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FacultyWorking artists as instructors

Taught by people who still make their own work, and know how to teach it.

Our instructors

20 instructors, A to Z

Alanna Peters

Painter

Collections in 6 Countries McMaster & Queen’s Alumna Figurative Oil Specialist Toronto & Denver Based

Alanna Peters is a figurative oil painter with work held in collections across six countries, specializing in the interaction between abstract environments and realistic figures. A graduate of McMaster and Queen’s University, she balances an international studio practice with her roles as an arts educator and mother of three. Discover more at: www.alannapeters.com or @alanna_peters

Classes with Alanna Peters this term

Allison Beula

Mixed media

Norman Jewison Award Netflix Second City

Allison holds an Honours BAA in Film and is a Norman Jewison Filmmaker Award recipient. A graduate of Second City Conservatory and trained at Upright Citizens Brigade NYC, she directs, choreographs and teaches across Toronto's top institutions. Most recently she starred as DURP-E the robot in Netflix's Oh Yuck! — and yes, she also teaches Zumba to seniors in Spanish

Classes with Allison Beula this term

Andrew Judd

Illustrator,Painter

Award-winning OCA Graduate International Exhibitor (London/Prague) Art Students League Traditions Westmount Gallery Artist

Andrew Judd is a professional illustrator and art director who graduated from the Ontario College of Art. He has exhibited his work internationally in cities such as Vienna, Prague, London, and Santa Fe. Early in his career, he worked for William Biddle, where he learned the traditions of the Art Students League of New York. His teaching and practice emphasize the critical fundamentals of good drawing, value relationships, and color. Whether painting outdoors, in cafes, or in a studio, Andrew follows a simple, orderly, and knowledgeable working process. His illustrations are represented by Masterfile, and his original paintings and drawings are available through Westmount Gallery in Toronto.

Classes with Andrew Judd this term

Anita Fowl

Illustrator,Mixed media,Painter

OCAD Illustration graduate, 2022 Multimedia illustrator and comics creator Watercolour dreamscapes and narrative art

Anita Fowl is a multimedia illustrator and creature from Toronto. They are a creator of comics and enjoy painting the world through a softer lens. After graduating from OCAD’s Illustration program in 2022, Anita has spent the past few years teaching art to all ages and sharing their love for creating. They specialize in painting captivating dreamscapes with watercolour and bringing characters to life through narrative art.

Classes with Anita Fowl this term

Sketchbooks & Zines: Junk Journalling (Ages 12 – 16)

Drawing, Painting, Making (Ages 8-12)

David Lapp

Illustrator

3x Best American Comics Selection 20+ Years AGO Faculty Ignatz & Doug Wright Nominee OCAD & Western Alumnus

Deidre Wicks

Illustrator,Painter

Commercial artist, animal watercolour illustration Trained in Fashion School illustration

I’m an artist and illustrator who is inspired by the belief that art can bring joy to the world. It is this principle that guides my brush when I paint the objects around me. As an educator I follow that same principle and believe that the act of making art should be just as joyful. I received my training in Fashion School where illustration class taught me to render reality in a fun and innovative way. I built my career as a commercial artist specializing in animal watercolour illustrations for large home goods, clothing and greeting card companies all around the world. I also have a deep interest in coloured pencil techniques and an appreciation for the possibilities this underused medium can have. I like to try new mediums, attempt new subject matter and learn new techniques because there is never a limit to the growth we can have as artists or as people.

Classes with Deidre Wicks this term

Dinesh S

Painter

Toronto Collections Artist City Hall Gallery Exhibitor Self-Taught Watercolor Specialist Juried Exhibition Artist

Dinesh is a self-taught watercolor artist who captures the essence of his worldly adventures through vibrant co lors and intricate details. Since settling in Toronto, he has found inspiration in the city's rich culture and diverse inhabitants to develop his unique style. His artwork has earned recognition in juried exhibitions and is featured in the Toronto Collections at the City Hall art gallery. He believes that beauty can be found anywhere, from worn-out city areas to stunning natural scenery. His work aims to encourage people to take time to appreciate the magnificence in their immediate surroundings. In addition to his art, he finds solace in nature and enjoys playing softball during the summer.

