Instructors’ Bios

Robert Bean: B.F.A. from Mississippi State University and M.F.A. from Louisiana State University. Artist and Associate Professor at Alabama A&M University in the Fine Arts Department. Before moving to Huntsville, Mr. Bean taught classes in figure painting and drawing at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. His works have been in group and solo exhibitions. Currently has a studio at the Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Center. Artist Website: www.lowemill.net/component/content/article/42-painting-drawing/148-robert-bean

Kristy Jane From-Brown: B.F.A. from University of South Alabama. Elementary and secondary art instructor at the Huntsville Museum of Art’s Museum Academy for ten years. She works in all media painting, drawing, printmaking, and ceramics. Her emphasis is on printmaking techniques. Has displayed works in several group and solo exhibitions. Served as the Gallery Administrator for the University of Alabama Department of Art and Art History. Currently has a studio at the Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Center. Artist Website: www.lowemill.net/component/content/article/42-painting-drawing/146-kristy-jane-from-brown

Sheila Cape: B.S. in Art Education from Auburn University and work in Special Education from University of Alabama. Attended graduate studies in art at Troy State University. Elementary and secondary art instructor at the Huntsville Museum of Art’s Museum Academy, Museum docent and outreach program volunteer.

Robert K. Carsten: Attended the Art Students League of NY, the Rhode Island School of Design and the Academia di Belle Arti in Italy. He is a board member and signature member of the Pastel Society of America, editor of the Pastelagram, and is a Master Circle Pastelist in the International, Association of Pastel Societies. He is a contributing writer to The Pastel Journal and The Artist’s Magazine. His pastel paintings have been shown in many museums including the Butler Institute of American Art, the Bennington Museum, the Mattatuck Museum, the D’Amore Museum and many others. His works are collected worldwide. He was featured in Pure Color/The Best of Pastel, The Pastel Journal, American Art Review, The Artist’s Magazine and Strokes of Genius/The Best of Drawing. Artist Website: www.robertcarsten.com

Dr. Frances Church: D. Ed. from University of Oregon majoring in Art Education, M.S. from University of Oregon in Art Education, and BS from Middle Tennessee State University majoring in Art History and English Literature. Currently teaching undergraduate and graduate art education courses and art appreciation courses at Alabama A&M University–Art Program Coordinator, Fine Arts Department. Taught elementary, middle, and high school levels art classes.

Anna Sue Courtney: Attended East Stroudsburg State College in Pennsylvania majoring in visual and performance arts. Coordinated interdisciplinary collaborations at her studio as well as for museums, community centers, schools, universities, and other indoor and outdoor venues. Her puppet company, Squeaking Tribe, is located in downtown Huntsville. She is a part-time puppeteer for the nationally syndicated Kids on the Block Troupe of Educational Puppets; a member of the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA and Puppeteers of America. Taught the Museum’s Art for Homeschooled Students Program and other preschool, elementary, and secondary grade level art classes. Currently has a studio at the Lowe Mill & Entertainment Center. Artist Website: www.lowemill.net/component/content/article/61-music–performance/170-squeakingtribe-studio

Nan Cunningham: B.A. from Auburn University. Taught at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN; Armory Learning Arts Center, Montgomery, AL; Third Street Painter’s Workshop, Montgomery, AL; Alabama Art Education Center, Birmingham, AL. Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. She has also served on the Board of Directors, Mississippi Art Colony and Board of Directors, Montgomery, AL Arts Council. Nan Cunningham was the featured artist for the Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts’ featured artist at the 25^th annual Business in the Arts Awards. Her work will be on display at Artistic Images Gallery on July 26 during the Summer Citywide Gallery Tour. Artist Website: www.nancunningham.com

Greg Datcher: Artist and instructor in ceramics. Taught at The Studio in Huntsville. Attended Alabama A&M University, majoring in fine arts. Works in all clay forms from handbuilding to wheel throwing techniques with sculptural qualities.

Melanie Laten: B.F.A. in ceramics and printmaking and M.A. in Art Education from University of Montevallo. Attended Savannah College of Art and Design for additional visual arts continuing education. Taught for over 25 years in art education in Alabama public school system. Currently Huntsville Museum of Art docent. Works in all media particularly ceramics and painting.

Becca Mauldin: Learned about stained glass in 1980’s while living in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has created more than twenty-five commissioned window pieces in homes and businesses in the Tennessee Valley since 2002. Recently the winner of the Hudson/Alpha 2011 DNA Day Contest.

Jackie Miller: Artist and instructor in jewelry from antique reproductions, felting, and batik fabric necklace techniques. Taught at the Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell. Her work can be found in galleries and shops in 21 states and Canada. Featured in Hoof Print: The Small Ruminant Magazine (Summer 2011) and Spool: Needle Arts Quarterly (Summer 2011). Currently has a studio at the Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Center. Artist Website: www.lowemill.net/component/content/article/47-artisan-jewelry/149-jac-win-design

Melinda Ortner: Over nine years experience in stained glass. Ortner specializes in lamps, windows, mosaic garden stones, repairs and a variety of unique home décor. She has spent the past five years as an Instructor for Daimler-Chrysler Training Center, Kids Camp, The Studio and Hobby Lobby. Her instruction reflects her great passion for glass.

Gayle Power: Artist and instructor in painting. Artist signature: Herman Gayle. Both formal and informal instruction from University of Alabama in Huntsville and in private study, and served as the art director of a private school. As a Southern impressionist artist, Power has exhibited in galleries and has work in private collections across the United States and around the world; and now exhibits her paintings in galleries in Charleston, SC and Atlanta, GA.

S. Renee Prasil: Currently Education Director/Bookkeeper for the Huntsville Art League (HAL). Instructor at HAL and Huntsville Museum of Art.  Also taught all ages and abilities at the Art Ministry at Whitesburg Baptist Center as well as the after school art program at the Hampton Cove Elementary School (Huntsville City Schools). Her art ranges from murals, portraits, clay vessels, handmade tiles, and sculptures all media. Selected as the 2005 Panoply Arts Festival Poster Artist. Currently has a studio at the Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Center.

Kimberly Reyes: M. Ed. with emphasis on Art Education from Alabama A&M University and B.S. in Art from Illinois State University. Currently teaches art at Randolph School. Has attended a wide range of professional workshops and conferences, most notably at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her work has been included in the Art Teachers’ Biennial Exhibition held during Huntsville’s Youth Art Month.

Linda Ruhl: B.S. in Fine Art and Design from Arkansas Tech University. Her commissioned portraits are in private collections throughout the country. She is a member of the Portrait Society of America and the American Watercolor Society. In September 2005 and October 2006, she conducted a weeklong Master Class-Portraits in watercolor, pastels, and charcoal with the Grafton Artfest in Grafton City, Australia. Artist Website: www.lindasartworld.com

Lian Quan Zhen: Physician in China until 1995 when he immigrated to the U.S. He received a B.A. from University of California/Berkeley in 1992 and a M.A. in Architecture from M.I.T. in 1996. He has had many one-man shows and has works in numerous institutional and private collections. Lian has been teaching Chinese and watercolor painting since 1994 across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and China. Watercolor 94 Spring, Splash 4, The Splendor of Light, Collectors, and Landscape in Watercolor have featured his work. His book, Chinese Painting Techniques for Exquisite Watercolors is currently in its third printing. Artist Website: www.lianspainting.com