Ceramics

Brian Peshek has been creating in ceramics since 1988 and began his career on the potter's wheel. Within the last two years he has specialized in thrown tea bowls. The tea bowls are made with a philosophy similar to the traditional tea bowl potters of Japan as in the wares used in the ritualistic tea ceremony. They are all different: some crude, rough and course, others more refined, smooth and labored. They are all modest but exude a complex existence in their deceptive minimalism.

Elemental Art & Portrait Drawing

Denise Beauchamp is a figurative painter. She has been teaching for ten years as a substitute for LAUSD, and she teaches on Saturdays in the GATE Fine Arts Conservatory program. Denise loves teaching art, “I especially love seeing all the creative and inventive solutions my students come up with for the projects I give them.” Her Elemental Art class is for children ages 8-11. This class will explore three of the elements of art: line, shape and texture. By giving children fundamental, intellectual, and practical tools for making art, students come away with a better ability to see their creative ideas come to fruition. Denise co-teaches “Art of the Portrait with Sheri Garwood. Denise’s lessons focus on building a believable figure from the inside out through the understanding of the anatomy.

Life Drawing & Painting

Edward Goral graduated from the Art Center College of Design in 1971 with a BFA in Painting. He studied under the late great Lorser Feitelson. Mr. Goral worked for nearly 20 years as an animation artist at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Warner Bros Feature Animation, and Sony TV Animation. His paintings are in collections in North America and Europe. In addition to his painting, Mr. Goral has produced large-scale murals for the quickly expanding Trader Joe's markets as well as the YMCA. In order to share his passion and experience, he teaches a weekly figure drawing workshop at McGroarty Arts Center. His work can be seen in his website.

Piano

Isumi holds a B.F.A. in Piano Performance from Musashino Academy of Music, Tokyo, Japan. She has privately studied Piano Performance at Arizona State University School of Music, Music Synthesizer at Pasadena City College, and Accompaniment Ensemble at California State University, Los Angeles. Isumi has taught piano to more than 200 students over her teaching career. Among them are students who have continued studies and graduated from leading schools of music in both the United States and Japan.

She has been teaching piano classes at McGroarty Arts Center since the year 2000. While teaching piano in group lessons at McGroarty, she focuses on fundamental music skills for children and adults. She also emphasizes performance etiquette, and recognizes the maturing effects that music education has on the development of personal character. In addition to her teaching schedule at McGroarty, Isumi plays piano accompaniment for high school choir concerts and festivals, and for various instrumental students' recitals and competitions.

Painting

James was born and educated in England and received art scholarships to attend colleges in London and Manchester. He has exhibited and sold paintings in a variety of mediums (oil, acrylic and water color) in England, Canada and the U.S.

He has been a working artist all his life and says, "I deal in basic principles of art - not only what we do, but why we do them. What tools we can use to achieve the effects we desire, in order to communicate. What gives a painting value and why we paint at all."

Ceramics

Jim Heuston has had a life-long interest in the arts with formal training beginning at Santa Barbara City College and University of California at Santa Barbara. He later earned a B.F.A. in illlustration at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Although he works in many media, since 1995 Jim has focused primarily on ceramics which is his greatest passion.  His pottery has shown at various Los Angeles galleries and is in collections internationally. Since 1999, he has been a ceramics instructor at numerous La Crescenta and San Gabriel valley studios.

Ceramics & Interactive Storytime

Joanna has been an artist her whole life, enjoying the element of self- expression through different mediums. She enjoys the tactile skills of using her hands to create and build art. Joanna believes that by applying creativity to concept, a simple project can create life long experience and results.

Joanna has been working with children in art and education through preschools, Kidspace Museum and Campfire Boys and Girls since 1992. She holds her BS from Cal State Fullerton, and is currently pursuing her Masters in counseling. She is patient and understanding of the needs of children in a learning environment. From instructing art programs to working formally as a preschool teacher for five years, her lesson plans are constructive with an element of exploration and discovery.

Joanna is energetic and creative, and encourages use of the imagination and individual expression along with learning and applying skills in art. She thrives on engaging with your child to enhance their learning within a fun environment.

Guitar

Kevin Benson earned both his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in music performance at the California State University, Northridge School of Music.  While there, he performed regularly in solo and ensemble recitals, master classes, worked as a student-teacher in the Guitar Pedagogy program, and was a recipient of the Randy Rhoades Memorial Award.  After college, Kevin studied privately with local blues and jazz guitar legends including Steve Trovato and Frank Potenza.

Kevin can currently be seen playing at wine tasting events, country clubs, private parties and weddings, malls, and corporate events all over Southern California.  His recordings have been used by everyone from local singers and songwriters to HBO’s Six Feet Under.   Kevin’s unique teaching style has evolved over the last 15 years to stress the fundamentals of proper technique while encouraging his students’ sense of creative play on the guitar. 