Classes with Dinesh S this term

Evan Hutchinson

Creative Director

Royal Academy of Arts (U.K.) Toronto Metropolitan University B.F.A. ARAS Creative Director Multimedia & Lens-Based Specialist

Evan Hutchinson is the Instructor and Creative Director at the Avenue Road Arts School. After completing her B.F.A. at Toronto Metropolitan University, she relocated to London, U.K., where she developed and facilitated art classes for the public at the Royal Academy of Arts. Upon returning to Canada, Evan continued her practice of leading art programs for public and private schools and low-income families across Ontario. Her independent art and teaching practice is rooted in multimedia, including drawing, painting, collage, and lens-based media. Using an interest in human social and psychological behavior, she explores various forms of facilitated experimentation that attempt to question the world around us.

Classes with Evan Hutchinson this term

The Artist Studio: Connect & Create

Nature in Abstraction

Farida Zaman

Mixed media,Painter

Wimbledon School of Art (Honors) Society of Illustrators (NY) 20+ Years Freelance Illustrator Top of Class Graduate

Farida Zaman is a seasoned freelance illustrator with over 20 years of experience working with global clients across Europe, North America, and the Middle East. After attending the Chelsea School of Art, she graduated at the top of her class with honors from the Wimbledon School of Art. Her unmistakable style is lively, colourful, and whimsical, utilizing watercolours, gouache, and digital mediums for applications ranging from book covers to packaging. Farida’s international career has spanned Geneva, London, New York, and Toronto, and she is a member of the Society of Illustrators in New York and the SCBWI. Her work is heavily influenced by her extensive global travels and appreciation for multiculturalism. In addition to her studio practice, she has taught art at the college, high school, and elementary levels.

Classes with Farida Zaman this term

Mixed Media Collage: Mindful & Expressive Layers

Frannie Potts

Mixed media,Muralist,Painter

Scarbrite Collective Co-founder 10+ Years Experience Featured on CP24 StArt Toronto Lead Artist

Frannie Potts is a Toronto-based artist, muralist, and educator with over ten years of experience. Her creative work operates at the intersection of the whimsical and the surreal, often incorporating local flora and fauna to connect urban spaces with nature. She is the co-founder of the Scarbrite Collective , a hyperlocal group focused on creating murals and community-engaged art projects in Scarborough. Having worked with organizations such as StArt Toronto and Mural Routes, she has assisted with over ten large-scale murals and led her own major design at the East Scarborough Storefront in 2021. To date, her community-focused art has been featured on CP24 , The York Guardian, and Toronto.com.

Classes with Frannie Potts this term

Jennifer Chin

Illustrator,Mixed media,Photographer

MFA, University of Windsor Honours diploma, OCAD Led programs for the Royal Ontario Museum and Canon Canada

Jennifer Chin is a multimedia visual artist and educator who holds an MFA from the University of Windsor and an honors diploma from OCAD. She has led high-profile community arts programs for prestigious institutions like the Royal Ontario Museum and Canon Canada while exhibiting her work across Canada and internationally.

Classes with Jennifer Chin this term

Creative & Technical Digital Photography

Drawing & Painting Explorations (Ages 6-13) – Virtual

Jennifer Hinrichs

Illustrator,Painter

George Brown College Faculty Masterworks Foundation Resident (Bermuda) 20+ Years Professional Artist Former Publishing Art Director

Kirk Sutherland

Mixed media,Painter

OCADU graduate, high honours (1991) Studied under Graham Coughtry and Robert Hedrick Renowned colourist Over 20 years teaching

Kirk Sutherland is a Toronto-based Canadian artist. He has exhibited his work under the representation of many art galleries internationally over the last 30 years. Many of his pieces are included in both private and corporate collections globally. Sutherland graduated with high-honours from the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU) in 1991, majoring in Contemporary Art and Drawing and Painting from the Faculty of Experiential Arts. While at OCAD Sutherland studied under Canadian 20th century masters Graham Coughtry, Robert Hedrick, Paul Sloggett and Daniel Solomon as well as studying colour theory with internationally revered colourist and theorist Francois Thepot. Kirk Sutherland is a renowned colourist who was born with synesthesia. This blending of senses very much enhances his perception of colour and his overall creative process. Sutherland is also known for working with the Hollywood Film Industry, creating and designing public art in urban environments and working with the music industry creating album cover designs. Kirk Sutherland is a teacher, educator and lecturer. With a wide and profound knowledge of classical and contemporary art history, Sutherland has taught a myriad of studio and theoretical course for over 20 years.

