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MFA Faculty

	Mark Tennant Director of Graduate Fine Art Painting and Illustration Mark Tennant received a B.F.A. from the Maryland Institute, College of Art and earned his M.F.A. from the New York Academy of Art. He has also studied at Art Center, College of Design in Los Angeles and the Art Students League of New York. He has been an instructor at the Academy of Art University since 1998, He has also taught in Paris at the Atelier du Caroussel and Academie Julian / Penninghen. For the year 2007 he taught in New York at the Grand Central Academy (Metropolitan Museum Copying), the New York Academy and the National Academy School. His work is exhibited in Paris at GalerieDDG, Carlisle Gallery in Auburn, Alabama and Park Gallery, Carmel.
	Charlene Modena Director of Graduate Fine Art Sculpture & Printmaking Charlene received her M.A. in Sculpture from San Francisco State University with an emphasis in Metal Arts. She also studied with the S.F. Art Institute, Penland School in North Carolina and Haystack School in Maine, and conducted additional research in England, Mexico, Italy and Hawaii. She has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the world, including the American Institute of Architects, the University of Guanajuato (Mexico), the Butler Museum, Elements Gallery, the Anna Gardner Gallery and the Biennale Internationale-Limoges in France. Her work is included in the collections of the Xerox Corporation, the American Crafts Museum, Anne Rockefeller-Roberts and Donald Trump. She is also listed in The World's Who's Who of Women and was a Marin Arts Council Grant prize winner. She has been published in Design Magazine, American Crafts, Metalsmith Journal, Ornament, Visual Dialogue and Coevolution Quarterly. Charlene continues to lecture and give workshops in countries throughout the world, while maintaining membership and affiliation with numerous professional organizations. Charlene teaches Metal Arts/Jewelry and Papermaking/Mixed Media in the Sculpture Department at the Academy of Art University. When not teaching, Charlene works on her large mixed-media sculptures and one of a kind jewelry pieces in her studio at Muir Beach, California, a small Northern California coastal community where she also resides.
	Annamarie Nelson Fine Art Coordinator for Online Education Annamarie Nelson, also known as Anna, started teaching Still Life painting in 1992 for the summer Art Experience program at the Academy of Art University and has been a member of the faculty ever since. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Italian Language and Literature, worked for the Italian Department at UCLA as well as various travel agencies acting as tour guide for students studying in Florence, Italy. She attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Ca as an illustration major and after 6 terms began accepting freelance work and commission paintings. Anna received the Patrick Nagel award for best unpublished painting at the Illustration West Show, Society of Illustrators in Los Angeles. Anna has participated in local shows and auctions and continues to exhibit at Garden Gallery in Half Moon Bay, Ca as well as special event shows. In collaboration with the Academy of Art, Anna was commissioned to paint two murals on "ING" benches that were auctioned off to benefit art in education. Anna continues to contribute work to the annual Academy of Art Faculty/Alumni auction to help raise scholarship money benefiting Academy students. She also acts as the Fine Art Coordinator for Online Education.
	Carolyn Meyer Associate Director, School of Fine Art Director of Galleries Carolyn Meyer is also a full time faculty member teaching Landscape painting and Abstract painting classes. In addition she is also director of the three AAU downtown San Francisco galleries. Her career began as an art director for an advertising agency in San Francisco. She was one of the founding principles of Paris Printing, a large size printing Company in Northern California. She received both her BFA and MFA form AAU. Her work as a professional artist is a cross between realism and abstraction. You may see her work at ArtHaus, William Lester Gallery and Hang Gallery in San Francisco as well as several others around the U.S.

