Glass

34" x 36"

I chose to etch a tree on my window simply because I enjoy the steadfastness and seemingly elder wisdom that the crooked branches hold.  I left the window frame aged just the way it was to tie in the old story book look of the tree.  The bible verse is one of my favorites and it is done in color to accent the light blue original undercoat on the wood frame.  I am very pleased with the end result of this window and I hope it finds a good home.

Taylor Honabach and Kelleigh Sontag

Literature to Reality

Torn Pages of a Novel, Tissue Paper, Decal, Acrylic on Glass

42" x 25.5"

We chose to use an old book to create a landscape because we both love to read.  We chose the window because it was unique and rugged.  The tree was a spur of the moment choice and we ended up loving it.

Sydney A. Diacon 
A Peaceful Scene
Acrylic on Glass
28" x 19"

My painting is of Japanese cherry blossoms.  I just really like how delicate and beautiful Japanese cherry blossoms are.  This painting reminds me of how peaceful things can be, even if you are surrounded by chaos.

Courtney Vitelli
On the Edge
Mixed Media
28" x 54"

My painting is a girl's face with her hair going all crazy.  I painted this because it is supposed to bring out the earthy side of people.  I don't have a story.  My meaning is IDK.

Maddie Dixon

French Curves

Acrylic on Glass

28” x 27”

My piece is colorful shapes within a white background.  It doesn’t really have a story behind it.  I just really wanted to make something different and colorful.  I enjoy the way the French curves look.

Allyssa Ruttenbur
Hang in There
Acrylic on Glass
24" x  23"

I chose to paint a Panda bear on my window because I believe that this is the animal that best resembles my personality: Peace, Love, and Happiness.  However, when things get rough, the only thing you can do is "hang in there."  If I could give this Panda a name, his name would be Harmony.

Julio Carpio
British Invasion
Acrylic on Glass
32" x 33"

This painting shows the symbol of the Rolling Stones, hence the title.  Notice that the background colors are the colors of the British flag.  I used this theme because during the era of the Rolling Stones, they produced some of the greatest music, while paving the way for many other great musicians.

Thank you to Participating Art Teachers!

We just wanted to extend a special thank you to all of the art teachers involved with this project.  Thank you for allowing us into your classrooms and for supporting your students in the work they have done.

Gwen Hoppe - Willard School

Maureen Ammondson - Valley Christian Academy

Tim Nielson - Sentinel High School

Robin Gray - Sentinel High School

Matt Simms - Loyola Sacred Heart

Courtney Christopher - Hellgate High School

Dustin Hoon - Big Sky High School

We wouldn't have been able to do this without your support!

Valley Christian School Finished Windows

Come on out to the First Friday event on May 3rd!  The silent auction will take place from 5 to 7 p.m.  at Studio C, 420 N. Higgins.  (the corner of Higgins and Pine between Axis Physical Therapy and Studio D)  Come bid on these fabulous works of art!

Sarah Horvath

Strong Tower

Etched Glass

50.5" x 28"

Though I was excited about this project from the beginning, finding an idea I could commit to seemed difficult.  When I finally came across a picture of a lighthouse, however, it excited me.  By tying in the words of Psalms 27:1 and Proverbs 18:10, I could use it to illustrate an aspect of God's unfathomable love:  He is refuge for all who seek Him.

Alisha Wiley and Rebecca Smithers
Window to Nature
Acrylic on Glass
28" x 29"

We were inspired when we looked out the window of our art class, and wanted to portray the simplistic beauty we saw.  We liked the thought of recreating a simple, yet elegant scene from nature. We also wanted it to be natural so that it will be complimentary in any room.  We thoroughly enjoyed creating this piece of art!  We are very happy to be able to show God's creation in this window painting.  Psalms 145:5 says "On the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."  We thought this was an inspirational verse and used this as the basis for our window.

Justine Johnson
Infinity
Acrylic on Glass
20" x 31"

I didn't really have an inspiration, I just had an idea and knew what I wanted to do.  I had to paint in reverse, putting the tree first and the halo last.  The final product was my third attempt.  I kept scraping two specific spots off and repainting them until I was happy with it.  The third and final attempt was when Infinity came to be.

