Click on any name in the below diagram to get more information!
Steve is thrilled to bring community, connections, and amazing art to the Dripping Springs area. He leads a passionate and diverse leadership team determined to uplift artists, galleries, and the community’s art scene.
Steve led various domestic and international supply and trading teams at Shell Oil for 30 years. After retirement, he and his wife Jennifer relocated from Houston to Dripping in 2021. They quickly fell in love with the warm, creative people and the picturesque landscape of the Hill Country.
In his spare time, Steve is a nonfiction author for the introvert and Down syndrome communities and loves to relax on local trail walks. Jennifer and Steve enjoy travel, especially to see their three kids scattered around the US.
Since beginning my art journey in 2016, I felt the desire to create a wide variety of art and styles using different mediums including watercolor, magazine collage, and digital artwork. I love the freedom to flow from one medium to another whenever the feeling moves me. I am a self-taught artist and LOVE to learn new ways of utilizing my talents and skills.
My art enables me to connect with others in an emotional and spiritual way. Seeing the connections others have with my artwork brings me purpose, satisfaction, and joy. I hope you that you also feel the connection with my pieces and what that may convey to you.
I moved from Houston to Dripping Springs In 2021. And for the first time, my art career became my heart and center for my newly created life as a new empty nester. Creating art has helped me to make amazing connections in the Dripping Springs community. I have a kinship with so many wonderfully creative people and feel like I am flourishing.
I was the curator at The Gallery at Salon Mystique from 2022-2023 and grew the gallery from 5 artists to 35 with nearly 200 pieces of art. In 2023, I became one of the founding members and Membership Chair for the Dripping Springs Art League non-profit organization with the mission of “Art! Community! Connection!” We have an amazing leadership team that is being led by my husband, Steve (president). We look forward to a full schedule of programming for 2024.
My passion for art started when I was young. While growing up my parents exposed us to all kinds of creativity…..drawing, painting, clay, glass blowing, jewelry making, museums, music, camps, classes. The whole house was filled with art, music, and creativity.
I graduated from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles with a degree in Visual Communications. I have spent the last 30 years working in Visual Merchandising.
Now I have started Blue Sky Art on Wheels LLC, a mobile art gallery. Dedicated and showcasing original unique art created by Central Texas artists, and can been seen at Hill Country Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries.
I want to share with others unique, fun, and accomplished art that otherwise may never be seen. I believe this is a great connection for both the artists and customer. Art is something that truly speaks to each person in so many ways.
All of this is why I am part of the Dripping Springs Art League. It brings all my passions together in one place while having the opportunity to help others.
Brian Hale - VP Communications
Brian moved to the Texas Hill Country with his wife Gogi in 2013. Since then he has engaged with local non-profits and actively promoted the benefits of art and culture to the community.
Brian feels the Dripping Springs Art League has the unique potential to foster artistic expression both individually and communally. Its all-welcoming approach helps bring out the best in people and fosters unity in our communal identity.
As VP Communications Brian looks forward to working with a talented team of artists and designers to promote DSAL's vision and clearly express the voices and meet the desires of its members.
After a 45 year career in technology—ranging from developing algorithms to route the B2 bomber to founding an internet applications company in the late 90s—Brian is finding more time to explore other interests, such as pottery, watercolor and playing music. He especially enjoys family time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
Steve is thrilled to bring community, connections, and amazing art to the Dripping Springs area. He leads a passionate and diverse leadership team determined to uplift artists, galleries, and the community’s art scene.
Steve led various domestic and international supply and trading teams at Shell Oil for 30 years. After retirement, he and his wife Jennifer relocated from Houston to Dripping in 2021. They quickly fell in love with the warm, creative people and the picturesque landscape of the Hill Country.
In his spare time, Steve is a nonfiction author for the introvert and Down syndrome communities and loves to relax on local trail walks. Jennifer and Steve enjoy travel, especially to see their three kids scattered around the US.
In December 2021, I ventured into watercolor painting, initially crafting affordable holiday cards with basic supplies. What began as a casual pursuit evolved into a dedicated studio space, replacing cheap materials with artist-grade ones. The shift in focus came amid the tragic losses of two key family members to alcoholism in 2022 and 2023.
