During the mid 1970s calligraphy introduced Tina Hudak to the arts while pursuing a graduate degree in other academic areas. Employment at one of the major calligraphy studios in Washington, D.C. not only provided an income, but set her on a path to gain extensive artistic education in hand-papermaking, bookbinding, letterpress, and even letter carving.
She has studied intensively with some of the finest artists in their fields: Sheila Waters and Ieuan Rees, master scribes, Hermann Zapf, premier typeface designer, Richard Grasby, master designer & craftsman, Helen Frederick, founder of Pyramid Atlantic, book artist Brad Freeman & Lou Stovall, master printers, Kathleen Amt, polymer clay & book artist, are among some of these.
She began a long association with Pyramid Atlantic Art Center during the 1980s, and in 2020 conducted a retrospective conversion, catalog, and circulation system for their Denbo Library. In the 1990s she was a member of Fiberworks in The Torpedo Factory Art Center and later, created Dancing Paper Studio with a Resident Artist Grant at Glen Echo Park for teaching & collaboration. Hudak won the The Washington Print Foundation Award 2024. She was one of 400 artists from 5,000 applicants included in the Juried exhibition of Women Artists of the DMV in 2025.
She was a school librarian for The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. and followed by her position as Head Librarian at St. Albans School for Boys in Washington, D.C. where art was combined with her curriculum with relevant lessons in picture book design, calligraphy and bookmaking.
Using visual arts as the medium, words are an integral component of almost every piece of work whether poetry, prose, or flash fiction. Her work is included in special collections at the Library of Congress and other libraries. During the years of the COVID pandemic, she has published three books which are included in the Library of Congress Special Collections:
- Friday Afternoons: Brief writings during the pandemic
- Eden: At Home during the pandemic
- Poetry From the Porch: Pathway through a pandemic
In March 2024 Frannie, Memoir of a Friendship was published with her poetry and prose paying tribute to a deep friendship in high-school. Francine M. Ferriera who was killed by a drunk driver during her Senior year. All proceed from this paperback book are donated to an educational scholarship in her honor. Her most recent book, These Days of Small Living, uses poetry as a commentary on living during the challenging times in 2025.
In addition, her work can be read online and in print through various independent publications and on her webpage, Tina Opines: Musings from a small town.
A Blue Bunny Studio 