TEACH + MAKE + ILLUMINATE
Renee' has an unwavering passion for being a creator
Bio
In the course of her 25+ years of practice multidisciplinary artist Renee' Edmonston has created in numerous disciplines such as graphic design, educational resource product development, illustration, painting, sculpting, and scale miniature design. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Visual Communications.
Edmonston Studios has been representative of Renee's passion and love for art. Her favorite artist is Picasso simply because his form of expression was like no other. I strongly value the "dare to be different" theory in the creative process.
Renee' has sold her works of art in various forms worldwide over the years and through various outlets. She has a passion for character illustration, scale miniature paintings and sculptures. She has created hundreds of colored pencil illustrations and highly detailed coloring pages.
Along with multiple freelance design and fine arts projects, Renee has worked for Universal Studios Orlando, The Nassal Company, Meltzer Group, Montverde Academy, and Loudoun Country Day School.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two adult children, working on her art, baking, playing strategy board games, and quiet time at the beach. She has a great sense of humor and love for life.
Renee' is humbly grateful for all who share in her passion and love for art. Thank you taking the time to learn more about Renee' and Edmonston Studios.
Edmonston Studios has been representative of Renee's passion and love for art. Her favorite artist is Picasso simply because his form of expression was like no other. I strongly value the "dare to be different" theory in the creative process.
Renee' has sold her works of art in various forms worldwide over the years and through various outlets. She has a passion for character illustration, scale miniature paintings and sculptures. She has created hundreds of colored pencil illustrations and highly detailed coloring pages.
Along with multiple freelance design and fine arts projects, Renee has worked for Universal Studios Orlando, The Nassal Company, Meltzer Group, Montverde Academy, and Loudoun Country Day School.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two adult children, working on her art, baking, playing strategy board games, and quiet time at the beach. She has a great sense of humor and love for life.
Renee' is humbly grateful for all who share in her passion and love for art. Thank you taking the time to learn more about Renee' and Edmonston Studios.
My Story
As a multidisciplinary artist and visual arts teacher my creative focus is unique 1:12 scale miniatures, illustration stationary products, and educational resources. As an elementary/middle school art teacher for the last 16 years and raising two incredible children, my personal art has been squeezed into what personal time I could find (which was not abundant). In February 2022 I made the difficult, scary, and exciting decision to leave the classroom (in June 2022) to set my sights on building my own personal art business! This is a huge exciting endeavor and I hope you will follow me on this great journey.
A little more about my passion for art:
Miniatures:When I was a little girl, my Dad started building a doll house for me. I was one of 4 and the only girl in my family. My heart was in Tonka trucks and football. It was not uncommon for one to lift the hat off the many dolls my mother insisted on purchasing for me to discover they adorned fabulous new hair cuts. Fast forward to my late 20's and yes, my father was still working on the doll house but suddenly it was in the making for my nieces. I started dabbling in miniature painting at this time and found a passion I never knew I had. I spent many years creating these mini works, participating in shows and taking joy in the creative process in a restricted space. Over the years my passion for miniatures continued to blossom. In the mid-2010's I started selling my miniatures in a local artisan shop and looking for ways to share miniatures in a way that did not involve doll houses to capture the interest of a larger audience to this magical world. Oh, that reminds me, update, at this point I am in my late 40's and yes, my father was still working on the doll house and it had gone from making it for my nieces, to making it for my daughter, to now just working on it a lifetime. It was also at this time I took great interest in the personal challenge to create miniatures without prints, molds, stamps or patterns. In a search to maintain true artistry in my craft and expanding the creative process to include far more than just paintings, I started crafting miniatures with full artisanship in mind. My goal as I dive full time into my artistry is to greatly expand my miniature artisan offerings while I continue to offer vintage and up cycled miniature pieces as well.
A little more about my passion for art:
Miniatures:When I was a little girl, my Dad started building a doll house for me. I was one of 4 and the only girl in my family. My heart was in Tonka trucks and football. It was not uncommon for one to lift the hat off the many dolls my mother insisted on purchasing for me to discover they adorned fabulous new hair cuts. Fast forward to my late 20's and yes, my father was still working on the doll house but suddenly it was in the making for my nieces. I started dabbling in miniature painting at this time and found a passion I never knew I had. I spent many years creating these mini works, participating in shows and taking joy in the creative process in a restricted space. Over the years my passion for miniatures continued to blossom. In the mid-2010's I started selling my miniatures in a local artisan shop and looking for ways to share miniatures in a way that did not involve doll houses to capture the interest of a larger audience to this magical world. Oh, that reminds me, update, at this point I am in my late 40's and yes, my father was still working on the doll house and it had gone from making it for my nieces, to making it for my daughter, to now just working on it a lifetime. It was also at this time I took great interest in the personal challenge to create miniatures without prints, molds, stamps or patterns. In a search to maintain true artistry in my craft and expanding the creative process to include far more than just paintings, I started crafting miniatures with full artisanship in mind. My goal as I dive full time into my artistry is to greatly expand my miniature artisan offerings while I continue to offer vintage and up cycled miniature pieces as well.
My Story (cont.)
