Our Story.
Meet the two extraordinary artists that came together to build a thriving art community.
Meet Mahshid
Founder of RED BLANKET ART STUDIO, Fine Artist, Art Instructor
Mahshid Farhoudi is a Canadian visual artist and educator whose work combines classical technique, contemporary vision, and emotional depth. Working in charcoal, oil, and precious metal leaf, she creates luminous, tactile surfaces that explore identity, memory, belonging, and the human experience. Her work invites collectors to appreciate its craftsmanship and deeper meaning.
A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design University in Toronto, Mahshid refined her skills at Charles Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy, studying in the tradition of nineteenth-century atelier techniques.
Mahshid has been a faculty member at the Ottawa School of Art for over 20 years and has also taught at George Brown College Continuing Education and the Clark Centre for the Arts. Her teaching philosophy blends traditional techniques with individual expression, helping students build strong technical skills, develop confidence, and discover their own artistic voice.
Her professional highlights include representing Canada at the XV Florence Biennale, founding the ongoing Red Blanket Project, which explores veterans’ experiences and healing through art, and curating six exhibitions in six months at Withrow Common Gallery during her six-month contract with the Canadian National Exhibition.
Mahshid Farhoudi - Fine Art Portfolio & Biography
Meet Denisa
Co-creator of RED BLANKET ART STUDIO, Sculptor, Designer, Art Instructor
Denisa Prochazka is an award-winning Canadian artist living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is a clay figurative sculptor with a passion for portrait sculpture, large wall reliefs and custom artwork for indoor and outdoor spaces. Working primarily in clay, she creates figurative sculptures that are later cast in materials such as bronze, aluminum, aqua-resin, or concrete.
Her practice is grounded in classical sculpting techniques and guided by a deep connection to the natural world, the human form, and the emotional and spiritual essence of life. Much of Denisa’s work centers on symbolic feminine figures that speak to strength, tenderness, resilience, and transformation. Through these forms, she explores themes of healing, beauty, protection, and the sacred feminine balance.
A graduate of OCAD University in Toronto, Denisa completed her post-graduate year of studies in Florence, Italy, deepening her knowledge of classical sculpture and traditional skills. Her love of sculpting in clay led her to further studies of Clay Portrait & Figure classes with master sculptor Philippe Faraut, NY, USA, as well as an apprenticeship with master sculptor Brian Booth Craig in Pennsylvania.
Denisa teaches sculpture at the Ottawa School of Art, Orleans, sharing her passion for sculpture with students. Denisa’s sculptures are held in private and public collections in Canada, the United States, and South Africa.
Denisa Prochazka - Fine Art Portfolio & Biography
Red Blanket Art Studio is a place where traditional skills, individual creativity, and genuine human connection come together
Red Blanket Art Studio is born from a friendship spanning more than three decades and a shared passion for the arts.
Classically trained artists and art educators Mahshid Farhoudi and Denisa Prochazka bring together their distinctive skills, artistic experiences, and complementary approaches to create a welcoming space where creativity and technical excellence go hand in hand.With a deep appreciation for traditional artistic foundations and the freedom of creative exploration, Mahshid and Denisa are dedicated to helping aspiring artists develop their skills, discover their artistic voices, and build confidence in their practice.
Through thoughtfully designed workshops in a friendly, relaxed, and supportive environment, we invite students of all experience levels to explore drawing, painting, and sculpture, learn from professional artists, and connect with a growing community of fellow art enthusiasts. At Red Blanket Art Studio, we believe that strong artistic foundations inspire creative freedom—and that learning art should be as rewarding as the art itself.