Artilia Studio

My name is Jana Hrouda and I was born in a small town in Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic), I loved to draw and make little sculptures out of clay as far back as I can remember. After I graduated from the School of Design and Glass Making in Zelezny Brod, Czechoslovakia, I drifted away from glass work and focused my attention on graphic design and illustration. Living and working in beautiful Krkonose mountains on the border with Poland I often drew the highest peak Snezka. Little did I know that in a few years I would be drawing mountains of the Northwest for sandblasted projects in a glass studio in Portland Oregon. I left the country in 1979 and started my journey to the Pacific Northwest. For the last 25 years I have gained experience working as a member of creative teams at four different glass studios in Oregon . The latest, Savoy Studios, is known for extensive national and international art glass projects.

All my experiences led me to creating Artilia Studio. Tilia is latin for linden tree, so popular in Central Europe that it has become the Czech National Tree. I am happy to have built a life in such a beautiful part of the world where the rugged elegance of nature inspires me to create. Nature inspires me, craftsmanship of the Old World influences me and the innovation and positive spirit of the American people gives me energy to continue to create.