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.

I’ll be honest - I dabble in a bit of everything. I love variety, and I think it shows. Although I grew up in Kansas, I knew I wanted something different. Creativity was a way to get that something different that was always in my reach. Before I left high school I had tried painting, drawing, comics, photography, jewelry, knitting, sewing, ceramics, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some. Bringing something entirely new into the world helped me create the space I wanted to occupy and a world I wanted to be in.

Eventually I did leave Kansas and lived in several different states, obtained a degree, and held numerous jobs. Although never my career, art is something that has never left my side throughout it all. As I’ve grown and tried to get a better handle on my own mental health, art has been crucial to overcome so many of my struggles and helped me have a better understanding of my thoughts, my wants, and the world at large.

Denton is a place that has called to both my husband and I’s hearts. We decided to make it home. Art has helped us both in so many ways, so when I saw The Art Room, I jumped at the opportunity to give others the chance to use art to find themselves like I was able to. Art and creativity truly can be the safe place many of us need, and I’m thrilled to be able to help provide that to others however I can.

I've known I wanted to be an accountant since middle school. I was lucky enough to be able to focus my academic journey on making that a reality. I earned a B.S. in accounting from Virginia Tech and a Masters of Accountancy from William & Mary before working in public accounting. I worked in corporate tax and spent a fair amount of time working with nonprofit organizations. I was a manager in a high net worth individual tax practice (including private foundations) before returning to Blacksburg to earn my Ph.D. in accounting. I now have the most rewarding job in accounting – teaching others! I'm currently an assistant professor at Texas Woman's University.

I'm a Virginia native and spent most of my life in various parts of the Commonwealth. I previously lived in Rockwall, TX before moving to Poughkeepsie, NY. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to move back to Texas and have enjoyed getting to know Denton. It's been challenging since the move happened during the height of the pandemic.

While I am not great with a paintbrush, I can make some masterpieces on cake! I also spent most of my youth involved in music (and my husband has a degree in music composition). I also spent a decade as a volunteer EMT/medic. I love helping people and volunteering, so I am excited to work with The Art Room and appreciate the opportunity to work with such creative people.

Since my early teen years, I have had a lifelong dream to be a “starving artist, not hungry.” Currently, I am an occupational therapist by profession and ideology, and I am extremely grateful to be teaching for a living while supporting art by volunteering. Blessed by a stellar family of origin and devoted fan of my own offspring, I share the joy of friendship with these and many more individuals who extend across generations and geography. 

 I am fortunate to serve as the director of the School of Occupational Therapy at Texas Woman’s University.  A lifelong fascination with art and craft led to an earlier career as an industrial arts teacher. Challenges in the education of inner city youth then led me to the field of occupational therapy where my belief in art and craft as therapeutic tools evolved and remains strong to this day.

I consider it an honor and a thrill to be associated with The Art Room in Denton. This organization attracts an amazing group of participants and volunteers who so willingly share their creative spirits and friendship to create and maintain a safe space for art to bloom. The words of John Updike, writer, art and literary critic, reflect my own feelings about The Art Room, “What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit.”

I started my career as an artist in Philadelphia, graduating from Tyler School of art with a BFA in printmaking. From there I entered the field of Art Therapy as an Art Therapist at Newtown State Hospital in Connecticut. Here in Denton, I completed my Master of Occupational Therapy degree at TWU in 1980. I have helped people as an art therapist in mental health and other settings, working with both individuals and groups.

I feel that Art is the great communicator—not only to yourself, but also to others. My own art work is my therapy, which gives me comfort and release from stress. I'm looking forward to rekindling my creative self and helping others find their creative spark with my involvement in The Art Room.

Thirty years ago, I made a life-changing decision to move to Denton to pursue my undergraduate degree at the University of North Texas's Radio, Television, Video & Film (RTVF) program. What began as a detour from my original path in accounting became a transformative journey, discovering the impact that creative exposure can have in shaping a meaningful and fulfilling life and career. This experience ignited a passion within me, and I've long been an advocate for the power of creativity.