Jessica Aplin
God's Detail
Etched Glass
19" x 31"

 "God's Detail" is more than just a piece of art.  It was an inspiration brought to me by God.  The original idea was to create a unique setting that captures people's attention.  I first intended for it to be a simple flower.  However, I wanted to push myself by thinking of a more challenging picture etch. I wanted something that was normally considered small and insignificant.  The one idea that continually came to mind was a hummingbird.  Once the bird was set in the proper place I felt as thought the window was empty.  Until I imagined another creature full of tiny detail.  The bumblebee came into the picture and it was complete.  It was God's Detail that made this a simple masterpiece.

Sarah Kesler
Wonderland
Acrylic on Glass
17" x 35"

I started this piece with the thought that it would be a basic silhouette.  But, much like life, it wasn't turning out as I had planned!  As I was scratching off the paint to start over, I discovered my painting.  It was there all along, I just didn't know it.  So, I continued to scratch off designs in the black paint and thus, Wonderland was born.  Making this piece made me remember that all things work together for good.

Ashlyn Schatz and Lauren Godwin - Valley Christian Academy

A Hidden Promise

Acrylic on Glass and Wood

27.5" x 30" x 25"

We were inspired by God's promise of each time you see a rainbow, never again will God flood the whole earth.  Genesis 9:13 - "I have set my rainbow in the clouds."  We showed the passion and colors of God's creation through the brightness of every color.  The tree represents the tree of life and the perfection of God's Creation.

Loyola Sacred Heart Finished Windows

Spread the Word!!!   First Friday, May 3rd, silent auction at Studio C, 420 North Higgins, 5-7 p.m.  Come out bid on these fabulous windows created by local students to benefit Youth Homes.

Justin Anderson and Zach Hollenback

America

Glass Etching and Acrylic on Wood

30'' x 38"

Zach: For our project we decided to go patriotic and etch an American flag along with hanging a flag in the background.  This was a wonderful experience for my partner and me.  It allowed for us to work together while also exploring a new medium of art we had never done before.  Our piece shows the stars and stripes of America and the tradition and unity that goes along with it.  This is an artistic experience we will always remember and is a piece that definitely helped us broaden our creative skills.

Justin:  This was a tough piece to create.  And, though we struggled with some of our planning, I think that my partner and I are satisfied with the ragged, yet artistic piece that came out.  I think this work has developed some new skills and talents to add to our playbook.

Sophie Leonard

Giraffe

Acrylic on Glass

28" x 28"

For my window I chose to draw a giraffe.  The easiest part was drawing the giraffe.  The hardest part was painting backwards so that the giraffe would show through the opposite side of the window.  I liked the texture of the giraffe after I painted it.

Jake McElroy

Missoula Life

Glass Etching

28'' x 28"

I chose to do my piece on Missoula and what you can do around the city.  I put a fly, a trout, and a fly fisherman on teh top to represent fishing.  Missoula is well known for the fishing it has.  In the middle I did the University of Montana with the center being a griz paw.  This is representing the University and also the sports teams and mascot.  On the last line I did a hunter, a black lab, and birds to represent the bird hunting around Missoula.  I enjoyed this process and work, but it sure was not an easy or fast thing to do.  In the end, I think that the time was well worth it.

Nicole Twite

Along the River in Montana

Acrylic on Glass

28'' x 28"

I wanted to do something that represented what Montana looked like in the Spring.  Spring is one of my favorite times of year and I think it is truly a beautiful time of year.  I am an outdoorsy kind of girl so I love nature and what it offers.  The hardest thing for me to conquer in this project was painting from front to back.  I am normally a lot better with painting because I am good at shadows and highlights, but painting from the front to the back was very difficult for me.  Personally I am not as satisfied with this piece as I would like to be, but I am very glad I was given the opportunity to try it.

John Dollar

The Jungle

Acrylic on Glass

25'' x 29"

This painting is my favorite and best work this whole year.  The day the project was introduced to us I knew I wanted to do something at least similar to this, and as I was looking at other photos of birds I found an image similar to this.  I then incorporated both the photo and my own original ideas to it, and after many hours of painting and working, I finally got it to the point I wanted it at.  I can only hope whoever sees this takes as much enjoyment out of it as I did.

