Robin Lisa Thibodeau aka: Authentic Chick Creations & Owner & Operator of The Inspiration Studio Academy of Fine Art (ISAFA)
Inspiration Studio Art Camps & MORE!
When you join the ISAFA Family, you will soon find that we are a busy bunch of artists!
All students in all programs have participated in the Okotoks Art Gallery's Gingerbread Station contest for three years straight, where candy becomes decoration, gingerbread is construction materials, icing is glue. Kids loved it! Fall of 2024, we took a break from gingerbread to shine the light on our inaugural Halloween Youth Art Market with a strong focus on supporting the welfare of demonized black cats. Partnering with Okotoks Pound Rescue - we raised just under $100 and were able to donate 12 Flea & Tick medicine for their dogs and cats! We even made it onto Global TV Calgary! It was held at Spotted Sage in their large backroom. Some kids sold out of their work, while others got to meet a lot of new potential customers for commissions:) Our Christmas Youth Market was so much fun and the local Western Wheel gave us a half page spread with photos of the artists and their artwork!
APRIL 2025 --> FOOTHILLS MAGAZINE ARTICLE -- READ ALL ABOUT US HERE!
JUNE 7TH: Youth MAKERS Market --> TOTALLY FREE. Bring EVERYONE you know! This time it's going to be even more fun for everyone!
FEBRUARY - MAY 2025 ISAFA Coffee Shop Shows YEAR THREE at these incredibly unique locations: 94 Take the Cake, Chippy's Cookie House, Rebel Bean Roasters & Little Apple Cafe & Bakeshop... and Sweetgrass Deli!
DECEMBER 6 / 13th 2025 --> 14th Annual Christmas Youth Art Market will be held at the Okotoks Elks Hall, was a super great hit and made a full page with four photos of youth art in our local paper this year!
EASTER BREAK CAMP: Canadian Wildlife --> SOLD OUT!! --
SUMMER CAMP 1: JULY 7 - 11 Fantastical Worlds --> NOW 3 SPOTS LEFT!
SUMMER CAMP 2: JULY 21 - 25 International UPCYCLING Wildlife --> NOW 3 SPOTS LEFT!
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PLEASE NOTE FOR PAYMENT OPTIONS:
For Morning Sets, Afternoon Sets and Art Camps: If you would prefer to send an e-transfer in place of using Paypal, credit or debit cards - I can manually add you as a guest AND send you your tickets! EASY PEASY! Check out the informational gallery below for a sneak peek to see how it works:)
ART CAMPS, EXHIBITS & PORTFOLIO ART CLUB 2.0!
- Multiple DatesFri, May 23Inspiration Studio Academy of Fine ArtThree Fridays: Give yourself the gift of creative expression!!! Book one 3 week session with me, Robin Thibodeau and amaze yourself with what you CAN actually do!
- Multiple DatesFri, May 23Inspiration Studio Academy of Fine ArtFridays are the BEST days for ages 16+ am I right? Book any 3 Week Set for some creative therapy and be amazed with what can be accomplished! Before you know it, you'll have built a portfolio of creativity! **NOTE: If booking more than one set, please reach out and I'll give you a DISCOUNT CODE!
- 16 days to the eventSat, Jun 07OkotoksOMG you have to join in on our SUPER FUN DAY in JUNE! ---> FREE ADMISSION AS ALWAYS.
- 23 days to the eventSat, Jun 14OkotoksLOVE sidewalk chalk illusions? SAME! USING a plethora of chalk, charcoal and pastels, you can either WATCH or HELP create the ginormous illusion masterpiece. I will even bring you some cushy mats to sit upon as the magic unfolds!
- 46 days to the eventMon, Jul 07Inspiration Studio Academy of Fine ArtKids aged 8 -12 have the greatest imaginations so let's unleash their creativity into an entire week of artistic fantasy? With thousands upon thousands of ways to express themselves through painting, sculpture, upcycling, felting, fabric art, graphic design and drawing - their minds will be blown!
- 60 days to the eventMon, Jul 21OkotoksTWEENS will LOVE to show their love for your favourite animals around the globe! They will paint posters, felt favourite wild animals, draw tropical landscapes, sculpt anything with cardboard and clay, design jewelry, construct and UPCYCLE as you make TWO projects PER DAY of the art camp!
The Castle of the Arts! Click the image to see how it was built... and scroll through the gallery below of how my art camp kids of 2021 helped me make it as amazing as it was! A brief description: 7 pieces: The Keep, the Four Pillars of the Arts: Innovation, Expression, Functionality & Literary Arts made up the four corners as well as the Arched Entrance and the Wishing Well inside:) It took four months to build it and 2 weeks to decorate and paint it up!
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A CASTLE of the Arts was created in 2021 in my garage over the course of 4 months:)
THE four towers represent INNOVATION, FUNCTIONALITY, LITERARY Art and EXPRESSION. Cardboard, styrofoam, reclaimed wallpaper, carpet tube rolls, spools, deck railings, 3D printing spools, keyboard membranes, plumbing tubes, packing materials, tv boxes, cat toys, brushes, pencils, feathers, costumes, and painting, glue, tape and corrugated plastic. It served the local baking shop 94 Take the Cake as an outdoor mini venue for kids and big kids to learn more about how the Arts have shaped our civilizations from July 17 - August 28th during the Town of Okotoks Nooks & Crannies Festival. It lasted all the way into early October and was used for four other events! And a few elements are still in use.
Take a peek at the carousel of how it all came together through still shots - videos - kids and teens helping, decorating...and how it found a new purpose as a backdrop for league and Art Club art shows!

Parents and kids came to make their very own Christmas Candle Holders

Watercolour and Acrylic Inks

Setting up the workshop

Options to change original colours...