OUR TEACHERS
Our Teachers are recognized artists and designers in their fields. They range from Hollywood professionals, including an Art Director from Disney, internationally exhibited Fine Artists, award winning Illustrators and Graphic Designers. Our instructors are not only educators, but also qualified professionals with a personal understanding of current movements, trends and innovations in their industries. Our accomplished instructors and staff are equipped to provide students with the depth and breadth of an ever-evolving arts education.
MARIA
Lead Instructor and Art Counselor, Teaches Junior Designers, Portfolio Intro, Portfolio Prep
Maria Oglesby graduated from Art Center College of Design with honors and currently works as a freelance illustrator. In her spare time, she works as a college portfolio prep counselor, portfolio instructor, and Jr illustration instructor for Ming Creative Art Academy. Her classes highlight critical thinking over a foundation of high-level technical instruction.
When she’s not drawing or painting, she can often be found writing or illustrating various graphic novel projects or raising orphaned kittens for her local cat rescue charity.
Her work can be found at https://linktr.ee/mariaoglesbyart
MARISA
Art Counselor, Private Courses Teacher
Marisa is a fine artist and illustrator whose work as an artist encompasses painting, drawing, and sculpture to create art predominately featuring the human figure and face. Marisa delights in teaching kids and teens about the foundations of traditional drawing and painting, as well as encouraging the importance of personal expression. In her fine arts journey, Marisa has worked with Alhambra City Hall, Pasadena City College’s Boone Family Gallery, and ArtCenter College of Design in curating and exhibiting her work.
SCOTT
Teaches Junior Designers, Advanced Artists, Portfolio Prep
Scott Gandell is a professional illustrator, printmaker, and an entrepreneur. He is a past President and currently Development of The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, and is an alumnus of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. He co-owns and operates an interior design showroom and art gallery in South Pasadena, CA - South Pasadena Mercantile Co. Scott’s work has been published in magazines, newspapers, and books. His work has also been exhibited in galleries in the U.S. and Canada and has been acquired by clients and collectors worldwide.
VAN
Teaches Portfolio Prep
Van Li is a Concept Designer and Illustrator from China. She is a graduate of ArtCenter College Of Design's entertainment design department, and works as a freelance Concept Artist.
She is a passionate artist full of fresh ideas and imagination.
Van specializes in character design and storytelling. She believes design is more than making cool images; there is always something meaningful waiting to be explored.
KUN YU
Teaches Advanced Artists
Kun Yu is a Chinese artist specializing in painting and drawing. After graduating from the Shanghai Fine Arts School, he worked as an illustrator and art editor for various children’s books and publishing houses in China including Shanghai Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House, Shanghai Music Publishing House, East China Normal University Publishing House, and many more.
JORRY
Teaches Creative Kids, Creative Young Artists
Jeanine-Jonee Keith is a proud registered member of the Cherokee Nation, storyboard artist, award winning children's book illustrator, and comic book writer/illustrator.
Her work is mostly geared towards educating children either through the non-profit books that focus on subjects such as anger management and helping those in need, or her all ages comic series Seafoam: A Friend for Madison, which focuses on the importance of friendship and kindness. Alongside her illustrative work, she's had more than eight years experience teaching youth classes, through district programs and community classes. Jeanine-Jonee aims to teach students how impactful art can be, not only for themselves, but the world around them with an emphasis on visual storytelling and holistic teaching methods.
ANNA
Teaches Creative Young Artists, Junior Designers
Anna Huang is a professional freelance artist who specializes in illustrating and designing for animation. Anna is a graduate of Art Center College of Design, where she received a BA with honors in Illustration.
After graduation, she freelanced as a Character Designer, Background Designer, Indie Game Designer and Concept Artist for Audio Visuals. Anna enjoys doodling and teaching on her spare time.
K
Teaches Creative Kids
Kaoklai Thepchinda graduated from the Art Institute Inland Empire with a B.A. in Fine Art and currently paints concept works at Age of Learning Inc. He is passionate about creative storytelling and imaginative concepts.
He has had 7 years of experience in a wide range of industries including film, animation and video games.
NAOMY
Teaches Fashion Design
Naomy Kim is a designer and mixed media collage artist currently based in Southern Orange County. Naomy grew up in New York and she has a deep love and affection for the city. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Naomy worked for major fashion companies in New York, Seoul, South Korea, and Los Angeles as a knitwear designer. After she moved to California, she continued her art education and received an Associate of Art in Apparel Manufacturing Management at F.I.D.M. in Los Angeles CA. Naomy has been teaching art and design for the past seven years, she enjoys working with students and feels blessed to be immersed with them in their creative processes.
ANA
Teaches Creative Young Artists, Creative Kids, Advanced Artists, Portfolio Intro, Portfolio Prep
Ana Sanchez is a painter and artist, born in Havana, Cuba, who spent her childhood living in Colombia, where she got her Business and Economics degree in 2010. After moving to Los Angeles in 2012 Ana received her BFA at Laguna College of Art and Design. Her multidisciplinary and diverse background has helped her combine different elements of literature and philosophy into her artistic work and teaching. She has over 3 years experience working as a teacher and over 8 as a Fine Artist.
JENELLE
Art Counselor, Teaches Portfolio Prep
Jenelle Yuan is a Concept Artist/Designer mainly focused on character design, but also able to work with traditional painting, 3D modeling, etc. She got her bachelor's degree with an Entertainment Design major from ArtCenter College of Design.