Classes with Kirk Sutherland this term

Laura Krieger

Painter

Watercolour Landscape Artist M.Sc. in Psychological Science Formative ARAS Alumna

Laura Krieger is a landscape painter and educator whose artistic journey is deeply intertwined with the Avenue Road Arts School. Having grown up spending her summers in the school’s historic day programs, she later returned to its studios to formally train in foundational watercolour theory. Her practice is defined by a dedication to capturing natural scenery, a focus sparked by a definitive 100-day dedicated painting project. With an M.Sc. in Psychological Science, Laura integrates an understanding of the creative mind into her pedagogy, ensuring her studio environment is both structured and deeply rewarding. Her classes guide students through the technical nuances of watercolour landscapes while fostering an encouraging space for individual artistic growth. Laura is based in Toronto, where she maintains an active studio practice.

Classes with Laura Krieger this term

Watercolour Explorations

Autumn Watercolours: Warm Meets Cool Tones

Lucee Maclean

Martha Johnson

Illustrator,Mixed media,Painter

BFA Honours Listed Canadian Artist

Martha received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours, from the University of Guelph, and was mentored by Tom Hodgson (Painter's 11). Known for figurative and landscape painting, her work is held in public, corporate and private collections worldwide. Visit marthajohnson.ca

Classes with Martha Johnson this term

Colour Studio

Art of the Moment: Contemporary Painting

Acrylic Art 101: Building a Painting Foundation

Acrylic Art: Intermediate Painting

Land & Sky: Painting with Technique & Precision

Rachel Crummey

Illustrator,Mixed media,Painter

MFA, University of Guelph (2014) BFA, Concordia University (2010) 2015 Joseph Plaskett Foundation Nancy Petry Award Artist in residence, Kulturkontakt Austria and Salzburger Kunstverein

Rachel Crummey is a visual artist working primarily in painting and drawing. Her work incorporates pattern, improvisation, and collage. She has worked with children in a variety of contexts and loves sharing her passion and enthusiasm for art making. She has been an artist in residence with Kulturkontakt Austria and the Salzburger Kunstverein, and was the 2015 winner of the Joseph Plaskett Foundation’s Nancy Petry Award for emerging Canadian painters. She has exhibited in Canada, London UK, Austria, and Italy. She gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. She received her BFA from Concordia University in 2010, and her MFA from the University of Guelph in 2014.

Classes with Rachel Crummey this term

Rose Montgomery-Whicher

Drawer

Ph.D. in Art Education Routledge Published Author University of London & Kettle’s Yard (UK) Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Faculty

Rose Montgomery-Whicher is a distinguished artist, educator, and author whose practice is centered on the meditative art of observation drawing. With a PhD in Art Education from the University of Alberta and an MA from Concordia, her teaching is deeply informed by a philosophical and historical research background. She has shared her expertise across prestigious international institutions, including the University of London, Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Through her work, she helps students of all ages find confidence and innovation while discovering the joys of the creative process. Rose is also the author of a 2022 Routledge publication exploring the phenomenology of drawing as a way of preserving fleeting, specific experiences. Based in Toronto, she balances her academic pursuits with her family and a dog with the excellent name of Tapioca.

Classes with Rose Montgomery-Whicher this term

The Collective Sketchbook: Virtual Open Studio & Community

Drawing for Beginners

Face to Face: Creative & Social Portrait Drawing

Drawing Beyond Basics

Sadko Hadzihasanovic

Illustrator,Painter

60+ Canadian Exhibitions MFA University of Belgrade Canada Council Grant Recipient Mixed Media & Pop Culture Specialist

Sadko Hadzihasanovic is a prolific mixed-media artist and MFA graduate from the University of Belgrade who has participated in over sixty Canadian exhibitions since arriving from Bosnia in 1993. A recipient of prestigious grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, his portraiture-based work uniquely blends social identity with playful, subversive references to popular culture.

Classes with Sadko Hadzihasanovic this term

Sam Paonessa

Painter

40+ Years Professional Experience Hallmark Cards Canada Artist Former Art Director Plein Air Specialist

Sam Paonessa is a professional artist with a distinguished creative career spanning over 40 years. He spent much of his professional life as an illustrator and Art Director for Hallmark Cards Canada, where he created paintings for greeting cards, calendars, and a wide variety of retail products. Specializing in oils and acrylics, Sam is a dedicated plein air painter who finds deep gratification in capturing the shifting light and magnificent beauty of the changing seasons. His work is a reflection of his reverence for the natural landscape and is heavily inspired by his personal faith and the world around him. Beyond the canvas, he is committed to a lifelong journey of developing his character to inspire the next generation of artists. You can explore his extensive portfolio of studio and location studies at his personal gallery.

Classes with Sam Paonessa this term

Expressive Horizons:
Essentials in Landscape Painting

Adult classes

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