Tony Madsen

Tracks of Montana

Glass Etching

28'' x 28"

For my project I wanted to show many different types of tracks walking through the outline of our state.  I did a large moose in the middle of the state with wolf, bear, moose, and mountain lion tracks on the outside.  I worked many hours on this project.  I had to draw the outline of each track onto the glass and cut it out.  After cutting out the tracks, I used etching cream to burn away the glass to leave my design.  My struggle that I faced was that I spilled etching cream on the bottom of the glass leaving a small mark.  I hope you like it.

Brenna Kinsey

Yet Another Hipster Painting of Paris

Acrylic on Glass

18'' x 18"

I knew I wanted to work with a famous monument.  Originally I was going to paint Big Ben, but I had a feeling I would not be able to let it go.  I decided to paint the Eiffel Tower because Paris is romantic and the Eiffel Tower represents Paris.  I liked the idea of looking out of an old window and seeing the Eiffel Tower, so I sanded the paint down on the frame.  I really like the background.  The color choices worked well and I'm really happy with the finished product.

Kayla Kelley

Summer

Acrylic on Glass

21'' x 76"

In the beginning of this project, I had decided that I wanted to paint sun flowers.  Sun flowers reminded me of summer time when the weather is warm and everything outside is colorful and beautiful.  I love the size of this window; it was the first one that caught my eye.  I knew that I wanted to have the flowers growing up from the bottom, and having the stems snaking through the other window panes.  On the very last day I decided to add in the butterfly.  I needed to add the butterfly because otherwise the window looked like it was missing something.  Now, I feel like my window is completed and somewhat portrays my view on summer. I hope you all like the window and get the feeling of summer when you look at it.

Garret Dutton

Montana

Etched Glass

28" x 29"

I knew that I wanted my piece to have something to do with nature, so I did the outline of Montana, where I live, three flowers, an owl perched on a branch and a silhouette of three elk.  I was looking for more of a challenge so I chose etching as my medium.  It was something new for me and something I've never even thought of before.  I really enjoyed this project. It took me countless hours of work and many struggles, including one of the etchings breaking.  But overall, this is one of my favorite pieces and it has inspired me to do more etchings.

Big Sky High School Finished Windows

We hope that you will join us on Friday, May 3rd, at Studio C, 420 North Higgins.  It is on the corner of Higgins and Pine between Axis Physical Therapy and Studio D.  Spread the word!!!

Rachel Dickson

Creation Communication

Etched Glass, Acrylic on Glass

58.5" x 27.5"

This project was a challenge for me because it took a long time to complete and the acid didn't evenly burn through.  I really liked creating this window because the new medium was interesting and I liked the concept I used.

Dan Davis 
Weekend by the Pond
Etched Glass
32" x 30"

This piece was sketched on contact paper then cut out and etched with etching cream.  I worked about 15 hours on the window.

 Kelly Seitz

Human

Velu, Gel Media, Permanent Marker, and Acrylic on Glass

48" x 24"

Roughly 18 hours of work went into the creation of this window.  I was intrigued with the idea of painting on glass because I have never attempted to do so before now.  Capturing a Steampunk theme was my goal with this work, and I hope the way I captured it puzzles and intrigues viewers.

Jayden Cowell

Iced Vines

Etched Glass

28" x 30"

Basically I did the vine work because I've been working with them.  I've always wanted to try etching.

Brandon Gomez

Gradual

Acrylic on Glass

32" x 19"

Often I tend to make my artwork too complex.  With this piece I wanted to simplify my content by using a grayscale color scheme and place emphasis on horizontal and vertical movement.  I also wanted to emphasize the work's simplicity by keeping the negative space merely as the bare glass.

Ryley Enich

Fish On

Etched Glass, Pastel on Paper

40" x 27"

I did this piece because I wanted to use a new medium.  I chose the content because I felt like it would serve well with the new medium I would be working with.  Overall, this was a new opportunity for me and a great cause.