Mark Jason Bowen

Mark Jason Bowen is an accomplished fine artist. He has participated in many group and solo exhibitions in Europe and USA. He has won the Best of Show at the Capital Art Show in Utah and 2nd Place at the Tanglewood Art Exhibition. Bowen’s work has also been published in many magazines. He holds a BFA in Illustration from Brigham Young University and a MFA in Painting from American University. www.jasonbowenart.com

Jeannie Brunnick

After graduating from the Art Center College of Design, Jeannie established herself as a freelance illustrator gaining national recognition working for such distinguished clients as: Universal/MCA, MGM Studios, 20th Century Fox Studios, Sony Pictures, AOL/Time Warner, Disney Studios, Fox Television, Disneyland/Imagineering, Top Flight Golf Products, Honda Motors USA, and Toyota Motors. Her work has received awards from the Society of Illustrators (Los Angeles and New York). She taught painting and drawing at Art Center prior to coming to the Academy of Art College in 1992 where she has taught in the Fine Art, Illustration and Foundations Departments. Currently Jeannie has focused her attention on portraiture, receiving commissions from government, corporations, academia and private collectors. Her original art is also available through various galleries. She conducts private workshops twice a year.

Warren Chang

California born Chang graduated the Art Center College of Design with honors in 1981. He furthered his studies under Fred Fixler in Los Angeles and later Max Ginsberg in New York City. He worked as an illustrator
for 20 years in Los Angeles and New York and has had more than 200 of his paintings published as book covers. His work has won awards from the Society of Illustrators in New York and Communication Arts Magazine. Since 2001, he has devoted himself to the fine arts and currently teaches drawing and painting at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He was recently profiled on the cover of the American Artist Magazine and featured in American Art Collector and Southwest Art magazines. Among his awards are "Best of Show" at the Salon International 2003 held in Texas where noted artist and teacher, David Leffel was the juror of awards. In 2004 he received Second Prize in the 2004 International Artist magazine competition. He is a member of the California Art Club and has exhibited every year since 2002 in their annual Gold Medal exhibition. Primarily a figurative artist, Chang paints the human figure in contemporary environments, including the interiors of his studio and classroom, as well as outdoor subjects such as the fieldworkers of Monterey County where he grew up. To view work please visit www.warrenchang.com

Baoping Chen

Mr. Chen has over 25 years of experience as a professional fine artist. In 1984 he graduated from the Guangzhou Fine Art Institute in China and became an instructor there. He then attended the Academy of Art University in the United States and graduated with a MFA in 1992. Mr. Chen has been teaching at the Academy of Art University since 1995.

Mr. Chen has had many one-person exhibitions in New York and San Francisco. In 1993 he held a one-person exhibit and lecture at the California Art Museum, where his abstract works continues to be a part of their collection. In addition, he has had many solo and group exhibits throughout the world, and has sold many collections.

Baoping Chen’s artistic style has changed from realistic to expressive abstract over many years. Currently, he is teaching at the Graduate School of Academy of Art University and he also spends a great deal of time working on his own art works in his professional studio.

Daniel Cooney

Daniel Cooney has worked in comic art and illustration since 1997. Cooney has done all aspects of producing comic books and graphic novels -- writing, penciling, inking, coloring, lettering, and book design, all the way through pre-press for publication. A lifelong fan and prolific collector of comics, Cooney graduated with a BFA from New York's School of Visual Arts in 1998, where he studied under famed artists Walt Simonson and Klaus Janson. Cooney's client list includes illustration/graphic design work for Rolling Stone, Sony, Tower Records, Inkworks, WAMU, Marvel Trading Cards, and Image Comics, along with writing and illustrating his own stylish action comic thriller, Valentine, under the Red Eye Press imprint. Cooney currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area, where he teaches classes on-site at the Academy of Art University, writes online classes for the University, and stays busy with a variety of freelance and comic work. www.redeyepress.net

Sean Connor

Mr. Connor attended the Academia Di Belle Arti in Venice, Italy - graduated from U.C. Berkley with a Bachelors degree in fine art, then received his Masters degree in painting from the graduate school of figurative art at the New York Academy of Art, a teaching school based on Ecole des Beaux Artes which concentrates on the figure and the pictorial mode. Mr. Connor’s specialty is the figure as he has strong anatomical skills, but he is also well versed in various media. He feels, “An understanding of art, especially figurative art is important for students as they gain an awareness of themselves and what they want to express.” He has taught part time at the Academy of Art for ten years.

