Jason Dowd knew he wanted to be an artist from the age of five. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, he grew up around his father, Ken Dowd, a successful illustrator, which laid the foundation for his future as an artist. Jason received his BFA at the Art Center College of Design, graduating second in his class. At Art Center, he focused on classical drawing and painting as his principal areas of study. Jason returned to St. Louis to pursue a career as a freelance illustrator.

He worked with clients such as Simon& Schuster, Coca-Cola, and Anheuser-Busch while continuing his studies as a painter. In 2000, Jason decided to dedicate himself fully to fine art and established his studio at the St. Louis Artists' Guild where he was Artist-in-Residence.

Jason has completed commissions for clients which include Southwest Bank, The Fox Theater of St. Louis, as well as many portraits including two official portraits of the Cardinal Justin Rigali for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Southwest Bank President.

October 2011 - TAS Instructor, Jason Dowd, won the prestigious Award of Excellence from American Art Review at the OPA Western Regional Juried Exhibition, showing at Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA. His beautiful oil painting, 16" x 20", is titled Silent Lions at the Fox Theater. Jason will be teaching a Surface Rendering Paint along, soon.

Melanie Florio is a California painter, born in 1983. She began painting at age 16 under the instruction of Lela Harty and continued her education at the Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) where she specialized in drawing and painting and received her MFA in 2007. Melanie's work celebrates modern life through a nostalgic lens that offers an open-ended and subtle narrative. "I want my work to feel familiar, like opening a cedar chest full of memories that is passed down through generations.” Melanie resides in Valencia,California, with her husband and dog, enjoying her career as an artist and illustrator.

Ruth Hollis received her masters of fine arts degree from California State University at Fullerton. She continued her portraiture studies in France.

Before opening The Art Studio Ruth taught adults and children privately and in classes for the past 5 years out of her Fountain Valley studio. Ruth has worked with many industry professionals. Interior designers have commissioned her to create one-of-a-kind, original works of art for their clients. Gartland, USA commissioned Ruth to create the KISS commemorative plates sold world wide. She has worked on music CD projects and has worked many times as an independent art consultant.

Ruth's work is shown in numerous collections throughout the United States. Her work can also be seen at Vitti's Gallery, Newport Beach.

Joseph Iantorno is a bright young artist and teacher living in Anaheim, California. Originally pursuing a career in music with painting as a hobby, he soon found his artistic ability with paint exceeded his musical talents. He exhibited in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Oil Painters of America National Show and has been awarded First Prize and Honorable Mention in The Anaheim Art Show and his work hung in the Newport Beach City Hall.
Influenced by such artists as Rembrandt, Hovsep Pushman, Gordon Brown and Photographer George Hurrell, Joseph prefers to paint in the style of "Chiaroscuro" which literally translates into: "Light and Shadow". It was the style preferred by Rembrandt and the style he is known for. In the proper light, the subject seems to separate itself from the canvas and stand out in front of the darker background colors. He has studied under the renowned artist David A. Leffel.
Joseph is inspired by the mood captured by Baroque painters. This and his preferred style of painting lead perfectly to his favorite subjects: Portrait and Still Life. True to the Chiaroscuro style, his subjects seem to live within their world of canvas and oil. In his own words, "Art should move you. It should enhance your life. A work of art is a unique and beautiful creation that MUST be done with love. I seek to fill my work with emotion, mood and compassion..."

ARTIST BIO - Toni Ivashkov spent her youth and adolescence traveling the world with her family. She lived and went to school in many countries including France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Russia and Spain. Toni is fluent in 4 languages: English, Russian, Hebrew but slowly loosing Lithuanian. She landed in New York City in 2002 as a student at The School of Visual Arts, (SVA), where she received her B.F.A. degree in Fine Art. Her focus was on multi-media, working in the genres of painting, sculpture, installation, video and performance art. Toni moved to Los Angeles in the summer of 2006, to pursue her career as a multi-media artist and art educator.

