Our Teachers
Each teacher at Green Forest Art Studio brings a passion for drawing and painting and shares with students based on their expertise and personal experience.
Accomplished & Passionate Instructors
Our teachers are practicing local artists that are passionate about art and passionate about helping their students become artists. Each has been thoroughly trained in our teaching methodology in order to provide a consistent experience and to create a supportive, non-competitive learning environment.
Traditionally Trained, Lifelong Learners
- All instructors at Green Forest Art Studio are highly skilled, practicing artists with either a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree or equivalent. They have been selected for their ability & enthusiasm in working with students of all ages.
- Our teachers are continually developing new skills. They know materials, art history, art processes, and they have the attitude that there is always more to know, and they don’t have all the answers. They are equally as excited about discovering something new with a child. They are learners, researchers, and guides in the artistic process.
Teaching Staff
Carla Proctor
- BFA, Major in Art studio and Minor in Art History, UC Davis (Emphasis on Ceramic Sculpture)
- 9+ years teaching experience
- Studio Manager @ Green Forest Art Studio
Linnette Tompkins
- BFA, Majored in Illustration Art, Minored in Art Education – Pratt Institute in New York
- 20+ years teaching experience in the arts including working as an art teacher for developmentally disabled adults and teaching art to children of different ages in both California and New York
- Studio Manager @ Green Forest Art Studio
Isaiah Zachariah
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, Georgia
- 4+ years teaching experience
- Studio Manager @ Green Forest Art Studio
Eleni Berg
- 7+ years teaching experience
- Bachelor of Fine Arts, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
- Art Nelson Ceramics Scholarship (CCA)
- All College Honors Scholarship (CCA)
- Windgate Finalist nomination (CCA)
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Simone Shin
- BFA, Illustration / Fine Art, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology, Boston University, Boston, MA
- 13+ years experience teaching art
- Published children’s book illustrator
David Trautz
- BFA, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore, MD
- 7+ years Art Teaching experience at Academy of Art University teaching pre-college, undergraduates, and graduate students
- Writer, Illustrator, and Art Educator
- Freelance artist managing editorial and commissioned projects
- Drawing, Comics, and Portfolio Development Instructor @ Green Forest Art Studio
Michelle Tam
- BFA, San Jose State University
- 7+ years experience teaching art
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Ajin No
- BFA, Painting, Academy of Art University
- MFA, Painting, Academy of Art University
- 10+ years of experience as a practicing artist
- Motto for art teaching: “creativity can come out only if artists learn basic skills well”
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Hannah Smith
- BFA, Pictorial Arts, San Jose State University – San Jose, CA
- Graduated cum laude from San Jose State University
- Favorite medium is oil on canvas; current projects are working with Gouache, watercolor, and acrylic
- Hannah’s love for painting and drawing began at an early age when she had the opportunity to participate in an after school art program with an inspiring instructor. Her goal when teaching at Green Forest Art Studio is to inspire young artists.
Dane Singh
- Master of Fine Arts, Mills College
- BFA, Sonoma State University
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Dalar Alahverdi
- 10+ years art teaching experience
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Joo Hee Bae
- Instructor at Academy of Art University teaching Figure Modeling and Sculpture
- Studied at Ewha Womans University Graduate School (Sculpture), Academy of Art University (Sculpture)
- 20+ years teaching experience
- Advanced Sketch Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Rachel Kim
- California Institute of the Arts (Character Animation)
- 7+ years experience as an animator and story artist (DreamworksTV, Lucasfilm Animation)
- Art Teacher & Animation Instructor @ Green Forest Art Studio
Claudia Medina
- Adjunct Faculty teaching Animation at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
- Creative Director for Outlook OVFX developing animation shorts for Nickelodeon
- BFA, Maryland Institute College of Art (Animation)
- Art Teacher & Animation Instructor @ Green Forest Art Studio
Timothy Whang
- BFA, Rhode Island School of Design (Illustration)
- 2+ years Art Teaching experience
- Designer for Brown | RISD Cornerstone Magazine
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Ashley Wong
- BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA (Illustration)
- 2+ years Art Teaching experience
- Freelance Artist
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Brandy Tompkins
- BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
- 8+ years Art Teaching experience
- Specializes in painting commissioned pet portraits
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Tomas Sisneros
- American Animation Institute, Disney TV Storyboard Apprenticeship Program, Joe Kubert School of Cartoon & Graphic Art
- Freelance Artist
- 15+ experience – Comic Artist, Storyboard Artist, Art Supervisor; Creative Director (Voltage Entertainment USA)
- Daytime Emmy recognition (Outstanding Animated Program- Spawn the Animated Series, HBO Animation)
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Yu Lyu
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Theresa Nguyen
- MFA, San Jose State State University (Illustration)
- 9+ years teaching experience
- Art Teacher @ Green Forest Art Studio
Emma (Yi-Chen) Chan
- Art Director at Green Forest Art Studio
- 18+ years of professional experience as a children’s art teacher and art director
- Studied with full scholarships at both the National Taiwan University of Art (Fine Art) and in the Masters program at Taipei University of Education (Art Education).
- Artistic accomplishments include artwork commissioned by the President of Taiwan as gifts to foreign diplomats.
- In Taiwan, Emma founded 4 fine art studios that grew to over 1,000 students, with 18 instructors. After moving to the U.S., Emma founded Green Forest Art Studio and currently resides with her family in the East Bay.
Come Visit Us
Parents are invited to schedule a Free Introductory Class for their child. Teachers will use this class to assess the appropriate curricular level for the student. For students, this class serves as an opportunity to participate and then decide whether they would like to enroll.
Contact Information
Union City / N. Fremont Studio
(near Ardenwood, Forest Park, Warwick, Delaine Eastin)
Green Forest Art Studio
32627 Alvarado Blvd.
Union City, CA 94587
South Fremont Studio
(near Mission San Jose, Irvington, Warm Springs, Niles)
Green Forest Art Studio
1974 Driscoll Rd
Fremont, CA 94539
Phone:
(415) 595-4680
Email:
info@greenforestartstudio.com
Studio Hours
Union City / N. Fremont Studio
- Mon: 3:30pm - 8:00pm
- Tues: 3:30pm - 8:00pm
- Wed: 2:00pm - 7:00pm
- Thurs: 4:30pm - 7:30pm
- Fri: 3:30 - 6:45pm
- Sat: 9:00am - 5:00pm
South Fremont Studio
- Mon: 3:30pm - 8:00pm
- Tues: 3:30pm - 8:00pm
- Wed: 2:00pm - 7:00pm
- Thurs: 4:30pm - 7:30pm
- Fri: 3:30 - 6:45pm
- Sat: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Recent Blog Posts
Congratulations to Julianne Y. (China International Children’s Cartoon Contest – “outstanding prize” winner)
Congratulations to our student Julianne Yang (5th Grade) for her achievement in the 2019 China International Children's Cartoon Contest. She won the outstanding prize (10 out of 43,000 entries) in the contest, which hosted by the Executive Committee Office of...
“24th annual Growing Up Asian in America” Art Contest Results — 2 of 4 ‘Best In Class’ winners, Students at Green Forest Art Studio!!
Congratulations to our winners!
Staff Links: COVID-19 Employee Screening