Artisans' Bios

Tom Bojanowski - Painter, Printer, Woodworker

Master Craftsman Tom Bojanowski uses several medias in his creations.  He is a painter, woodworker, graphic designer, and writer.  Always ambitious to try new ideas, his original watercolors, blockprints, hand carved motto boards, and furniture designs continually take turns on the drafting board.  His home and studio is currently located next to the Roycroft Campus, where the “Spirit of Roycroft” is a constant inspiration.

Tom’s formal training in the arts was as a product design major at Rochester Institute of Technology.  While the school offered a highly technical program for the “artists of industry”, it also had programs in the fine arts for those interested in the purity of drawing, painting, and woodworking.

The bulk of Tom’s work as a painter has been in traditional watercolors, but the exposure he received while at R.I.T., and working for industry as a furniture and toy designer, influenced him to experiment with other media. Recently his work in graphic design and woodcarving has connected him to the Arts and Crafts style of imagery, made popular by the Roycrofters of East Aurora, New York, in the early 1900’s.

At his home in upstate New York he has grown up in a community that has its roots in the Arts and Crafts Movement inspired by the writings of England’s William Morris and brought to western New York State by Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters. Tom explains the magnetism of the influence that it has had on him because “they saw the beauty in all things, from art to philosophy”.

Rose Czyrny - Yoga Master

Rose Czyrny is a certified Holistic Practitioner, Yoga Master, Personal Fitness Trainer, Iridologist, Kinesiologist and Herbal Nutritionist. Rose lives and has her practice in East Aurora, where she has been helping people achieve their health and fitness goals for over 24 years. She belongs to the prestigious Roycroft Renaissance School of Life, a group of hand-picked Artisans and Holistic Practitioners who have the honor of being associated with the Roycroft symbol of excellence. She frequently lectures on the Roycroft Campus and the Chautauqua Institute on health and Wellness. You can also find her in local Hamlin Park during the warm weather teaching Yoga or by reading her monthly health column in the East Aurora Advertiser.

Rose uses her skills in ancient healing techniques of Iridology, Kinesiology and Dowsing to determine existing or developing issues in your body. She will put you on a wellness program that may consist of Yoga, using simple things from your kitchen, Herbs, acupressure, energy work and nutritional education to achieve your goals. Her desire to educate the public about choices they have and why they have not reached their health goals is reflected in her inspiring lectures. “Years ago we knew what leaf or root to eat- to improve our health. We have forgotten our ancestor’s ways,” she quips. Rose shares her knowledge with her hometown and wants its people to lead healthy lives by achieving their goals naturally. Her Yoga classes combine Hatha, Vinyasa, Foot Reflexology and Meditation are geared to each participants needs. Her Power Yoga class combines Ashtanga, Power, Vinyasa and Pilates for those who like a good work out with their Yoga.

Rose moved here in the 80’s with her family, drawn to the community with its spiritual roots and old time charm. The Roycroft Campus, Elbert Hubbard, the beauty and the people made her realize this was the place where she wanted to grow old. She remains true to this as every year she organizes an Earth Day Clean Up for the Roycroft Campus, Hamlin Park and Main Street in the village of East Aurora. Rose truly embodies the motto “blessed is the woman who has found her work” – the spirit of the Roycroft shines through her as the love she puts into her work is reflected in the lives of the people she has helped over the past 25 years.

Andrea Francis - Floral Arrangements

In the spring of 1996, The Queen Bee opened its doors on the Historic Roycroft Campus. The first retail boutique ever to open in the Old Power House Building, it was a smashing success, elegantly filled with the custom floral designs, gifts and select antiques.

Andrea Francis, owner and designer, developed a dynamic series of workshops  along side of her reatil and craft show business. Only nine months later did the Queen Bee perish in the devasting fire that burned the Power House to the ground.

Andrea now lives with her husband, Tim on Blakeley Hill Farm where she resituated The Queen Bee and is currently offering her comprehensive Floral Design Workshops through the Roycroft Campus Corporation.

Andrea brings a fresh approach to silks and the art of floral arrangements. Holding a postgraduate degree in medical and biological illustration, her intuitive sense of composition and how things belong together has been serving her students and clients alike for 25 years.

As CEO of her own company, “Andy” continues to design and produce seasonal lines of decorative floral wreaths, swags, baskets, wedding accessories to such stores as Lord & Taylor, and Neiman Marcus.


Dorothy Markert - Printmaker

Printmaker,Dorothy Markert has been a Roycroft Artisan since 1995 and achieved
Roycroft Master Artisan status in 1997. Other awards are from area art
shows and exhibits that include the Roycroft Summer Festival, Hamburg
Art Society, Erie County Fair, Centennial Art Center of Hamburg and the
Burchfield-Penny Nature Center.

Her work is in collections throughout the country and is included in the permanent collection of the Burchfield Penny Art Center in Buffalo, NY. Dorothy was educated at Traphagen School of Fashion and Art Students League, in New York City, Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art, Newark, NJ and Hilbert College, Hamburg, NY. During her career she has exhibited at various prestigious venues throughout  Western New York and the United States including the Burchfield- Penney Art Center, Albright Knox Art Gallery and Art Dialogue in Buffalo, NY

Dorothy has shared her expertise by teaching and demonstrating her techniques
in screen printing.  Audiences, such as Elderhostel and Art Society groups
enjoy her hands-on presentations. The Chautauqua Institution, Amherst Museum, the Centennial Art Center of Hamburg and Continuing Education Programs throughout the area are some of the places she has taught.

Dorothy’s latest commission was from Stickley Craftsman Farms, Morris Plains, and NJ, which was part of the Print Series, 2005, where an edition of 100 original prints depicting the newly restored Girl’s Bedroom at Craftsman Farms was produced for sale by the organization.

Dorothy is the head of the Jury Committee for the Roycrofter’s at-Large Association and is responsible for coordinating the entries of hopeful artisans wishing to earn the Roycroft artisan status and use of the double R mark.

Dorothy's studio is in Hamburg, NY and has the help of her husband John who supports her work by making custom frames for her work and clients.

Ron VanOstrand - Metalsmith


Ron began his association with the metal arts while studying under metal-smith Thomas R. Markusen. After earning his Bachelor of Fine Art degree at SUNY Brockport, he went on to study at the School for American Craft at RIT and earned a Master of Fine Art in Metal/Jewelry Design.. Ron continues to craft works in copper, silver, German silver, and occasionally gold, in the manner set forth by the Roycrofters in his Holland, NY studio. Every piece is hand made by the artist himself, a Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisan, using traditional tools and techniques. Besides Ron's production line, he also creates custom "one of a kind" commissioned works and unique jewelry pieces. He is assisted in his studio by his spouse and partner Dawn Raczka, a metal artist in her own right, and the father of two darling children.