Richmond Smith - art teacher / painter/ sculptor.
Richmond has been teaching private art classes out of his studio since August
of 2006. He currently also teaches art classes to children at Rainbow
Mountain Children's School and adults with disabilities at Open Hearts Art
Center. Prior to teaching privately, he taught in public school since 2003 at
various grade levels including the Literacy through the Arts Program from the
Asheville Art Museum, and most recently at Westview Middle School in Goose
Creek, SC. He holds a B.F.A in Studio Art (painting, sculpture) from Western
Carolina University and an art education degree from University of North
Carolina at Asheville. When he is not teaching art classes or teaching tennis
lessons, he is busy creating his own visionary, textured oil and mixed-media
paintings and sculpture.
Richmond has been teaching private art classes out of his studio since August
of 2006. He currently also teaches art classes to children at Rainbow
Mountain Children's School and adults with disabilities at Open Hearts Art
Center. Prior to teaching privately, he taught in public school since 2003 at
various grade levels including the Literacy through the Arts Program from the
Asheville Art Museum, and most recently at Westview Middle School in Goose
Creek, SC. He holds a B.F.A in Studio Art (painting, sculpture) from Western
Carolina University and an art education degree from University of North
Carolina at Asheville. When he is not teaching art classes or teaching tennis
lessons, he is busy creating his own visionary, textured oil and mixed-media
paintings and sculpture.
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| Art Education for children and adults |
| Artists Biographies |
| For a look at some of the amazing artwork created by these artists, check out the gallery on this website. Also, check out the schedule of classes taught by these artists in "classes" or "summer camp". |
Bridget Conn - art teacher/photographer
Bridget received her BFA in Studio Art from Tulane University in 2000 and her
MFA from the University of Georgia in 2003, focusing mainly in photography.
She relocated to Asheville in the fall of 2009to further focus on her art practice
and design skills and to participate in the creative culture of the region. She
taught Photography and Art Foundations courses at five colleges in Georgia
from 2001 to 2009, and is currently the Photography instructor at
Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tennessee, as well as at the
Phil Mechanic Studios Public Darkroom in Asheville.
Bridget received her BFA in Studio Art from Tulane University in 2000 and her
MFA from the University of Georgia in 2003, focusing mainly in photography.
She relocated to Asheville in the fall of 2009to further focus on her art practice
and design skills and to participate in the creative culture of the region. She
taught Photography and Art Foundations courses at five colleges in Georgia
from 2001 to 2009, and is currently the Photography instructor at
Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tennessee, as well as at the
Phil Mechanic Studios Public Darkroom in Asheville.
Leslie Dikerson- art teacher/ painter
Leslie is a painter who lives in Asheville with her 4 children, 2 dogs, cat,
parakeet, and tank of fish. She has studied both art and architecture earning a
BS in art from Skidmore College and art teaching certification for grades K-12
from the University of North Carolina in Asheville. She has experience teaching
children art in both private and public school settings where she has enjoyed
sharing her love of art with all ages. When not painting you will find Leslie
outdoors gardening or hiking.
Leslie is a painter who lives in Asheville with her 4 children, 2 dogs, cat,
parakeet, and tank of fish. She has studied both art and architecture earning a
BS in art from Skidmore College and art teaching certification for grades K-12
from the University of North Carolina in Asheville. She has experience teaching
children art in both private and public school settings where she has enjoyed
sharing her love of art with all ages. When not painting you will find Leslie
outdoors gardening or hiking.
Amanda Gaebel- Printmaker/Collage Artist/Art Instructor
Amanda has been teaching art instruction, theory and appreciation to children,
adolescents and adults through non-profits and state-supported grant programs
intermittently for the past eight years. She completed preK - 8th grade
student-teaching in an inner-city school in NY and has been a teacher assistant
at university level for three semesters. She earned a BFA in printmaking and oil
painting from The State University of New York at Oswego in 2007 and is
currently pursuing an MFA from Western Carolina University. Her passion of
the moment is converting years of printmaking and collage work into
stop-motion animation. When she graduates she hopes to start a
semi-residential nonprofit Art Farm designed to support at-risk youth.
Amanda has been teaching art instruction, theory and appreciation to children,
adolescents and adults through non-profits and state-supported grant programs
intermittently for the past eight years. She completed preK - 8th grade
student-teaching in an inner-city school in NY and has been a teacher assistant
at university level for three semesters. She earned a BFA in printmaking and oil
painting from The State University of New York at Oswego in 2007 and is
currently pursuing an MFA from Western Carolina University. Her passion of
the moment is converting years of printmaking and collage work into
stop-motion animation. When she graduates she hopes to start a
semi-residential nonprofit Art Farm designed to support at-risk youth.
James Cassara - Art instructor / Painter/ Printmaker
James Cassara is a well established arts educator and artist in the Asheville
Area. He has taught with Asheville City Schools, primarily at Claxton
Elementary, for more than 22 years. In all he has 27 years of teaching
experience. James holds a B.A. in art (as well as art certification) from UNC
Asheville, where he also completed the Masters of Liberal Arts (MLA) program.
In addition he is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in the area of early and
middle childhood art. While teaching is “his first love and true passion” he
continues to produce his own work, primarily painting and print making, feeling
it essential that all arts educators remain active artists.
James Cassara is a well established arts educator and artist in the Asheville
Area. He has taught with Asheville City Schools, primarily at Claxton
Elementary, for more than 22 years. In all he has 27 years of teaching
experience. James holds a B.A. in art (as well as art certification) from UNC
Asheville, where he also completed the Masters of Liberal Arts (MLA) program.
In addition he is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in the area of early and
middle childhood art. While teaching is “his first love and true passion” he
continues to produce his own work, primarily painting and print making, feeling
it essential that all arts educators remain active artists.
