Gretchen Armbruster Armbruster Artworks
Gretchen Armbruster opened her fine art school and studio in Covington more than four years ago. Her workshop classes are popular, attracting students from Metairie, New Orleans and the entire region. She teaches classes in all mediums, with a special focus on oils. She says, “I couldn’t have imagined loving a job so much. Teaching such talented and wonderful people is truly a great thing to wake up and do every day!” With the success of her school, Gretchen has outgrown her current building, and she is relocating to 502 Columbia Street in downtown Covington. “I am so excited to be moving to a larger space. There will be room for the school and a gallery,” she says. Gretchen and her students will be right in the middle of every downtown activity. “The location will be ideal for the many arts festivals that take place in Covington. We are looking forward to the traffic the festivals bring as well as being able to participate in so many great events.” Gretchen’s paintings have graced the walls of countless galleries over the years, including Southern Breeze in Jackson, Mississippi; Taylor Clark Gallery in Baton Rouge; Pineapple Gallery and Arabella Fine Gifts and Home Décor in Mandeville; and Gallery 526 in New Orleans. Her commissioned portraits don the walls of some of the finer homes in Louisiana. No matter the subject, an Armbruster is always identifiable. “It’s my use of light and contrast of values in a painting,” Gretchen explains. “It’s very dramatic.” Her notable works include the 2004-06 22
Inside Northside
Crescent City Classic posters, 12 years of elaborate Bacchus designs and extensive murals in the historic French Quarter Old Absinthe House. Her paintings can also be seen in St. Tammany Parish Hospital, West Jefferson Hospital, Ochsner hospitals and many restaurants and homes in the area. She was featured in the Art of the Horse issue of the national American Art Collector magazine. Her work was even on the big screen in the movie He Said, She Said. Gretchen’s original 24-by-36 painting The Dictator, which appeared on the cover of the February 2015 issue of Inside New Orleans, portrayed a very colorful Carnival scene. She says, “I moved to the northshore about 18 years ago. As a New Orleans girl, born and raised, I have to say I was surprised at how quickly my family and I embraced life over here. Although I consider myself a South Louisiana artist, my favorite subject is New Orleans. I just love the energy that New Orleans provides in a painting.” As a young artist, Gretchen studied with local artists such as David Robert Rossbach, Alan Flattmann and David Jinks. She studied at LSU, the John McCrady School of Fine and Applied Arts and the New Orleans Art Institute. As an instructor now, Gretchen loves fostering the talents of students of all age levels and experience. “I tell my students they need to try every medium and learn all the different techniques because you don’t know your style until you try,” says Gretchen. “I love working with a student who has never received instruction and helping them discover, little by little, that they have great ability.”
Armbruster Artworks School is at 502 Columbia St. in Covington. 985-630-6295. armbrusterartworks.com.