The Visual Arts Center of Richmond is proud of its wonderful and talented instructors. Here is a little information about them. Check out their websites, too.
Susan Adams is a jewelry designer and metalsmith who holds an MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She served as the Visual Arts Center’s 2004 Master Teacher.
Barbara Atkinson has been a professional stained glass artist and instructor for over 30 years.
John Balasa is a professional faux finisher. He works for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the Department of Exhibition Production.
Ingrid Bernhardt is a graduate of the Pratt Institute. Her beadwork is exhibited nationally and she regularly exhibits at the Craft & Design Show.
Lee Bloxom holds an MFA from VCU in Creative Writing and a BA from Wellesley College.
David Camden is a graduate of Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. He has taught ceramics classes at the Visual Arts Center since 1978.
Helen Cassiday holds a BFA in painting and printmaking from VCU and is a professional book artist and conservator of books and paper.
Ross Caudill earned his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree, concentrating in sculpture, from the Rhode Island School of Design. He went on to earn his Masters of Fine Arts, also in sculpture, from VCU. Since graduating he has been teaching as an Adjunct Professor for VCU’s Sculpture Department and is also the technician for the metal casting (foundry) program. Ross is currently represented by the Reynolds Gallery.
Janene Charbeneau has a BA in Crafts from VCU where she concentrated in Textiles. She has been sewing since she was 10, and most recently has been mending for Bygones Vintage Clothing exclusively.
Anthony Cioe holds an MFA from VCU and has studied in Murano, Italy with Maestro Davide Salvadore.
Carlie Collier has an MFA in photography from VCU. She is a professional artist, photographer, and educator.
Tom Crabb is a professional wood turning artist.
Timothy Dalton is a n MFA candidate in photography at VCU.
Barbara Dill studied woodturning at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. She is a full-time studio artist and instructor.
Tennessee Dixon has a BFA from the Academy of Art in San Francisco and extensive experience both working and teaching digital and multi-media art forms.
Don Dransfield is a designer/goldsmith, who received a BFA from the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Daniel Eaves has an MFA in Metalsmithing from Cranbrook Academy of Art. He is a full-time jeweler.
Nicole Anderson Ellis has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from VCU. She has published dozens of articles ranging from hard news to personal essay to commentary, and is currently the editor of City Edition magazine.
Allison Fiebert received her BFA in photography and film from VCU. She was a 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Undergraduate Fellow.
Doug Finkel has taught extensively and for 11 years was a faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University. He has had extensive involvement with the International Turning Exchange Residency program, numerous exhibitions, lectures and demonstrations.
Regi Franz is a professional photographer. She has an MFA from VCU and has photographed extensively in South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Jessica Freeman is a professional stained-glass artist.
James Fueglein holds an MFA in creative writing from VCU where he teaches in the English department.
JC Gilmore Bryan earned her MFA from Columbia University and teaches for the VCU Art Foundation Program.
Elka de Castro Amorim Graciano holds an MFA from Hunter College and has taught in both university and public school settings.
Sarah Hand is a local artist and puppeteer who developed educational programs for the American Institute of Graphic Arts and the Summer Bookshelf & Young Art series at the VMFA.
Cherri Allen Hankins is the owner of the Maidens Handweaver and teaches locally.
Maripat Hyatt is a local teacher and professional artist. She has received the VA Art Education Association’s Elementary Art Educator of the Year 2004 award, and most recently was named the 2006 National Art Education Association’s Southeast Region Elementary Art Teacher of the Year.
Brenda Isenberg is a fulltime professional artist who received her MFA in Painting from the New York Academy of Art.
Julia Janeczek is a freelance designer who holds a BFA in Apparel Design from VCU. She has traveled extensively, working in France, Guatemala and India.
Douglas Jones is a professional writer and teacher who has written and seen produced over 30 plays. He has a BA from the University of Chicago and did graduate work at the University of Virginia.
Shelley Jones is a jeweler, with a background in graphic arts. She incorporates beads, fine silver, wire, and fiber into her work.
Karen Kincaid has an MFA from VCU and is a full-time sculptor.
Catherine MacDonald has a BA in history and MFA in Creative Writing from VCU. She has published, taught and edited both poetry and fiction
Lauren Maas earned her MFA in Fiction from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently and instructor of Creative Writing and Composition and VCU and Strayer University in Henrico.
Sarah Masters has a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from VCU. She works, teaches, and shows locally. Her work is held in public, corporate, and private collections.
Deirdra McAfee is an editor as well as a writer, and has an MFA in fiction from The New School and an MA in English literature from Georgetown. Her award-winning work, including a story that won the STYLE Fiction Competition, has been widely published. To learn more, please see her website, deirdramcafee.com.
Katie McBride has a BFA from VCU in Communication Arts and Design and works as a free-lance illustrator and designer.
Richard McCord is a professional ceramic sculptor who has been teaching at VisArts for 20 years. He served as the Visual Arts Center’s Master Teacher for 2001.
