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I am working full time as an art teacher, so Yartko Studio is Closed until further notice. Thank you for your interest!

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Mrs. Debbie Yatko, M.A. - Artist, Art Teacher, and Mom

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Mrs. Debbie Yatko, M.A. - Artist, Art Teacher, and Mom

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Custom pottery makes for great gifts.  Contact me with an idea you have and I can make it happen.  The picture above is a commission to make soap dishes to pair with my friend's homemade soap.  They are sold for $25 at Blue Sky Soap's market stand in Grapevine. I also make mugs, toothbrush holders, spoon rests, beer steins, etc. Let me know what you want and I can make it for you. Orders take 2 months.

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We move the studio indoors depending on the weather.

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Featuring my son Cyril with his favorite chicken "Icecream"

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Paint Pouring Lessons (Private of Small Group)

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Paint Pouring Lessons (Private of Small Group)

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Every pour is unique! The picture below is from a homeschool student I teach.

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Student artwork: Ready to bisque fire in the kiln.  Next step is glazing!

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Student artwork: Ready to bisque fire in the kiln.  Next step is glazing!

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Students painting a Monet inspired garden scene at an art lesson.

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If you add an "r" to Yatko, it makes ART, or more specifically, Yartko :)

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My potter's wheel on my patio studio. An oldie but a goodie! :)

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I have been an elementary art educator in DFW for 14 years. I graduated from UT Austin in 2003 with a degree in Art Education (combining studio art, art history and education classes). My first teaching job was at a charter school in Arlington (Arlington Classics Academy).  Next I moved to Plano and taught in Plano ISD for 4 years at Hedgcoxe Elementary.  I took two years off of full time teaching to finish my master's degree in Art Education at UNT. My research project was about Eco-Art. Meanwhile, I got married in 2010 to Mr. Tim Yatko. In 2012 we had our first child, Cyril. He is in 4th grade at Cannon Elementary in GCISD. Promptly after my master's degree (and having a baby), I got a job in HEBISD at Lakewood Elementary in Euless. Our second (and last) child, Cecilia, was born in September of 2014. She is in  First Grade at Cannon.  Teaching full time and having two kids led to a  fulfilling, fun, yet stressful 7 years.  I resigned from my teaching job at Lakewood Elementary in May 2019.   Instead, I have decided to be a "stay at home mom" part-time, substitute teacher part time.  This will allow me to be more present for my family.  In my spare time I also would love to continue to make and teach art.  Teaching is my calling and one way to bring meaning to my life (see "My Why" post below).  That is why I started up "Yartko Studio".

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Cyril, Me, Cecilia in front of our House and location of Yartko Studio (920 Ravenswood Dr. Grapevine, TX)

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Cyril, Me, Cecilia in front of our House and location of Yartko Studio (920 Ravenswood Dr. Grapevine, TX)

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Why did I choose to be an art educator?
● I Love kids.
● I Love art.
● I Love the Earth.
● I Love learning.
● I Love being creative and solving problems. I Love helping kids (and adults) unleash their creativity and work through their own art problems.

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Update: I am working full time and no longer doing private art lessons.

I can tailor a lesson for any art medium or style.  Just let me know what you or your child is wanting to do.  I will provide the materials and supplies unless you want to bring something specific.   Here are some examples of media I can teach:
- Wheel Thrown Pottery (I have a potter's wheel at my home studio space and will soon have a kiln to fire the clay)
-Hand Built Pottery (coil, slab, pinch pot, sculpture)
-Paint Pouring
- Painting (on paper, canvas or mural)
- Oil Pastel or Chalk Pastel
- Digital art (Stop motion animation is my specialty, but I have dabbled in Adobe Photoshop and other programs)
- Paper Mache (always fun! - I used to love to make my own pinatas when I was younger)
- Sewing (I have made quilts, pillows, curtains, usually with a sewing machine, but also love doing it by hand.  I am currently learning how to hand quilt)
- Drawing (Shading with pencil, and/or charcoal)
-Colored Pencil
-Mixed Media Collage (an underutilized medium, but one of my favorites!)
-Art History (I LOVE art history and am a frequent art museum visitor)

WHERE will the lessons be?
-At my house in Grapevine, TX: if it is a pottery lesson it will have to be at my home studio since the equipment is large.
- At your home: I can come to you if you prefer.  This is only possible if the art supplies are easily transportable.
-At Homeschools, Daycares or After-school Care programs (Extended Day, Kidz U).  Contact me if your daycare or after-school program is interested in contracting me to teach art lessons from time to time.

How much will it cost?
Private lessons will be $50 per hour. See specific camp and afterschool lesson information for cost of small group lessons.
I am also open to bartering.  Do you have a good or service I could use?  For example, I  will give you pottery lessons if you teach my son piano.

What AGES can take lessons?
Age 3- 100! I have taught as young as 3 years old (my son and daughter) and can teach any age.  I have mainly taught ages 5 - 12 , but would LOVE to teach middle school age, high school age and/or adults too.

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Private (or semi-private) Pottery Lessons

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Private (or semi-private) Pottery Lessons

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Update: I am working full time and no longer doing private art lessons.

Learning how to throw pots on the potter's wheel is best to learn one on one.  Contact me if you are interested in starting private lessons for you or your child.  I have daytime availability, which is perfect for home-schooled kiddos!  Private lessons will be $40 an hour.  Two Students is $50 an hour. 3 students is $60 per hour.
The pottery process includes:
- Learning how to throw (shape) the pots (bowls, mugs, vases, etc.) on the wheel.
- Trimming the bottom of the pots.
- Loading and firing the pots in the kiln
- Glazing (painting) the pots.
- Loading and firing the pots in the kiln again (this second firing in the kiln is for the glaze to chemically change and get shiny).

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920 Ravenswood Drive Grapevine, TX

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Debbie St. John Yatko
debbieyatko@gmail.com
214-212-8534 (Cell Phone)
682-223-1919 (Home Phone - A.K.A. Cyril's Phone :))
Home Studio is located in Grapevine, TX near Main Street.  In the neighborhood behind Grapevine Middle School.