Our Faculty

    Lisa DePinto - attended the School of the Visual Arts, NYC; New York Academy of Art; The Art Student League, NYC; American Academy of Art, Chicago. A professional figurative, portrait, and mural artist. Exhibits locally and in private collections. Organized and participated in a portraiture, fifteen month project working up to a two women exhibition, February of 2007. Exhibited in "The 300 Heads Show". 

 Diana deMeuse -  Although I graduated with a business degree, I always took time to draw, paint, and discover new and different ways of looking at the world. My creativity compelled me to explore everything, try everything, never stop and never give up.  I’ve grown and learned so much during this artistic journey. About people, about life, about myself. If creative flow happens, and my painting reflects my vision, all of the effort to hold on to what I believe and trust about who I am, has been worthwhile.
To view, please visit demeusefineart.com 

Lisa DePinto - attended the School of the Visual Arts, NYC; New York Academy of Art; The Art Student League, NYC; American Academy of Art, Chicago. A professional figurative, portrait, and mural artist. Exhibits locally and in private collections. Organized and participated in a portraiture, fifteen month project working up to a two women exhibition, February of 2007. Exhibited in "The 300 Heads Show". 

  Jessica Feith - MFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Printmaking.  BS, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Art & French.  Additional study, University of Washington -Seattle, Southern Connecticut State University and Universite d’Aix-en-Provence, France.  Worked four years as Associate Printer at Big Cat Press in Chicago for nationally recognized artist Tony Fitzpatrick. Teaching experience:  Barat College, DePaul University, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Evanston Art Center, Anchor Graphics, and the Chicago Botanic Garden.  

  Jill Hurwitz has been throwing pots since 1973, and teaching ceramics since 1994. Earning her B.A. from Skidmore College in New York, she spent all her spare time in the pottery studio, and spent a summer as an apprentice for Regis Brodie, the director of ceramics at Skidmore. Another summer was spent taking ceramics at Rhode Island School of Design. From 1976 to ‘79 Jill served in the United States Peace Corps in West Africa. While there, she worked at the Centre des Arts in Ouagadougou during the summers as a functional potter on a kick wheel. Jill has a Masters Degree in Teaching (M.A.T.) from the School for International Training in Vermont.  Jill continued her pottery in Vermont, at Lill Street Studios in Chicago, at the Evanston Arts Center, and at the Park District in Highland Park. 

Peter Jablokow received a Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University, and an associates degree in Illustration from the American Academy of art in Chicago.  He worked as an architect, then as an architectural illustrator before becoming a watercolor painter. His work focuses on decaying structures and machines from 100 years ago. Peter has received award awards from the Transparent Watercolor Society, Illinois Watercolor Society and Great Lakes Showcase. His artwork has been featured in The Art of Watercolor, Watercolor Artist, Splash:Best of Watercolor and is a signature member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. 

To view, please visit peterillustrator.com

 I was a BFA student at DePaul University as well as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago focusing on Studio Art and learned of the Professional Certificate in Art Education program at SAIC.  I had never considered teaching as my career, but as soon as I began the education classes, I LOVED it! I fell in love with designing art lessons for children as well as working with children.  It was truly inspiring. 

 Thomas Trausch - Having been a career artist for the last 45 years has given me the opportunity to paint (en plein air), travel and visit great museums in the United States and in several European countries. My work is driven by the use of both light and color ... driving forces that add energy to the work. I believe that this light can impart a spiritual quality that resonates with the viewer. The design, shapes and the underlying abstract quality behind the painting are of great interest to me. These elements are what ultimately determine if the painting will succeed.
To view, please visit https://www.trauschfinearts.com/ 

  For Janet, art making is active imagination, process, expression, love, and order within one unified whole.  All of this activity is what gives her work it’s timeless vitality. Janet studied at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago – B.F.A.
American Academy of Art – Classical Drawing and Painting Studies
New York Institute of Art and Design – Certificate in Interior Design

To view, please visit www.janettrierweiler.com

 

  Michael Van Zeyl, studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Chicago’s Historic Palette & Chisel Academy and the Art Students League in New York, where he studied with the most accomplished artists who also paint directly from life under natural light. Michael’s work is held in many public and private collections, such as the United States District Court, University of Chicago, DePaul University School of Law and Chicago Theological Seminary. He has received awards from the Portrait Society of America, The Artists Guild and the Portrait Society of Atlanta, and has been a three-time Gold Medal winner at the Palette & Chisel.
To view, please visit michaelvanzeyl.com

 

 Nina Weiss - BFA, Tyler School of Art; University of Wisconsin-Madison, K-12 Art certification; additional studies at the Rhode Island School of Design and the Art Student League of New York. Instructor at Columbia College Chicago and Nina Weiss/Art Endeavors Studio.  Nina taught at the School of the Art Institute for eighteen year & teaches workshops throughout the US and in Europe, where she conducts her European Landscape Workshops. 

To view, please visit

ninaweiss.com