dentist for the first five years, then in two different dental laboratories.
The first few years in the dental lab found me creating gold crown and
bridgework, later switching to porcelain crown and bridgework. The last
several years of my career as a dental technician was spent as manager of
the porcelain department in the laboratory I worked for.
While working at the dental lab, my interest was piqued with engraving on
crystal, which wasn't completely successful. A friend suggested I try
engraving on optically clear acrylic which eventually opened an entirely new
career for me. In February of 1980, after twenty-two years working as a
dental technician my new full time career started, engraving on cast acrylic
sheet material in my home studio. Engraving on optically clear acrylic, I
created designs of nature; birds, animals, trees, flowers, etc, to enhance
private collections around the world.
Select retail jewelry and gift stores around the country carried my
engravings which were sold for special gifts and mementos for special
occasions.
July of 2002 found me retiring from my acrylic engraving career, remodeling
my engraving studio into a porcelain art studio and getting ready to teach
professional art as a serious adventure.
My interest in porcelain art started in 1985 quite by accident when my home
was being remodeled. A new kitchen was being added and thoughts of some
hand painted tiles on the backsplash came to mind. A friend who had just
started to learn about porcelain art suggested that I paint them myself. He
loaned me his kiln and paints, showed me how to apply the colors and fire
the kiln. With that, I was hooked.
My first love was the Dresden, or Meissen style of painting. After
struggling for months on my own to learn the technique using Jayne Houston's
instruction books, fortune smiled on me. In 1988, Jayne Houston agreed to
give me private lessons. A few years later I started to attend a porcelain
art school in Cazenovia, New York as a student, and continued for five
consecutive years. Painting with Gerry Burchill the first two years, Brenda
Morgan Moore the third year and Grace Moss the forth and fifth year. In
1999 I was fortunate enough to paint with Alzora Zaremba at a porcelain art
school in Mesa, Arizona.
Using the techniques learned from all the teachers I was lucky enough to
study with, my own painting style eventually started to evolve. About 1991
or 1992 I mustered up enough courage to start teaching in my home studio. I
now teach four classes a week in my home studio, and do some travel teaching
at porcelain art schools and private seminars for clubs.
Frank R. Albrecht
10741 Brunswick Circle
Bloomington, MN 55438-1807
Email: frastudio@comcast.net
