Group supports artists of all skills

After living in Katy for 18 years, Ana Villaronga-Roman has seen it grow, thrive and flourish. There was just one thing she felt was lacking.

"There weren't many art events for adults in Katy that were fun," she said. "There were lots of things for children, and I really enjoyed those things with my son. Then he grew up and I wondered what in the art world was left for me?"

Villaronga-Roman decided to find out by joining Katy Area Artists, a nonprofit group centered on teaching and mentoring adult artists through regular workshops, demonstrations, guest speakers, exhibitions and competitions.

"It's for anyone who wants to support the arts," Villaronga-Roman said. "[It's] not necessarily just for artists."

Villaronga-Roman was so enthusiastic about KAA, she's now in her second year as president.

Katy is experiencing an art explosion, she said, and KAA is part of it. Last year, Villaronga-Roman arranged more than 30 KAA-related events around the city. The group was part of establishing FotoFest Katy in March, and it partnered with the Katy Jazz Festival to host an art show during its event last April. KAA is a member of the Lone Star Art Guild and the Katy Cultural Arts Alliance.

"What I'm trying to do is make it so that we raise awareness of all Katy's nonprofits that are related to the arts," said Villaronga-Roman, who owns an eco-friendly greeting card company called Texas Big Skies and is an art consultant in Houston.

The organization's 80-plus members are visual artists, said vice president Tom Haymes, including photographers, painters and sculptors. Haymes, a landscape/architectural photographer, said painters make up the majority of the group, representing slightly more realism than abstract.

"But it really doesn't matter what kind of artist you are," Haymes said. "Other artists have skills complementary to yours that you can learn from."

Membership dues are $40 a year, but membership is not required to attend workshops or demonstrations, although there may be a small entry or supply fee.

Workshops are held at various venues around the city. Operating on a $3,000 - $4,000 annual budget does not leave much room for establishing a permanent location, but Haymes said they recently partnered with Multiplicity, an art store and jewelry boutique, for workshop space. Member meetings are held the first Monday of every month at Babaloo Gallery, located at 22756 Westheimer Parkway.

"We encourage anybody to visit," Haymes said. "We invite people to stick their toes in the water."

Upcoming events

• Nov. 7: The Katy Gong Show, benefiting the Katy Art Fund at Multiplicity,1306 Ave A
• Nov. 17: Speaker: Lynne Skoyles, "From Travel to Award-Winning Work" at Grand Lakes Presbyterian Church (Peek and Fry roads)

Katy Area Artists, 515-A S. Fry Road, Ste. 252, Katy, 832-541-7981, www.katyareaartists.org