Welcome to Teena Maree Art
Showcasing the incredible artistic talent of Tina Marie Ferguson
“Daddy’s Ashes” unconventional art inspired by Paparanda!
Daddy’s Ashes…We love you and miss how you made us laugh!
Thinking of the Sea….Ash Art
“Above and Below”
Mixed media Jewelry, charms & ornaments. Polymer clay, found objects, paint, and ashes.
Custom made art glass with ashes.
Fused glass night lights with ashes
Mosaics with loved ones found objects and ashes
Polymer clay /ceramic cross ornaments with ashes.
Beaded crosses (in loved ones favorite color) with ash vial. These come with a suction cup to hang in the window.
Fused glass Necklace pendant with ashes
Fused glass plant stake w ashes
Fused & Stained glass wall or window hanging.
Fused glass plant stakes w pets ashes
Fused glass plant stakes with ashes.
Custom jewelry with secret ash stash!
Multi media metal & glass jewelry or ornament with loved ones found objects.
Beaded crosses (in loved ones favorite color) with ash vial. I have mine hanging in the window.
Fused glass platters, dishes, bowls and more!
Fused glass night light with ashes
Fused glass platters, dishes, bowls and more!
Fused glass platters, dishes, bowls and more!
Fused glass platters, dishes, bowls and more!
Beaded crosses (in loved ones favorite color) with ash vial. I have mine hanging in the window.
Fused glass platters, dishes, bowls and more!
Custom Art Gallery
All about Tina Marie Ferguson
Tina Marie Ferguson
Artist Bio
Tina, the eldest of a large Italian family, was raised in the Twin Cities suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. From a young age, she was deeply influenced by her mother, a lifelong artist and baker, who not only nurtured Tina’s creative instincts but also taught her the invaluable skill of refining and improving her work. Her father, a skilled and enterprising businessman with a background in architectural glass, sales, and finance, imparted practical skills such as using tools, building, and mastering complex mathematics. Armed with a unique blend of creative, technical, and business acumen, Tina began her career in architecture, specializing in residential design.
Over 15 years, she honed her ability to balance intricate details with large-scale concepts, creating spaces that harmonized natural light and traffic patterns, with each families’ needs and personal style. Her Architectural work, in both Minnesota and Arizona, mastered symmetry, balance, color, texture, textiles and the ability to seamlessly guide clients through the emotionally charged process of designing and building their dream home. Tina earned her Master’s Degree in Architecture from Arizona State University in 2000, where she was nominated for a Thesis Prize in energy-efficient building and design.
Throughout her career, she studied various art techniques under acclaimed teachers across the United States and abroad, including a transformative three-month journey through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Greece, where she immersed herself in watercolor, collage, and journaling. In 2009, Tina founded Artsy Smartsy, an outreach art education company initially started for her grandmothers, Dolly and Helen. The company grew to become the largest of its kind, teaching high-end professional art techniques to over 500 seniors, primarily those with Alzheimer's and Dementia. In 2013, she expanded Artsy Smartsy to Arizona, reaching over 38 monthly locations in total by March 2020.
In 2018, Tina founded Heartsy, a 501(c)(3) arts education nonprofit. In 2023 alone, Heartsy taught over 1,122 students, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and low-income seniors with Alzheimer's and Dementia. Her artistic style is ever-evolving, characterized by layers of abstraction that invite viewers to engage with her work on multiple levels. Tina’s art has been recognized with several awards, including the “2019 Phoenix Mayor’s Art Award”, the 2018 Mesa Maker’s Fest “Social Impact Award”, and a “Best of Show Award” for her unique fused glass art in 2020. Tina is drawn to abstract art because it consistently challenges and excites her. She states introspectively , “It is fun, it is playful, it is busy, it is messy, unusual, odd and mysterious. IT IS ME!!”
Tina’s creations prompt viewers to question what they see and how it was made. Following the recent sudden passing of her father, Tina has been deeply introspective, contemplating the balance between her logical, responsible side and her free-spirited, creative side. This internal conflict has become a daily consideration as she navigates her artistic journey, and looks around her home filled with years of accumulated art materials/supplies and asks….”When will I be able to just “ART” all day, every day?”….