Karl Jensen

Karl Jensen graduated from San Jose State University with a MFA and from CSU-Hayward with a BA in Music. Since that time, Jensen has had over 27 years of professional experience in Fine Arts, Drawing & Painting. This also includes several years of teaching at Canada College, San Jose State, San Mateo High School District, and over 20 years of teaching experience at Academy of Art University. His work has been exhibited in solo, group, and juried shows across the San Francisco Bay Area. He has served as a juror for the Academy of Art Merit Scholarship Competitions and for scholarships awarded to high school students. Jensen also served extensively on review committees for undergraduate applicants and MFA candidates.

Paul Lorenz

Paul Lorenz is an accomplished abstract fine artist, whose work is held in private collections in the U.S, Europe and Mexico. His work has been widely exhibited in galleries such as SomArts Gallery in San Francisco, the Biennale International Del'Arte Contemporanea in Florence and Gallery 1633 in Chicago. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. www.paullorenz.biz

Kevin Moore

Kevin Moore has been an Artist Consultant, Gallery Artist in Hang Gallery, and Instructor since 1998. He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions in 2000, 2001, and 2002. These include exhibits at Hang Gallery, Visions Gallery, Artspan Auction, and the Spring Annual at Academy of Art University. Moore's work is also seen in the private collections of various individuals in San Francisco, New York, South Carolina, St. Louis, Denmark, and Italy. Moore and his work have been published in West Coast Artists, Artnews, and Where Magazine. Moore received his BFA in Painting from Academy of Art University and has been teaching there since 2001.

Craig Nelson

For over 30 years, Craig has been depicting figures, landscapes, CA coastal paintings and various environments in rich, vibrant oils. He has painted countless movie posters, many book covers, and album covers. Some of his most prestigious works have been his Broadway production posters for Neil Simons: Lost in Yonkers" and "Proposal", both originals are in the private collection of Neil Simons. During his illustrious career, Craig has won over 200 awards of excellence in various shows, five gold metals, four silver metals, and in 1996, a painting of his was chosen for the Communication Arts Annual cover. www.craigzart.com

Tae Park

Tae Park is an award winning fine artist with over 8 years of professional exhibiting experience. Park was a First Place Winner at the Portrait Society of America's International Competition recently. Other awards include finalist of International Artist Magazine, First Place at the Beauty of Winter Show, and First Place at the Academy of Art University's Annual Spring Show for two consecutive years. Her work has been exhibited at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel as part of the Portrait Society of America's International Show as well as at Moreseburg Galleries in West Hollywood, the Kinokuniya Building in San Francisco, Dave's Gallery Bar, Ahngook Gallery and Design Center in Korea. Park's commissioned paintings include works for Weinstein Gallery, The Hearst Building in San Francisco, Washington Mutual, and various individuals. Park has taught various private workshops since 2002 and taught at the Seoul Academy for over 3 years. Park holds a BFA in Painting from Sungshin Woman's University in Korea and a MFA in Fine Art from Academy of Art University. www.newmastersgallery.com/ArtistsT/tae.htm

Tomutsu Takishima

Tomutsu's work has been seen in many exhibitions in the bay area, including AAC, Romeo 5 Art Cafe, and Merced Multicultural Art Center. His awards include a 3rd place MFA Fine Art Painting Award from AAC, as well as a first award in oil from society of western artists national open show. Tomutsu received his BFA with distinction in Painting and Drawing from AAC in 1994, and received his MFA in Painting from AAC in 1998.

Nobuhito Tanaka

Nobuhito Tanaka holds a MFA in Painting from Academy of Art University and a BA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Minnesota. Tanaka holds various awards, including MFA Faculty Choice Winner, MFA Student Choice Winner, and MFA Second Place Winner from the Academy of Art University’s Annual Show. His works can be seen at the Christopher Hill Gallery in Saint Helena, CA, and also at the Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA. www.ntanaka.com

