Behind the Art.
Meet the Artists behind Evoke Studio & Gifts—a collection of talented creatives whose work brings beauty, story, and inspiration to our space. Each artist offers a unique perspective, style, and voice, making every visit an opportunity to discover something meaningful and one of a kind.

Artist & Founder
Melissa Mitchell
Hi, I’m Melissa Mitchell—an artist, writer, and creative entrepreneur living on the Texas Gulf Coast. My work blends storytelling, visual art, and mentorship. From painting coastal scenes to mentoring fellow artists and writing weekly reflections on island life, I’m guided by a deep passion for creativity and meaningful expression.
Author of the blog The Art of Island Life, also published weekly in The Island Moon newspaper.

Artist
Bonnie King
Bonnie’s journey as an artist spans nearly thirty years, beginning with a successful decorative painting business and evolving into her now-signature style that brings heavy-body acrylics and palette knives together in bold, dimensional expression. Her impasto technique—the rich, raised texture of her brush and knife strokes—gives each painting a tactile, sculptural quality. Her subjects often reflect the natural beauty of our coastal surroundings: birds, seascapes, and moments of vibrant stillness.

Artist
Al Kline
Al Kline is a self-taught Artist who began painting watercolor in April 2017. He is a signature member of the Southwestern Watercolor Society (SWS) and Watercolor Society of South Texas (WSST). He is also member selected for exhibitions in both the American and National Watercolor Societies of America (AWS,NWS).

Artist
Ann Lake
Ann Lake has been making art for as long as she can remember. Born in a suburb of Chicago in 1950, she spent much of her childhood at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Brookfield Zoo, places that fueled her love for art and animals. She earned her B.F.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University and later moved to Indiana, where her path took a turn toward the printing industry. But no matter where her career went, Ann never stopped creating.

Artisan
Aleksandra Novak
Calypsea Jewelry—Hand made coastal-western style sterling silver and gold-filled jewelry adorned with mindfully selected natural stones and seashells.

Artisan
Cindy Gentry
Hi, I’m Cindy Gentry – lampwork glass artist, silversmith, and creative soul enjoying life
in the Texas Gulf Coast.
In 2006, I was introduced to lampwork glass and was fascinated with it. It took me
several years to gather all the proper equipment, but once I had it, I enjoyed every
minute I was able to create in my garage studio and make glass beads. When I learned
how to make glass cabochons, it took me in a whole new direction in jewelry making. I
had been stringing my beads, but now I needed to learn how to set my cabochons to
create the type of piece I wanted. I dove into silversmithing, primarily self-taught with
the help of YouTube!
I then discovered how to use my mandala drawings in making jewelry. This helped me
to gain my voice in my jewelry designs.

Artist
John Little
Hey y’all, I’m John Little—the artist behind John Little Art. I’m a former Coast Guard
Boastswains Mate and retired Police Officer who found a new calling in painting and storytelling. These days my wife and I travel the country, sharing my artwork at markets and meeting some incredible folks along the way.
All of my work is inspired by time spent outdoors—coastal life, wildlife, my years spent as a fishing guide, and all of the little moments that tend to stick with you. Every single piece I create has a story behind it, and I try to capture not just what something looks like, but what it actually felt like to be there.
I’m grateful to be able to do what I love and even more thankful for all the folks who connect with it.