In the last couple of years I’ve been exploring art forms including gelli printing, embroidery, book arts, and botanical printing. The DSAL emerged at about the same time, providing the encouragement I needed to start selling my art and meeting other artists. I’m excited to be on the leadership team so I can enable other aspiring artists to accomplish their goals.
I am a seasoned artist who began with oil painting at 11 years old. Since then, I have ventured into the captivating realms of lampworking, fusing, and glass bead making, studying under renowned glass artists and expanding my repertoire. In 2022, I delved into the intricate world of pate de verre at the prestigious Corning Glass Studios, describing it as ‘painting with glass.’
A dedicated learner and artist, I earned an Associates of Studio Art from Austin Community College in 2020 and I am currently pursuing a Bachelors of Studio Art with a focus in sculpture, and a minor in Anthropology, at Texas State University, set to graduate in the spring of 2024. The artistic journey at Texas State has allowed me to explore various mediums, from drawing and digital media to sculpture and ceramics. I bring a unique blend of anthropology and art into my creations, illuminating the shared threads of the human experience through my work.
Beyond personal artistic endeavors, I serve as the gallery manager for 2 Moons Art Loft in Dripping Springs, curating a space that showcases the works of talented artists.
I am thrilled to be a part of the art league, where I believe the possibilities are boundless. The vibrant community and diverse opportunities offered here fuel my excitement, and I look forward to contributing my passion for art while exploring the limitless potential for creative expression within this inspiring collective.
Melanie Smith is a fiber artist who focuses on weaving for wearable art and functional art items. She loves to share the satisfaction and creativity that comes from working with your hands to create beautiful cloth. She teaches workshops around town and sells her art at the Handmade Store on Nutty Brown Rd and at local markets.
I have been an artist from a young age. I took art classes whenever I could and I played around with various crafts throughout the years. I have been a commercial interior designer since 1998. In 2020, I decided to leave the corporate world and start my own venture, working on a contract basis and focusing on my art.
I have a deep appreciation for the detail and technical aspects of my job, which naturally extends into my paintings and ideas. My art reflects a sense of balance, order, and repetition, making the creative process deeply therapeutic for me.
Living with synesthesia, I experience time, letters, and numbers in color, and I often weave this unique perception into my artwork.
Becoming involved in the Dripping Springs Art League has been a true gift, offering me a wonderful community of like-minded individuals and countless opportunities to learn and grow as an artist.
Gretchen manages the DSAL website, actively working to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. She’s spent her daytime career steeped in engineering and technology. But in her free time, it’s all about going low-tech— creating, sewing, stitching, painting, – generally mixing all the medias together to see what results. Blending the analytical with the creative, she loves exploring the sweet spot where left brain meets right—and proving that the two can energetically coexist.
Jessi Bostad is a professional fine artist, graphic and web designer. A multi-generational Central Texan, she was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and later spent many years living in the Pacific Northwest before returning to the Texas Hill Country. She currently resides in Dripping Springs with her husband and two kids, where she continues to create and exhibit her work including current works at Primal Art Gallery and the Gallery at Salon Mystique.
Jesse teaches weekly art classes to both children and adults at Cordovan Art School's SW location. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from The University of Texas at Austin in 2005 and has worked as a fine artist, graphic artist, and web designer ever since. Her work and life are shaped by a deep connection to nature, creativity, and community.
In addition to her creative work, Jessi is a progressive activist, environmentalist, and feminist.
I moved to Dripping Springs in 2007 to be near my aging parents. Prior to that my family had lived in Scottsdale AZ for 15 years. I loved the desert, plein air painting and the Scottsdale Artists School. I also love the landscape here in the Hill Country, which gives me plenty of inspiration.
I have been so happy to have discovered DSAL. It has given me an encouraging and engaging community of fellow makers which I love being a part of and contributing to. I love the clubs and hopefully being the Drawing Club leader gives me insight into what they need, as the Club Coordinator, to provide as great an experience to all our members as they have given to me.
