About Us

My name is Robin Thibodeau and I am first and foremost, an artist from Okotoks, yes, since I was born in 1976. I graduated with the Art Award of Excellence in high school at FCHS in 1994 (one year before AHSFA opened!) and with honours in the Visual Arts at The University for the Arts (formerly known as the Alberta College of Fine Art and Design) in 1998.
With Okotoks, Alberta as my creative headquarters, I began teaching art to children from ages 6 – 12 through the Okotoks Art Gallery in January of 2001. Soon, many kids were registering for every single class until they ‘aged out’!!! We became a true art family, and I really missed them, so I offered more advanced classes for 12+ but they weren’t as popular.  
I began to realize they were seeking more one-on-one instruction so in 2007, I opened my Studio to serve this need.
Students would join to hone a specific skill,technique or medium as they built their portfolios to attend post secondary institutions.  From 2007 to 2011 I was able to assist 6 students to successfully apply to The University of Victoria, Emily Carr University, VanArts, University of Lethbridge and UofA (formerly ACAD)
2012 saw the introduction of the Fantasy Fine Art Camps and the Artist Leagues – both semi-private services that offer and fine art lessons, art history and fascinating techniques through a wide variety of materials and media. These students also benefit from special guests/experts in their medium as well as field trips to local businesses as complements to their programs. 
Now, with workshops and camps as my vehicles, I have officially chosen the path as an arts advocate for those interested in discovering and mastering their in-born artist, with the end goal of living in their most authentically awesome, epic and masterful  selves.  We hold our motto dear, and it reads as: "We Are Artists, Not Mere Mortals" and our Studio Crest translates to:  "Artists Are Cultural Heroes"

 Artist League students work as creatives using all forms of inspiration to make their masterpieces. Since the nature of art making is a deeply personal experience, there is a tendency to isolate ourselves from the public at large. But since art is meant to be shared with the world around us... I make it my duty to ensure all members whether belonging to either of the Artist Leagues, Workshops or the Fine Art Camps, to incorporate opportunities for
them and their art to be showcased in the public eye.

?I manage this by hosting The League of Artists Annual Student Exhibit,  Summer Camps and arranging field trips to local places and creative businesses. Our Annual Christmas Party held in December, the Studio is transformed into a gallery space and serves as a great experience for students to invite family and friends to an exclusive showing of their work, where they can display and or sell their work directly. 
The Holiday Mini Camps, Family Week Workshops and Easter Camps are meant as a taste of an experience in The Studio or ISAFA. 

?By joining any of these, the registrant becomes a member of The Inspiration Studio Academy of Fine Art (aka ISAFA) and receives exclusive invitations to special events, early information and hyperlinks to my Town of Okotoks Community Programs! 

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