ART LESSONS & PROGRAMS
Classes and Workshops for Preschoolers, Youth, Young Adults, Teens, Adults and Seniors
Our art curriculum is designed to promote a “creative-based” atmosphere, emphasizing introduction and practice in techniques, historical and cultural references, and media, allowing the student to find and explore their own artistic interpretations.
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We maintain a cap on the number of participants, allowing the Fox River Academy to create a “semi-private” instructional atmosphere in the classroom. View our current ART CLASSES here.
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Periodically, we will host Open Art sessions at Fox River Academy and other locations throughout the community.
Our art instructors are active professionals who share a
passion for teaching creative arts to the community.
Heidi Miller
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
Heidi is a 2007 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in Art Education, and has taught art classes with Fox River Academy for the last seven years.
Creating art and sharing her knowledge about everything art related is Heidi’s passion. Along with teaching art, she also enjoys creating new art pieces and becoming involved with many different art projects and events.
Heidi has contributed her talents to community fundraisers and charitable events, along with assisting with numerous Fox River projects
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“I love being able to create art using many different art mediums together and experimenting to see how they can create something unique and personal. I believe that art should be a learning experience and a way to create something that is unique to each person, no matter the age or experience level.”
~ Heidi Miller
Marilena Linardatou
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
Marilena received her M.A. in History of Art (Contemporary) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her B.A. in Classics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has worked in the educational field with young students in the preschool and grade-school arena, fostering community relationships with parents, PTO, school administration, outside organizations, and the artistic community through creation and facilitation of art programs. Marilena was on staff for 22 years at the Chesterbrook Academy, first as a preschool instructor and then growing her role into an Art Program teacher and coordinator. Her focus is to encourage creativity through combining study of technique while learning about art history in an exciting and accessible manner.
My goal is for all of my students to cultivate a love for the arts that will stay with them for a lifetime.
~ Tricia Frost
Gayle Faber
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
In between family and home obligations, I began taking several years of private acrylic decorative painting with a local teacher and classes at Banbury Fair in Bartlett IL. Then embarked on the Interior Design program at College of DuPage. The program taught me balance of space, form, line, color theory and texture that I use to this day in some form making art.
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After working in Interior Design with Window Dressings Plus, I found I needed more hands-on experience. I enrolled and certified at the Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes. Upon completion and certification, I opened a mural and Faux finishing business. Several murals here in Oswego private homes and some on display at Fox Valley Winery, The Sports Dome, and a shop in Mason Square.
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The Mural business eventually led to opening a Sip & Paint in 2012 in Oswego as Studio 60 Art Center which is still in operation with online classes and traveling Art. As the studio began to grow, I took pottery classes at The Fine Line Arts Center in Geneva.
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I have made expanding my art experience a priority and enjoy sharing what I know with others. I have taught at Water Street Studios in Batavia and Currently honored to be teaching at Fox River Academy in Oswego.
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“Art is a lifetime experience which every day is a classroom. It brings us joy, contentment and therapy for those who seek it.” – Gayle Faber
Christy Groner
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
I am excited to be an Artist and Painting Instructor. I have been practicing and studying Art and Painting my entire life – at Northern Illinois University and countless Studio classes and workshops at Art Leagues, Park Districts and Junior College courses. I am a local Artist, a member of the DuPage Art League and a Certified Painting Instructor.
I enjoy teaching people how to create beautiful paintings because it makes me happy to introduce all ages to a fantastic hobby. I also enjoy seeing the sense of pride and accomplishment in my students when they create their own “masterpiece”. I specialize in beginners but all skill levels are welcome.
I have 8 years of experience teaching small and large groups acrylic painting in Studios. I really like the group atmosphere because creativity is contagious and more fun with fellow Artists. Most of the paintings I create are colorful and designed to spark joy in the viewer.
Maureen Gasek
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
Maureen has been painting and working with different media since childhood. She has always loved working with her hands and patiently began creating about the age of 5. Maureen sold her first piece of art in first grade for .25 cents, a layered collage of the tracings of her hands. Her rural upbringing influenced the way she responds to nature, people and emotions, always looking at the beauty around her from digging in the dirt, exploring the fields to carefully studying both day and night skies, all of which is representational in her work.
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She studied at the University of Wisconsin, Stout and graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Art, concentrating in graphic design along with painting, metals, photography and English. Maureen has worked in many commercial design areas as a graphic designer, agency director and more. She specializes in creating logos and marketing materials for small business and artists. She also designs jewelry which feature her abstract paintings embedded in neck pieces, earrings and rings and works in various metals including silver, copper and brass.
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Maureen is a certified Art Educator through Golden Artist Colors. GAEP, and an active member in her community and volunteers at FVAWL working with animals. Maureen also uses her talent to assist various charitable organizations, and has participated in the Alzheimer’s Unforgettable Art Live Paint for the past 10 years selling in the top 10 out of 50 artists. She has received award winning recognition for her work, has been published in American Art Collector and shows in galleries and juried shows.