Sentinel High School Finished Windows (First Set of 2)

More windows are rolling in!  Spread the word to all of your family and friends to come out and support the Silent Auction benefiting Missoula Youth Homes.

Friday, May 3rd, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

Studio C - Corner of Higgins and Pine between Axis Physical Therapy and Studio D

Olivia Edwards
Untitled
Acrylic and Shells on Glass
27" x 38"

When I was making this painting I chose to do an ocean, something I have always been drawn to.  I also didn't want to do a typical ocean scene, so I did a starry night for the sky. That was basically my inspiration.

Gabrielle Scolatti

Eyes on Fire

Acrylic on Glass, Sharpie on Wood

23" x 52"

My painting was mostly inspired by my sister that moved to Billings two months ago.  I miss her very much and so I made the girl look like her.  As for the hair, it is my dream to have hair like her.  The some came later.  One day when I was painting, this song, "Eyes on Fire", by Blue Foundation, came on and it was the perfect note to put on there.  I put fish on the other side for a nice contrast.  I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.

Melanie Coles and Rozalyn Terry

Springtime Swirl

Acrylic on Glass

28" x 29"

Our inspiration for this piece was from each other.  When we work on art together we always have ideas that start to spark the other's imagination.  We both have our own signature swirls so we decided to combine the two different types to create one piece.  We felt the flower would tied it all together.  We hope it is something people would want hanging in their home.

 

Sallie Mitchell

Untitled

Acrylic on Glass

27.5" x 45"

My teacher asked us to think of this project as a window into our world.  I didn't know what I would paint first.  I started to think about my life, knowing that death was a substantial part of it.  I settled on a tree that was living even though a large part of it was dead.  My dad died seven years ago, and like the tree, I'm alive and well, but there's a part of my self that will never bee the same.  The yellow background is life and the black is death and grief.  Even though there is death, the hope of life still shines through.

Olivia Valentine

The Heart's One of a Kind

Acrylic on Glass

32" x 33"

This painting is based on my love for birds.  As a little girl I had a parakeet as my first pet.  It quickly became my best friend.  When it died I always wanted another one that would be like the first.  Recently in a paper about my life I included a little bit about my first pet and I wrote, "You cannot replace something that your heard decides is one of a kind."  My decision to paint these birds is from my childhood and the design is from a drawing I have had for a long time.  Thank you for reading.

Rachel Gehman

Dioctopod

Acrylic on Glass

32" x 34"

Surrealism has always been my favorite type of art.  I found octopuses holding umbrellas compelling because and octopus is a creature with absolutely no use for an umbrella.  Putting the two together seemed like a strange and appealing thing to do.

Elliot Tabler
Colors of Missoula
Acrylic on Glass
32" x 23"

This window has been an incredible experience for me.  I really enjoyed working with my classmates for a project that goes towards such a great cause.  I wanted to capture how I feel about Missoula in a way that shows this city's beauty with colors that give the city an uplifting vibe.

Kailee Nelson
The Sea Turtle
Acrylic on Glass
30" x 32"

This project was extremely fun to work on.  I have never worked with acrylic paint before (mainly oil and charcoal), so this was a new and unique experience.  I worked on this for about a week (roughly five hours) and I used a more abstract method than I have ever used before.  This was a really fun project!

Jessica Clement
The Little Things
Acrylic on Glass
29" x 32"

This project was very fun for me.  Once I started putting paint on the glass, I didn't know what I wanted to do.  I just let my brush move me.  Then, before I knew it, it became a picture and I knew what I wanted in the middle of it all.  I wanted a small piece of happiness in the sometimes dark world.

Taylor Herz
Up in Smoke
Acrylic on Glass
27" x 32"

It took me about four hours of work.  I really just focused on black and white painting. Volcanoes are very black and white at times.

Lyndria Tackitt
Vortex
Acrylic on Glass
42" x 22"

I thought up this piece because when it was introduced to us we were told it could be a window into our world.  So that is what I made it.  I want people to be able to look at it , get away from the real world, and be able to go to their own world.  Also when painting it, I had to take what I drew and planned out and work backwards from what I had just finished.