Bryan Taylor

Bryan Taylor is a talented artist with several years of exhibition experience. By the time Taylor had received his BA in Visual Arts from Brigham Young University, he had exhibited his work at several venues already. He had a one-man show at the Tivoli Gallery in Salt Lake City, the Park Place Gallery in Park City, and was professionally represented by Brownstone Gallery and Tivoli Gallery. Presently, he is represented by Galleria Luna in Half Moon Bay. His work also appeared at the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Competition. Taylor has had private training for over 3 years with Herold Demont Olsen and he has been CEO and instructor at the Venetian Gallery for over 4 years. He is currently pursuing his MFA in Painting from the Academy of Art University. Taylor also served as a Religion and English teacher in Italy. He is a member of the Oil Painters of America. www.gallerialuna.com/taylor.htm

Cameron Wasson

Upon graduation from Art Center College of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, Cameron began her career in NYC as an illustrator creating images for diverse clients such as American Express, AT&T, Compaq Computer, General Foods, Johnson and Johnson, Cannon Mills, Pepsi Cola, General Electric, Time Inc, Southwestern Bell, Addison Wesley, Bantam Doubleday Dell, McGraw Hill, Reader's Digest, St Martin's Press, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Working Woman, Travel & Leisure, Seventeen, Glamour, and Step by Step Magazine. Returning to California, Cameron began working within the digital realm, continuing to create illustrations, in addition to producing and managing corporate websites and developing the visual communication necessary to achieve marketing initiatives. Apart from instructing illustration students the fundamentals of portfolio website creation, illustration conceptual development, and color theory, Cameron continues to create a wide variety of projects in her studio, sometimes even for the sheer fun of it. Cameron's work can be seen at www.cameronwasson.com

Zhaoming Wu

Zhaoming Wu was born in China and grew up in Guangzhou City. He received his BFA from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art China and his MFA from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. Since 1983, he has been exhibitng his work in Asia, Europe, the United States and other countries around the world. He has won numerous awards, including the Merit Award at the 6th National Art Exhibition in Beijing, China, the Gustafson Fund Award, from the National Oil and Acrylic Painter's Society, 1st place in the 9th Biennial National Figure Painting and Drawing Exhibition, from Mendocino Art center, California; Second Prize Winner in International Artist magazine (Aug/Sept 2001), grand prize winner in International Artist magazine (Aug/Sept 2005); the Daler-Rowney Award from the Oil Painters of America (2000)and the Art Distributor Award from the Oil Painters of America(2005). Long active as both an artist and a teacher, he served as a professor of painting at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art and is currently an instructor of painting at the Academy of Art University. His works have been featured in many publications, including two drawing books of zhaoming wu and two painting books of zhaoming wu; Interntional Artist Magazine (April/May 2003, August/September 2005), Art of the West magazine (September/October 2004, July/August 2007), Art Talk Magazine (February 2005), and American Art Collector (January 2007). www.zhaomingwu.com

Zachary Zdrale

Zachary Zdrale is a prolific artist who has exhibited his work in group exhibitions throughout the bay area as well as in New York, Colorado, and Wisconsin. Among the group exhibitions in which he participated were the Oil Painters of American Western Regional, Oil Painters of America's 15th National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Show of Heads, Drawing on the Figure and the Academy of Art University's Annual Spring Show. Zdrale has been the recipient of the First Place MFA Painting Award at the Academy's Spring Show. He received an honorable mention from the Art Center of Estes Park and received third prize from I.D.A. Zdrale holds a BS in Art from the University of Wisconsin and is completing his MFA in Fine Art at the Academy of Art University. zackzdrale.com

Mark Zjawinski

Mark Zjawinski became a self-employed artist, specializing in sculpture after graduating from Pratt Institute with a BFA and then Academy of Art College with an MFA. He has had many solo and group exhibitions. These include the Museum of Modern Art, the First Annual Bicoastal Exhibition at the Sculpture Guild of New York, Pulaski Museum in Poland, Lotus Gallery in New York, and many more. Additionally, selected private and public collections include the Brooklyn Museum, the Pulaski Museum and the Embassy of the United States in Poland. Zjawinski was awarded the Bronze Award from the Art of California Magazine for two consecutive years. He has over 20 years of teaching experience in New York and San Francisco and has taught at the Academy of Art College since 1993.