About Our Instructors

Deborah Munro

“I love to Draw and capture the finest details that bring people to life in my portraits. As an artist I am always striving to achieve a level of realism in my portraits that people will marvel at.

As a teacher it is my goal to provide my students with a positive and rewarding classroom experience while teaching valuable skills and techniques that my students can use in and outside of the classroom as they conintue their journey in the world of visual arts.

President of TCS inc., Instructor, Portrait Artists

 

Jo Rancel

“I am an artist with diversified experience and talents and have been drawing since I was old enough to hold a crayon. I have always loved and worked well with children and was always a “favorite Aunt”, to my nieces and to my freinds’ children. I think my successful friendships with children come from not “talking down” to them, respecting their feelings and ideas and trying to encourage their creativity and individuality. As an illustrator, my styles and media vary from simple line work in pencil or ink, to very detailed mixed media projects. I enjoy bringing a touch of humor into my work, yet can bring great sensitivity to serious subject matter.”

Instructor, Illustrator, Graphic Designer

 

 

 

Kathleen Kaelin

“Hi! My name is Kathleen Kaelin. I hail from Burke, Virginia, across the railroad tracks from Fairfax. I became enthralled with art as soon as I held a crayon. Education likewise became a passion at a young age as I tutored math and reading to several neighbors. I attended the University of Mary Washington from 2004 to 2008. During my senior year at college, I was honored with a departmental award in printmaking for a monoprint of spilt strawberries.and graduated in 2008 with a BA in studio art and a collegiate professional license in prekindergarten-12th grade education. During the processing of my licensure and since that time, I have been working with a range of age groups at various daycares, selling and commissioning art when possible. Presently, I work with 16 two-year old children while collaborating with an incredible team of teachers at The Creative Side. I long to be an art teacher at a public or private school and am excited that I have the opportunity to teach art in such a positive environment. Working with children motivates me to continue my own education in art and art-making. My preferred media include chalk pastel, oil pastel, and charcoal; I also enjoy printmaking and photography to a great extent. The subjects of my choosing are people and animals in candid scenes of great emotion or movement with a heightened attentiveness to the play of light and application of color”

Via Colori

The Creative Side Inc.’s practice doing street painting for the Via Colori Street Painting Festival in Fredericksburg Va. Another hot day, the black asphalt was especially ‘burn-y’. It was extremely fun, and way easier that we anticipated, though it was somewhat like painting on a hot stovetop!

Children’s Expo

The Creative Side Inc’s Cardboard Castle for the 2010 Children’s Art Expo in Fredericksburg, Va. We went with a Roman theme this year, complete with columns and an “open air” design. Unfortunetly for us, it was the hottest day of the year, somehow, the kids didn’t mind that as much as we did!