Artisan Cookie Studio:
Time traveling back to 1984 when I was in 10th grade, I got my first real job at Baskin Robins and in addition to fitting art and early childhood ed classes into my high school schedule, cooking class was another must for me. When I started working at the ice cream shop, ice cream cakes were a specialty and they always had a few decorators on staff. I wanted to be a decorator so, they sent me to Wilton Cake Decorating classes and my food art career began. As time passed, jobs changed, and life progressed with marriage, I continued my baking passion as a side gig to my full-time jobs off and on since my start in 10th grade. I can remember at one point being a mere 24 or 25 years old and distributed flyers around work for halloween cakes and there were so many orders, my husband had to help me for days in the kitchen meeting the demands. My passion for artistic confections as grown tremendously over the years taking on new challenges in fondant sculptures and decorated cookies. One of my notable experiences was in 2013 when I took 1st Place and Division winner at the Great American Cake Show for hand painted and flooded Nightmare Before Christmas themed cookies. Cookies by far have become my favorite artisan confection. I am estatic to be able to off this edible artistry as part of Edmonston Studios now that my journey has taken me out of the traditional workplace and into the world of full time art!
Artisan Papery:I am the ultimate doodler. I still remember Grotto, the little caveman character I created when I was in middle school who adorned every notebook alongside the logos and symbols of the many rock bands of the time (Van Hallen, Journey, ZZ Top REO, etc).I still like drawing the cute little alien characters I made in middle school when I play drawing games with my students. Who can resist adorable unique characters! Done with the rat race of corporate life and 60 hours work weeks, in the late 90's early 2000's I returned to school to complete my BFA so I could go into teaching while I raised my children. My BFA was in visual communications. It was here I found the perfect match for my illustration and the digital world. My passion for original hand drawn illustrations supersedes my passion for graphic illustration. Modern digital graphics allow me to create incredible hand illustrated drawings using colored pencil and convert them to digital images that maintains the unique look of hand drawn art allowing production on beautiful papery products. I love lists, structure and completing tasks. I know there are people out there, be honest, that make a list, do something that is not on the list, add it to the list after it is completed just so you can check it off. Yes, that is me! LOL! Over the last 6-7 years I have created over 60 unique hand illustrated colored pencil characters. These cuties can be found on my hand crafted notepads and note cards. These products are perfect to have for personal notes, everyday lists, and make wonderful gifts for friends, family, and teachers.
Teacher Resources:The hardest part about deciding to leave the school classroom after 16 years is my love and passion for teaching. My instructional goals developed over the years as a visual arts teacher while I strived to ensure students were able to maximize their creativity, personal interests, unique individual styles and develop a lifelong love for the arts. About 5 years into my career I started moving to a more choice based independent pedagogical philosophical approach. This approach reduced stress in the classroom, created personal connection between students and their artwork, and developed a love for the arts. I am continuing to teach very part time in my home studio. I will continue to develop to share the many art lessons I have created and continue developing coloring pages and creative activities to support creativity in the academic classroom.
Thank you for supporting the arts!
Artisan Papery:I am the ultimate doodler. I still remember Grotto, the little caveman character I created when I was in middle school who adorned every notebook alongside the logos and symbols of the many rock bands of the time (Van Hallen, Journey, ZZ Top REO, etc).I still like drawing the cute little alien characters I made in middle school when I play drawing games with my students. Who can resist adorable unique characters! Done with the rat race of corporate life and 60 hours work weeks, in the late 90's early 2000's I returned to school to complete my BFA so I could go into teaching while I raised my children. My BFA was in visual communications. It was here I found the perfect match for my illustration and the digital world. My passion for original hand drawn illustrations supersedes my passion for graphic illustration. Modern digital graphics allow me to create incredible hand illustrated drawings using colored pencil and convert them to digital images that maintains the unique look of hand drawn art allowing production on beautiful papery products. I love lists, structure and completing tasks. I know there are people out there, be honest, that make a list, do something that is not on the list, add it to the list after it is completed just so you can check it off. Yes, that is me! LOL! Over the last 6-7 years I have created over 60 unique hand illustrated colored pencil characters. These cuties can be found on my hand crafted notepads and note cards. These products are perfect to have for personal notes, everyday lists, and make wonderful gifts for friends, family, and teachers.
Teacher Resources:The hardest part about deciding to leave the school classroom after 16 years is my love and passion for teaching. My instructional goals developed over the years as a visual arts teacher while I strived to ensure students were able to maximize their creativity, personal interests, unique individual styles and develop a lifelong love for the arts. About 5 years into my career I started moving to a more choice based independent pedagogical philosophical approach. This approach reduced stress in the classroom, created personal connection between students and their artwork, and developed a love for the arts. I am continuing to teach very part time in my home studio. I will continue to develop to share the many art lessons I have created and continue developing coloring pages and creative activities to support creativity in the academic classroom.
Thank you for supporting the arts!
Testimonials
What people say
Scale Miniature Studio
~ "I have bought several items from Renee and she is so responsive and helpful. My most recent is this Valentines package and it came exactly as pictured."
~ "This little painting is incredible. I am in love!"
~ " Absolutely lovely miniature painting!!"
~ "This is one of the neatest miniatures I've ever bought. Amazing detail. Love it. Thank you"
~ "This makes my ❤️ happy! Renee filled a custom order for me and the quality is amazing!"
Artisan Papery Studio
~ "This shop is amazing!! Was able to customize the most perfect thank you cards for my baby shower. Will definitely use her again!"
~ "The fox is printed on quality notecard paper. I will definitely order more!"
Teacher Resources Studio
~ "love these coloring pages so much ! they download right to your computer in amazing quality so you don’t have to wait for shipping "
~ "This was an amazing resource that allowed students to color as they learned about the different winter holidays."
~ "I used the resource as a slideshow in class and the students were really engaged. The topics were clearly explained and reinforces ideas and projects we had done previously this year."
~ "A different style than most available coloring sheets. I love that!"
~ "Students loved using this as a calming/mindfulness activity when they finished their other work "