Oil Painting with Julian T.

Hello! I am a professional artist and educator. I have a BFA in illustration and an MFA in fine art painting, have exhibited nationally, and have been featured in various publications. My art tends towards narrative realism. Having taught for over 9 years, my students can expect to progress methodically as they work towards their goal. I place an emphasis on solid observational foundations, as I feel that it is the bedrock of all good art. Whether it is drawing or painting, the process begins similarly, comfortably and logically becoming more challenging as students become adept at a given skill set. I simplify the process of interpreting a subject matter so that students can digest and grasp a concept. Since the beginning I have consciously avoided teaching students my process. What matters more to me as an educator is that they learn how to "see" something and break it down in a way that becomes their own. It all stems from the same repetition of exercises so that it becomes second nature, but I prefer a student understand what they are looking at instead of copying something. As I tell my students in class year after year, copying a photograph or life model is remarkably simple once you learn the process; interpreting it and making it your own is what makes a good artist. I work with teens and adults primarily. Adults have typically come to me for specific goals: drawing grand kids, pets, landscapes, etc. Teens aged 12-18 are my specialty. It is with great pride that I can say past students of mine have gone to such schools as School of Visual Art, Pratt, Rhode Island School of Design, and Maryland Institute of Contemporary Art, just to name a few. That isn't to toot my own horn, but nurturing a sense of confidence in their ability to tackle both technical and conceptual projects has been my aim since I began teaching in 2009. With all that said, I look forward to meeting you and working with you. If you are willing to put in the work, I will work with you to reach your goals.