Statement of Artist Practice
As an architectural designer, artist, and world traveler, I have been fortunate to create meaningful and unique artwork in various media for over 40 years. For me, if my work doesn’t have a solid meaning and message, it has no purpose. I have explored topics such as Conflict/Adversity, Social Change, Life/Death, Feminine Heroes/Leaders, Humans vs. their Environment and, most importantly Identity in relation to Family Relationships, Abuse, Sex and Fear. Upon my fathers recent sudden and traumatic death, it all seems to have changed and a new creative passion has been lit in me. As I evolve as an artist, looking deeper and being more honest in my work now becomes more meaningful and important. How I have evolved as an artist is measurable in my daily routines; connection to those around me, the decisions I make both professionally and personally, the relationships I choose, and the roads I now am excited to travel. My work centers on iconic imagery, secret meanings, taboo subjects, personal reflections, past relationships, the integration of contradiction/contrast and the opposition of themes using multiple materials, textures, color and form. Layering and contrast excite me. Powerful/brave/brash/vibrant/bold fighting against helpless/quiet/moody/scared/detached. Atmospheric and energetic; my art is my vehicle in which my innermost feelings and experiences are brought to the surface, experienced, and shared with others. The juxtaposition of contrasting shapes, colors, textures, objects, words and images fascinate me. As human beings, we often exist in separate bubbles in which we live, work, and play…my art is the result of the collision of these areas in my life. My abstract compositions play with silliness, frustration, appropriateness, seriousness, love and how they relate to each other. I work in the abstract by choice; it invites the viewer to evoke their own personal experiences and emotions. My collages, both 2 and 3D, are not just of paper but metal, clay, fabric, glass, and found objects attached and layered with paintings, drawings, blueprints, patinas, and other art forms. These mediums have intrigued and fascinated me for my entire life. The ability to create thought provoking images and objects with these common elements, is a way for me to express current and past experiences and relationships in my life.
Tina also regularly speaks on the benefits of arts and ageing. She spoke at the 20th annual Arizona's Assisted Living Federation of America(ALFA) conference, the Arizona Senior Center Association Conference in Prescott, West Vally Coalition on Ageing(WVCOA), North Valley Coalition on Ageing (NVCOA) and the Annual Minnesota Struthers’s Park Nicolette Parkinsons Center conference and, before COVID, was scheduled to speak at the Minnesota Activity directors conference for a second time. She just finished the recording of her part of the Strother’s Park Nicolette Parkinson’s Foundation National Video on the health benefits of art on the ageing brain And was recently asked by the National Parkinson’s Foundation to be part of their annual Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care Program, speaking to medical staff on creativity and the benefits to the Parkinson’s Brain.
He”ART”sy- Tina’s Non-Profit 501.C3 Biz
Heartsy, Tina’s rapidly growing NON-PROFIT 501.C3 arts education company, was founded in Fall 2018 by Tina Ferguson, Executive Director, to bring FREE arts programming to those living in low income, underserved communities who were most in need of the social and medical benefits that the arts provides. Heartsy’s tag line is , “Changing lives through art“ and quality and innovation is key in our programming.
Heartsy currently serves low income, racially diverse senior citizens with Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease as well as youth/adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) such as Autism and Downs Syndrome in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Surprise, and Peoria.
In HeARTsy’s most recent 2023 fiscal year they have earned over $72,000 with over 80% of their earned income going directly to art programming which is up from earning only a $17,252 and $7384 earned in 2022 and 2021 respectively.
Artsy Smartsy-Tina’s For-Profit Biz
Artsy Smartsy, Tina’s FOR-PROFIT arts education company, was founded in 2009 for her own Nana. Artsy Smartsy seeks to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for underserved groups as research has shown the regular practice of art contributes to reduced medication need, reduced falls, a decrease in anxiety and depression and a significant raise in a students self esteem and self worth. Tina brings her arts classes and their life changing side effects to senior citizens up to age 106, (specializing in those with Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Parkinson’s disease) their families and caregivers.
Pre COVID, Tina taught over 500 seniors/month in 38 Senior Communities in both MN and AZ. Unfortunately, COVID reduced her business income by over 75% and it has never recovered.
Tina continues to teach in 2 AZ private Memory Care Communities, via Zoom with the Minnesota Strother’s Parkinson’s Center, and in 6 Community Memory Cafe locations in Phoenix with over 200 students each month and growing. Tina now also teaches private one on one classes for youth with developmental disabilities through the AZ ESA program.
Coming Soon! “Daddy’s Ashes”
With love and passion at her core, Tina’s new entrepreneurial journey has taken her to creating unconventional art with ash inclusions of pets & loved ones. Stay tuned for more!