Mary Melton is a Richmond artist and printmaker. She teaches and exhibits regionally.
Lindsay Mis has a BFA in jewelry design from VCU. She also studied at the Pratt Institute.
Darren Morris has an MFA in creative writing from VCU and was recently recognized in the Best New Poets series by Meridian books.
Kirk O’Brien is a professional freelance cartoonist and illustrator. His work can be viewed on his website at www.inkyline.com. He served as the Master Teacher for 2003.
Amie Oliver earned an MFA from Bowling Green (Ohio) State University. She is a professional artist and teacher.
Brad Pearson is a professional lampwork artist. He holds a BFA from VCU, and has taught and exhibited for a decade.
Elizabeth Perkins holds an MFA from VCU in Craft/Material Studies. She has participated in residencies and programs at Pilchuck, the Corning Museum, and the Creative Glass Center of America, as well as being invited to participate in the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore.
Nick Pollok has a BFA in sculpture from VCU, is a master woodworker and furniture maker with over 25 years experience, sculptor, painter, printmaker, and photographer.
Louis Poole holds a BFA in painting and printmaking from VCU and is a professional artist working in Richmond.
Susan Quinnild is a professional studio potter and watercolorist. She served as the Visual Art Center Master Teacher for 2005.
Sally Ramert holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in history with a specialty in European and Art history. Her 20 year teaching career focused on Modern and Post Modern architecture and Decorative Arts which led naturally to collecting of fine examples from around the world.
Pamela Rose Rennolds is a professional ceramist and teacher, has a BA from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.
Meg Rodgers has a BFA and GA in Arts Education and has taught in art centers and schools in Northern Virginia.
Maria Carra Rose is a metal artist whose work can be seen at www.facemetaldesign.com.
Ted Salins holds an MFA from the Pratt Institute and teaches at the Appomattox Governors School for the Arts while working on independent film projects.
Chuck Scalin is a professional artist, Emeritus Professor and former Assistant Chair of the Communication Arts and Design Department at Virginia Commonwealth University. He holds a BFA degree from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago and an MFA degree from Pratt Institute in New York. For the past 35+ years, his paintings, collages, assemblages, works on paper, and photography have been exhibited in the US, Europe and Asia and his work has received recognition and honors in over 300 juried, invitational, and solo exhibitions. His work is also represented in many public, private, museum and corporate collections both here and abroad. Examples of current work can be seen on his website: www.chuckscalin.com
Jude Schlotzhauer holds an MFA in glass working from VCU and a BFA in painting from American University. She is a full-time studio artist.
Jay Sharpe is professional metalsmith who holds a BFA from VCU and is the proprietor of a jewelry store in Richmond.
Shelly Bechtel Shepherd is an artist-member of the Virginia Watercolor Society and frequently exhibits throughout the U.S. She served as the Visual Arts Center’s Master Teacher for 2002.
Leslie Shiel holds an MFA from VCU. She has taught a variety of writing courses at VCU, has curated the Eric Schindler Gallery Reading Series, and has taught private poetry and nonfiction courses in the community.
Melanie Bentley Shockley is the owner of Fandangle Bead Store, a local jewelry artist, and an instructor who has been teaching jewelry classes throughout Virginia for the past seven years.
Susan Singer holds a Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies in Art from VCU. She has worked extensively with polymer clay and pastels, and shows and sells her work in regional galleries.
Andres Soulas is a professional photographer with more than 25 years of experience. Born in Buenos Aires, he has traveled and photographed extensively in Central and South America, Australia, Europe and the U.S. He has taught a wide variety of photography courses, ranging from basic starting techniques to advanced portrait, fashion, wildlife and landscapes.
Catherine Southall has a BFA in Fashion Design and 20 years experience in the fashion industry.
David Tanner is a portrait and figurative painter with a BFA from VCU. Tanner is an active member of The Portrait Society of American and The American Society for Classical Realism. Tanner also studied with modern master Nelson Shanks at the Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia. David was the 2006 Visual Arts Center Master Teacher.
Joanna Tyka has been a professional artist for over 30 years. She holds an MD from The Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland. She has taught in Poland, Germany, Spain and the US. Her work is represented in many galleries throughout Europe and the US. Her website is www.TYKAart.com
Jim Valentine has taught art in Richmond and Hanover County for 30 years. His pottery and sculpted clay faces appear in public and private collections in the U.S. and Germany.
Thomas Van Auken is a professional artist whose paintings have been shown locally and nationally. He studied fine art at the Corcoran School of Art.
Jeff Vick holds an MFA in ceramics from VCU and undergraduate degree from University of Illinois.
Kendra Wadsworth holds an MFA in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BFA in Painting from VCU.
Lee Weaver is a professional artist with a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from VCU.
Jessica Weintraub holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Tennessee.
Margaret Yarborough holds an M.Ed. with a concentration in art from the University of Virginia and B.A. in art history from Duke. She currently serves as the Director of Programs at the Virginia Center for Architecture.