Since arriving in Los Angeles, Toni has participated in various group art exhibitions including a premiere of her performance piece "Yes, Bite, Now" for the first Annual Pico Community Art Walk in Santa Monica. Toni conceived and curated the group art exhibition project called: ?$+$+((((BOXED))))+$+$? held at the Unurban Gallery in 2008. And most recently she participated, (as both an artist and performer) in the politically charged group art exhibition curated by Joella March called: “Just How Does A Patriot Act” held at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in October 2008.

On going, Toni teaches fine art workshops to children, teens and adults at Art Beat in Encino, CA. She is also working as an art educator for “The Art of Daybreak” Multi-Arts Out-reach Program. The Art of Daybreak brings hands on fine art workshops to Homeless Shelters/ Day Centers for clients with mental illnesses. Toni is also an artist in residence for LA’s best, bringing multi media art instruction for the after school enrichment program for title 1 Schools K-5. Additionally Toni is an assistant to artist/art curator Joella March, this includes studio visits, exhibition design and installation. Toni works for Main Field Projects, doing art handling and art installation for private collections and exhibition design and personal art studio assistant.

Taylor Montague is an artist of the Realist tradition born and raised in Southern California. He received his BFA from Laguna College of Art and Design, majoring in Painting and Drawing. He works in oil paint but also uses charcoal and graphite. Portraits, landscapes and still lives are the three consistent subjects which occupy Taylor’s interest.

Taylor has had two one man shows, been in a number of group shows and taken many portrait, still life and landscape commissions since graduating from LCAD. Currently he is teaching Adult Portraiture and Children’s Drawing and Painting. “Sometimes I learn more from my children students than the adults because they are less inhibited and more pure in expression.”

Taylor believes in developing strong fundamental skills, acquiring sound techniques, becoming acquainted with Art History and also being aware of ones societal context to be an effective artist. He also believes that art must come from the heart and be sincere to act as a positive form of communication.

Taylor is a very enthusiastic and straight to the point teacher who is excited about facilitating his students in the different stages of their artistic process, sharing “tried and true” methods in drawing and painting in order to help individuals become solid, confident, self generating artists. “There is no greater joy for an art teacher to see his student’s progress and grasp artistic concepts. It is a thrill to hear someone say ‘I get it, I now know how to do this!’”

Southern California artist Don Roth possesses a vast range of abilities and experience. He incorporates the technical skills of a draftsman and the imagination of an illustrator in a subtle blend of precision and sensitivity, making his creations a wonder to behold. Don’s extraordinary talent grew while pursuing a commercial art degree and during his career as an illustrator draftsman for the US Navy. He continued his craft during his eight years as a one-man city art department and as a Sr. Industrial Designer in the commercial aircraft industry. His distinguishing airbrush rendering skills became his hallmark as a fine artist.

Currently, Don Roth has gained world-wide exposure with his whimsical and highly detailed series of “cool” cat paintings titled, “The Kool-Kat Kollection”, and has earned the unofficial title, The Norman Rockwell of Cats”. Don’s collectible art can be seen in local art galleries and gift shops, hotels, and cruise ships. The collection has been so successful it has been reproduced on greeting cards, t-shirts, beach towels, jigsaw puzzles and a soon to be published children’s book.

“The world is a serious and often stressful place to live. If I can bring a chuckle or a smile to the face of my viewers with my paintings then we are both the better for it”.

Don Roth is a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists and the American Society of Classical Realism.

Brittany Ryan was born and raised in San Diego, California. After high school she attended Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach. Upon earning her Bachelor of Arts in illustration with a minor in sculpture she has worked as a free-lance illustrator, but has recently decided to pursue a Masters degree in drawing and painting at her alma mater.

Brittany comes to us with experience instructing children at a San Diego art studio and The Art Studio is proud to offer her talent and enthusiasm to our children’s classes.

Denise Wada received a B.F.A. from California State University Long Beach in Graphic Design. She is a self taught painter who credits many well spent class hours learning from a few of The Art Studio's finest art instructors, Hollis, Montague and Dowd. Aside from graphic design and painting she also spends countless hours on web design.

Denise has turned to teaching at The Art Studio as a way to pass on her love of all things creative to the youth in our community. She has two kids, ages 13 and 15, who constantly inspire her to fear no art!