Special Studies
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About the Instructor
Maureen Kerr
I was born in Switzerland and began traveling with my family at an early age. As a child, I had the opportunity to live in various countries including Germany, France, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Japan before finally settling in San Diego California, where I still reside. Traveling has been a big part of my life, and it's where I draw much of my inspiration and passion for art. Whether I'm hiking in Sedona, Arizona, taking a gondola ride in Venice, Italy, browsing through an open-air market in Cambodia, or just sitting in my backyard, I see life, vibrancy and color everywhere. My goal as an artist is to bring some of what I see to life on canvas, so you can share my journey with me.
About the Instructor
Marina Anta
Marina Anta is an enthusiastic contemporary artist with a passion for painting and creating the most breathtaking, thought-provoking pieces. Born in an industrial town in Russia, Marina learned the importance of working hard to succeed at an early age and would ultimately pursue a Master's Degree in History before getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ural Federal University. Despite being book-smart and having the education needed to get hired for various positions, Marina yearned to do more of what she loves most – creating bespoke art pieces that enable her to showcase her talent while expressing herself through the power of her carefully crafted paintings.
Upon migrating to the United States, Marina would have the opportunity of a lifetime to begin her professional art journey, experimenting with art while traveling to different countries across the globe, using these exciting places and new experiences for much-needed inspiration. She would spend the next decade immersing herself in art, studying in Russia, Italy, and the United States, and learning new and effective techniques that have helped her become a master of her craft.
Known for her innovative approach to artwork, Marina finds joy in using restrained, muted colors and a richness of tonal transitions and shades close in color to bring each piece to life, evoking raw emotions without taking away from the main idea. She aims to create art that brings a sense of excitement to viewers, where they can experience unlimited emotions with pieces that resonate deeply within them. Using disguised images for hidden reveals in every picture, she believes in giving the beholder the power to interpret each piece as they see fit based on the emotions they experience when viewing it.
With a genuine interest in self-forming composition, Marina creates her artwork without sketches, free-handing every piece during the creation process to breathe life into everything she touches. Her impressive technique sets her apart from others and has helped her make quite a name for herself among those in the art scene. Marina spends most of her time working in media, taking gorgeous photographs, painting distinct pieces of art, creating digital videos, and even working on installations.
Because of her incredible talent and natural ability to capture the beauty in artwork that viewers can interpret in many ways, she has had numerous pieces featured in both private and public collections. Marina has even had one of her pieces selected by the incredible Vallo Roberto, Chair of the Contemporary Art Committee, to be featured at the National Art Show. The feature led to additional exposure and new connections with those who have an unpretentious appreciation for the arts.
About the Instructor
Shirin Nikoukari
I started painting when I was young. I moved to the United States in my 20's and mix my Persian culture with my abstract inspirations. The pomegranate is a sacred symbol for me and often shows in my work as well as Persian Calligraphy. As I have evolved, my work has become more abstract.
About the Instructor
Robin Sanford Roberts
Robin Sanford Roberts is an artist and theatrical scenic designer working in models and mixed media. She makes art in studio #5 at Art on 30th. She has designed scenery for multiple theatres including the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Repertory, Denver Center Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage and Broadway.
She holds a degree in Architecture from LSU and a MFA in Scenic Design from UCSD. She also studied at the Ecole Des Beaux Arts, Fontainebleau and at Sir John Cass School of Art, London Polytechnic. Robin teaches and designs scenery for the undergraduate theatre department at USD.
“I have an obsession with old books and other ephemera. The fragments and bits of pieces come together to make a new piece. I enjoy working with pieces from the past that have a history of a previous life.”
About the Instructor
Lisa Bebi
Lisa Bebi, since a small child, has loved two things: looking through snapshots in her family album and painting as expression. For over three decades, the San Diego native has married these two things together, and her work has received international awards and recognition for its content, style, and color.
Lisa received her BA in fine arts from San Diego State University (SDSU), where she developed as a colorist, straddling representation with abstraction. Daughter of a journalist, Lisa always finds ways to tell the untold story she sees in snapshots. “I love the authenticity of the snapshot. It’s a single moment in time, but by painting it I can extend that moment, revel in it, and bring to life characters and scenarios that I fancy. Working this way gives me enormous pleasure.” She extracts the “behind, the behind” using innovative techniques and finesse.
Over the course of her life she has received awards, accolades, and endorsements. She has been a longtime contributor to many international mixed-media magazines and several books; has taught in artist residencies locally and internationally; is a Golden Paints artist educator; and is often a local juror.
