I’ve never considered myself a “creative,” though creativity has walked along the edges of my life for a long time. Being married to a musician, having a very creative daughter, and living in this amazingly creative town for most of my adult life, I’ve developed my own creative spirit, and recently have merged my professional life with the culture of Denton to imagine The Art Room.

I came to Denton almost 40 years ago to pursue a graduate degree in Psychology from the University of North Texas. I graduated from UNT with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 1986 and have had a private practice since 1988 to the present, practicing in Denton for the past 15 years. I love the spirit of Denton and working here has been an incredible blessing for me.

I began to nurture my own creative energy by taking adult education classes in drawing, and later more formal training at Texas Woman’s University. Engaging in any form of creativity has been so emotionally beneficial in my own life that I wanted to give back to my community and to those who could benefit from creating in a safe and supportive environment—thus The Art Room was born in January, 2019.

There is just something about Denton…

When I moved here for college nearly 20 years ago, I didn’t imagine that Denton would become my permanent home. But it wasn’t long before the town’s spirit of community and dedication to the arts quickly won me over, and I’ve been here ever since.

I am so excited to be part of The Art Room, where in my own small way I can give back to this community that’s given so much to me.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor and mental health provider my mission is to help The Art Room reach its intended audience, foster the therapeutic experience of the participants, and do whatever I can to realize the organization’s vision.  Having worked at Denton County MHMR for the past five years, I’ve experienced firsthand the power of therapeutic programs for both the participants and the organizers, and I believe that The Art Room will be a great addition to our collective community spirit. 

Leslie Kregel, BFA, Volunteer Director

I was born and raised here in Denton, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Art in Art Education from the University of North Texas, with all-level teacher certification in the state of Texas.  I was an art educator in Denton for 24 years working at all levels from elementary to high school.  Since 2014 I’ve focused on my work as a studio artist through my own Cimarrona Studio. 

As an art educator, I meet people where they are, then work to guide them toward more sophisticated art making, problem solving and idea generating.  I am able to work with people who demonstrate a variety of skill levels and learning styles in one studio environment, and I like to create a working environment that is calm and productive.

As an artist, I’m comfortable with a wide variety of media, both 2D and 3D—drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles and ceramics.  And as you can see, I’m very excited about being involved with The Art Room!

Ryan Robinson, LPC, Treasurer

Art is the practice of creation and imagination. In other words, art is the practice of potential, of “what if” and of “what could be”. Practicing this mindset, while challenging at times, leads many of us to feel rejuvenated and connected with this future potential.

I think many of us wish to have change in our lives to actualize a particular future we hope to have. Much like art, we create these changes one stroke at a time. Over time, with the use of imagination and patience, we build a distinctly unique mural. What if, when we look upon our own mural, our own creation, we could feel at peace? What if we could learn to be gentle with ourselves through our “mis-strokes” and mistakes. What if we could learn to accept these mis-strokes and use them to create a piece of art of which we could be proud? What if practicing art, or practicing the “what-if” could help bring this peace and acceptance?

I know I know, you are saying to yourself “But Ryan, this BIO is supposed to be about you.”

To which I would reply, “what if it is?” ;-)

(Ryan is a licensed professional counselor [LPC] who practices in Denton Texas. Father of two, husband of one, in his spare time he enjoys his involvement with The Art Room.)

Angela de los santos, BA, Fundraising and Social Media Director

I was born and raised in Austin, Texas but in 2009 I ventured north on I-35 to Denton, to attend the University of North Texas; I never looked back. At UNT I studied Nonprofit Management, Communication Studies, and Recreation. Since graduating I’ve undertaken many roles in my evolving career, mainly in the field of higher education.

Currently I’m working at an outdoor retailer, a great fit, since I’m able to call upon my love and knowledge of the outdoors on a daily basis. While I’m an avid outdoorswoman, in the great indoors I’m also a self-taught embroidery artist and enjoy a variety of DIY projects.

 I am honored to be part of this unique organization and truly believe in its power to improve the lives of those with mental health issues. The Art Room is a safe and welcoming space that inspires and heals, and being able to bring my own skills to the table is tremendously rewarding.

Alisha Danbom, BSN, RN, data director

I was born and raised in West Texas, moved to North Texas area later in my youth, and began my higher education at the University of North Texas.  I earned a BFA in Communication Design from UNT, later a BS in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University, and I’m now a Registered Nurse working in Oncology, treating, educating and helping people navigate through their course of care. Working as an Oncology nurse, I’ve seen that living with any cancer is invariably stressful, and people experience a myriad of emotions throughout their course, or lifetime, of treatment.  I know from experience that art therapy can be incredibly helpful in providing an escape against the backdrop of anxiety and the unknown. 

 The use of art therapy in promoting healing is the main reason I was drawn to The Art Room. I truly love being a part of an organization that provides a safe and creative environment in which our Denton community can benefit so meaningfully. And for me personally, I’m inspired to tap into The Art Room energy for my well being and health, since my own creativity has been rekindled in the process of helping The Art Room problem-solve and grow.

Margaret Young, Ph.D., Board Member

I moved to Denton in 2015 to take a job with Texas Woman's University, and immediately began to appreciate the artistic energy and vibe here! I'm not an artist in the literal sense, but I've been known to pick up a guitar and write a song or two over the years, and I really enjoy the sense of fulfillment that creativity brings me.

As one of the Associate Deans in the College of Business at TWU, most of the time my work involves managing staff and working with students....and so there aren't a lot of opportunities for artistic creativity. There is creativity, but it's different and involves finding creative ways to solve business problems. So, when I was offered an opportunity to join the board of the Art Room, I thought it would be a great way to do something I haven't done before. It's been a great experience so far! In my past life I worked in sales and marketing for various companies and my business degrees are in marketing, so I hope that my sales experience will help me be of service to the Art Room!

If you are out and about you might see me walking a dog or two....