Throughout my career in creative services, I've remained committed to nurturing the benefits of creativity both personally and professionally with mentoring and internships at our business. When I discovered The Art Room during North Texas Giving Day, my wife and I knew we wanted to contribute to this vital organization that brings creativity and healing to our community.

I'm humbled to now serve as a board member and look forward to continuing to champion the tangible and intangible benefits that creativity brings to people's lives. Our partnership with The Art Room is a true blessing, and I'm excited to be part of this journey.

I was an athlete growing up and devoted all of my free time in my march towards what I believed was an inevitable All Star and World Series winning career in Major League Baseball. I also loved music, movies, writing, reading and drawing, and did as much of that as time would allow. Now that it has become clear that the MLB career didn’t quite pan out, I often wish that I had spent more time developing my artistic ability when I was younger, and, if I could do it all over again, would most likely attend film school. After my graduation from law school when I was wondering what in the world I had just done and why, I was slightly upset when my mother (RIP, you were the best) finally told me that my seventh grade art teacher had once taken her aside after a class exhibit and told her that I had “real potential” as an artist. Better late than never I guess!

I love Denton and am proud to call it my home. I first moved here in 1987 to begin college at the University of North Texas, after spending all of my high school years in Heidelberg, Germany. I had not set foot in the United States for four years and was somewhat lost during my first few years in Denton. It was once I began to experience our amazing music scene that I began to understand what a truly special place Denton was (and remains). After leaving Denton with my degree in 1992, I found myself back here, completely unexpectedly, in 1998. I had no intention of remaining this time around, however, my legal partner and I will soon celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of our Denton law practice. For this unplanned return, I will always be grateful.

For many years, I was actively involved with volunteer work benefitting our tremendous music and art communities, culminating in 2015 when I was the Booking Director for the 35 Denton Music Festival. When given the opportunity to be involved in the formation of The Art Room, I was happy to lend whatever help I could. Now, I am truly excited to have been made an Ex- Officio Board Member and look forward to even more involvement working with this incredible organization.

My art journey started in 2009 when I took my first official art elective in sixth grade with Mr. Thompson at McMath Middle School. Since then, I’ve never held a pencil the same again. Fast forward to 2025, I’m working towards my bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Texas State University. I want to become an art therapist because I truly believe in the healing powers that art can have on our well-being. 

These days, I’m a self-taught artist. I’m inspired by the awesome folks at The Art Room—and YouTube, of course! My art is a blend of mixed media. I love working with acrylics, colored pencils, and markers to create realistic paintings. I also enjoy incorporating intricate patterns and dotting elements into my creations. 

I’m really lucky and grateful to be volunteering with The Art Room because it’s the perfect space to merge my two favorite disciplines—art and psychology. As an Ex-Officio Non-Voting Board Member, my goal is to support The Art Room’s mission. This means ensuring our members have a secure and inspiring space where they can create, heal, and grow with our wonderful community. I’m thrilled to be working alongside the incredible members of The Art Room!

My name is Jennifer Diaz (she/they) and I am a visual artist originally from Panama, and now based in Krum, Texas. I moved at age 17 to attend college and my languages are Spanish, English and ASL. I have one child and they attend UNT. 

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Painting and Drawing and a Master’s in Art Education. I am passionate about both creating and teaching, and am an Elementary Art Teacher with Denton ISD, as well as serving as the Art Educator and Special Projects Coordinator at The Art Room in Denton. I have 19 years' experience teaching Pre-K through adults.

My work spans multiple mediums, but I focus on ceramics, digital art, and mixed media. Drawing inspiration from my cultural heritage and my experiences as a neurodivergent art educator, through my art, I explore themes of nature, identity, transformation, and connection. I am deeply committed to nurturing creativity in young minds and fostering a love for the arts in my community. I strive to blend technique with emotion, creating pieces that resonate on both a personal and universal level.

I’m delighted to serve as administrative assistant and social media manager for The Art Room. I passionately believe in the healing power of art, and being a part of this wonderful organization is so meaningful to me.

I hold a BFA in Drawing and Painting, and have had a love of art my entire life. This includes not only the visual arts, but all forms of creative expression—especially film, music, and the written word.