Frankie

My name is Frankie! I'm an Iowa transplant from Milwaukee, WI with a BFA in Integrated Studio Arts from Iowa State University. I focused in ceramics and drawing but eventually succumbed to the "painter" label. I love working with mixed media, mostly 2D, and rarely travel without my bullet journal and fineliner pens. While I've dedicated a large portion of my life to the visual arts, most people know me as a dancer! I work gigs as a professional dancer and represent the Iowa Barnstormers as a veteran of the Stormchasers Dance Team (3 years and counting). I love the pom dance style and all things sassy but the majority of my dance training was through Irish dancing! After competing and performing with the Glencastle Irish Dancers in Milwaukee, I grew as an instructor and director of the Irish dance program and Irish Performance Team with the Robert Thomas Dancenter in Ames, IA. I have a passion for expression and all of my work, including performance pieces, is flooded with symbolism and personal stories or meaning. I can't wait to discuss color theory with you during our next event!

Lexi

As an art enthusiast and aspiring art teacher, I am always excited to meet new people and share my love of art. I'm mainly self-taught but have taken multiple art classes through my high school, along with AP art courses, and through the Des Moines Area Community College, where I am currently completing my Associate's degree in Liberal Arts. I'm still young, but I'm motivated to learn more and expand my horizons as a person as well as an artist. I don't consider myself to be a particular type of artist. Art can be about anything to me, and I love getting to play around with it and seeing what strange ideas I, myself, or others come up with. I can get lost in the details at times, but I enjoy the unrestricted, relaxed process of creating art. I look forward to seeing what masterpieces you create!

Jill

Jill is an Artist that relocated to Des Moines from Los Angeles. She has a degree in Fine Arts and Apparel Design. Her focus on photo realism in drawing led her to really push the limits in abstraction through photo realism. She has done many art shows in Iowa, was selected to be a featured artist in a show in New York and has been preselected by a Curator of an International Art magazine to be featured in the magazine. Jill has brings Art Instructor experience from another local studio. She is now very excited to be apart of the Bottle and Bottega team!

Jordan

Jordan is a Higher Education professional by day and artist by night. His primary mediums are pen and ink, digital painting, and acrylic painting. Jordan creates art to better understand who he is and the world around him. He says, “A better me, a better you, and a better world all starts with our capacity to imagine.“ He’s been working with Bottle & Bottega Des Moines since 2018 and loves sharing his passion for art and creativity with the people in his class.

KC

Hello! My name is K.C. McLaughlin! I am a UNI graduate with a degree in Art Studio with an Emphasis in Drawing! I enjoy all things art related but have fallen in love with painting and color theory. I am happy to be part of the Bottle & Bottega team to be able to teach others how to paint!

Monika

Hi, I’m Monika! I recently graduated from Iowa State University with a BFA in Integrated Studio Arts. I always knew I would continue my path to become an artist from when I was young. My family is full of painters and artists who inspired me to follow my dreams. I love to inspire others to discover their inner artist and not be so afraid of a canvas! When I’m not painting or drawing, I spend my time with my two cats, Riso and Denali, baking in the kitchen, or out skateboarding. I like to channel our beloved creator, Bob Ross, when painting and hope you can join me to paint some “happy little trees” soon!

Nibras

Hello everyone! My name is Nibras Abdalla. I was born in Sudan, my family fled the country's harsh economic situation when I was two years old. I spent eleven years in Damascus, Syria, before arriving in the United States in 2007. I have been interested in art my entire life. I began painting as a very young girl, my first painting experience was at our backyard in Damascus. I was fascinated by nature and capturing colors in flowers and birds. I obtained a bachelor in Biological Premedical Illustration from Iowa State University. My degree has equipped me with artistic techniques and a broad range of design skills, while focusing on natural science. Painting has been therapeutic and a source of joy for me, and I am very excited to share that passion with you at Bottle & Bottega Des Moines!

Amy

I am a lover of all things creative. Being able to create my own art and leading others to create is a passion. I dabble in various forms of art: welding, painting, repurposing anything that requires getting messy. As a middle school art teacher, Bottle & Bottega Des Moines is a great avenue to share my love of art and my love of a great party! “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ~ Maya Angelou

Kayana

Born in the South Suburbs of Chicago, 21-year-old Kayana Thomas has always had a love for art. Growing up in a Christian home filled with beautiful African art she developed her faith and her passion for art. Proud of her African-American heritage she loves illustration, animation and portraits, particularly depicting African Americans. Formally trained in still life and figure drawing she is currently working towards earning a bachelor's degree in studio arts at Grandview University. She plans on using her degree to fulfil one of life-long dreams, creating and directing animated films. Along with a separate part-time job she works weekends at Bottle & Bottega of Des Moines where she teaches and hosts painting parties. Kayana also volunteers for a new faith-based non-profit known as the Des Moines Dream Center, where she directs and teaches free art classes for impoverished children of Des Moines. Kayana's faith in God has opened so many opportunities to use her art to better herself and impact her community in positive ways.