I'm a stained glass artist based in Austin, Texas. Introduced to stained glass in high school by my Dad I was captivated by the stunning interaction of light with the varying colors and textures of glass. After attending college, working, and having a family, I resumed creating stained glass art in 2011 and have designed custom pieces for private collections across the U.S.
Self-taught, I seek to continually learn new techniques and incorporate non-glass materials into her unique works of art. Retired from the high-tech industry, I'm focusing on my art, learning new things, and being inspired by nature and her world travels to create new designs. I've found inspiration, belonging, and creativity as part of DSAL and hope to share this with others as part of this wonderful organization.
I’m a lifelong artist, working across a variety of mediums, including watercolor, illustration, relief printing, macramé, and antler and bone sculpture. I love collecting materials and learning new techniques. The Art League has been a huge source of inspiration for me, offering a supportive community that encourages creativity and keeps me making.
I’m a retired Long Beach Unified School District Supervisor (2005–2018) and planning commissioner (2006–2018), as well as an educator and nonprofit co-founder who has always led with one through-line: storytelling that inspires growth. Today, that narrative continues through my work as a photographic artist and founder of Devon Lens Narrator.
My career began in leadership roles across school districts, municipalities, and transportation companies. Along the way, I co-founded Make A Leap Fitness Foundation (2008–2018), where I led the curriculum and education side of the organization for children ages 4–11, integrating fitness and nutrition learning into classroom reflection. My work also explored how professional perceptions of childhood obesity influence behaviors, expectations, and student wellness outcomes. I later launched Pastoriza & Austin Humanity Evolution (2010–2018), a small consulting firm. Through both organizations, I helped bring culturally responsive education and youth wellness programs to underserved communities. Education remains my foundation, supported by my doctorate in education and decades of designing learning experiences that strengthen human connection.
Photography, however, has been my constant since 1968, beginning with black-and-white film and early creative work as a yearbook editor (1969–1970). Over time, my work has evolved into digital abstracts, wildlife narratives, and conservation storytelling. Today, I curate a growing archive of 2,000+ images, some of which have been exhibited at local events. Explore my work: DevonLensNarrator.com.
I am an active member of AAUW (American Association of University Women), supporting equity, creativity, and lifelong learning. Whether behind the lens, in a classroom, or leading a team, I’m guided by creativity, curiosity, and the belief that stories—visual or spoken—can change how we see the world. As a newer member of the Dripping Springs Art League (since February 2025), I’m excited to share my photography and support DSAL through grant development, including research and application preparation.
Growing up in the Midwest as the daughter of a talented artist, I developed an early appreciation for creativity, self-expression, and a lifelong passion for preserving our Earth and all who inhabit it.
My family lovingly restored Fiddlers Green Ranch, transforming an overgrazed cattle ranch into a certified wildlife sanctuary. That experience deepened my commitment to conservation and caring for the land.
Professionally, I spent more than 40 years in the furniture industry, working in manufacturing, design, and retail. In our community, I founded Dripping Springs Clean, bringing volunteers together to care for our town while inspiring environmental stewardship.
Preserving the unique character, natural beauty, and ranching heritage of the Texas Hill Country has become my life's work. I believe art, like nature, has the power to connect people, tell our stories, and strengthen the place we proudly call home. It is an honor to serve on the Dripping Springs Art League Board.
Sara is a dedicated psychotherapist, social worker advocate, and college teacher who channels her diverse professional background into her passion for the arts. Originally from Italy, her approach to creativity is deeply collaborative and inspired by nature.
Sara has an extensive history of volunteering and community service, ranging from medical emergencies to academic research and international collaborations. She recently discovered watercolor painting and quickly connected with the Dripping Springs community through the Art League. These new experiences allowed her to leverage her professional expertise and passion for collaboration to foster a more inclusive and inspiring environment for all members, building on the new connections and inspiration the league has brought to her own life.
Self-taught, I seek to continually learn new techniques and incorporate non-glass materials into her unique works of art. Retired from the high-tech industry, I'm focusing on my art, learning new things, and being inspired by nature and her world travels to create new designs. I've found inspiration, belonging, and creativity as part of DSAL and hope to share this with others as part of this wonderful organization.