Tai Chi Ch'uan

Laurelle began studying Yang style Tai Chi Chuan in 1988 at McGroarty with Isabella Barone. When Isabella retired from teaching in 1995 she chose Laurelle to become the teacher. As Tai Chi is a life long practice, in addition to teaching at McGroarty, Laurelle continues to study and practice new forms with Mandana Doust.

Ceramics/Drawing/3D Art

Lauren has been a visual artist and teacher in California since 1987. She earned her BFA and MFA, with an emphasis in sculpture, at the University of Southern California. She has shown her work nationally and has been included in several public art projects in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. Lauren has taught sculpture, ceramics, drawing, design, art appreciation, and animation for many organizations in Southern California including College of the Desert and Los Angeles Southwest College. Students have called Lauren's enthusiasm contagious. She believes everyone is an artist and enjoys helping all her students see their creativity come alive.

Painting

From Easton, Pennsylvania, Lucille DeThomas won her first award in a city-wide competition at age 13, and has consistently won top awards in oils, watercolors and sculpture, which includes 4 gold awards in the 4th Army competition in Texas. Her works have been exhibited and sold at the Denver Art Museum, the Republic of China American Contemporary Masters Show, and she has been twice sent to the Island of Maui to paint large commissions. Lucille teaches at 5 locales in California, including Sequoia National Park during the summer. Her greatest rewards are awakening the imagination and senses of enthusiastic students to the wonders of light and color and hopes to motivate an even larger audience in the book she is writing.

Dance

Maxine has a college background in early childhood education and teaches dance and exercise classes to children and adults. Maxine is a Dance professor at Community Colleges throughout Los Angeles. Professionally, she has performed with major dance companies, choreographed musicals, and starred in instructional dance videos. In addition, Maxine ran her own group of country western dancers called "Pearls of the West" which appeared in the Doo Dah Parade for many years. She continues to make appearances at country western parties for corporate and private groups.

Drawing

Monica earned her A.S. in Biological Sciences, then transferred to U.C. Irvine. She worked in a pathology research laboratory for one year and decided to supplement her education with art classes. This is when Monica fell in love with drawing all over again and decided to make art her career. She graduated in 2007 with a B.A. in Studio Art. She has taught visual arts for the Community Arts Partnership, animation at Watts Towers Cultural Center, and Special Focus art classes (Making Pop up Books, How to Sew, Building String Sculptures) at Oakwood School in North Hollywood.

She is now a working artist in Los Angeles with an M.F.A from California Institute of the Arts. Monica believes in each student's authenticity and interests, and she feels that art is a collaboration, where both student and teacher can share in the learning process. Her students learn to trust themselves and believe in the growth and process of their abilities through visual art.

Ceramics

Ray Yocum grew up in Burbank. He studied painting and drawing at the University of San Diego, earning his BA in Fine Arts, with a minor in art history. He received his BFA from Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, where the fundamentals of painting, drawing, ceramics, design, and sculpture were emphasized, and then received his MFA in Intermedia in 1980. Ray is on the Board of Directors at McGroarty Arts Center, where he has been teaching ceramics since 1992. He has taught at Barnsdall Art Center since 1994 and is currently teaching at Xiem Clay Center in Pasadena as well. His teaching philosophy emphasizes skills as a pathway to creativity. Understanding the medium is a prerequisite for realizing creative ideas. Supply list in office.

Yoga

Shau-Mey is a graduate of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedania Center's Teachers' Training Course in Grass Valley, CA. She has been teaching Hatha yoga since 1986 and her instruction incorporates Pranyama, Asanas, Meditation, Diet, Relaxation and Positive Thinking. Her classes are designed for beginners, intermediate, advanced and pregnant students.

Watercolor, Portraiture & Ceramics

Sheri Garwood is a dedicated, enthusiastic teacher who is patient and helpful to both beginning and advanced students of all ages. A life-long artist, she studied art at Cal State University Long Beach and Glendale College. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise (FIDM) and spent several years working in fashion design, returning to FIDM in 2001 to teach fashion sketching.

Sheri regularly hones her watercolor painting skills by studying with such masters as Timothy Clark, Don Andrews, and Carl Purcell. Sheri is a member of the Sunland-Tujunga Art Association, the Valley Watercolor Art Association, and Vice President and Program Director of the Verdugo Hills Art Association. In addition to magnificent still lives, florals, landscapes, and plein aire scenes, Sheri has a passion for painting people and will often gather with other artists to paint live models in themed costumes. Many of her paintings are in private collections. She teaches teens and adults in watercolor, fashion, portrait and figure drawing/painting at McGroarty Arts Center. “Mrs. G” has also been sharing her enthusiasm with children since 2001, when she began teaching children's ceramics at McGroarty.

Belly Dancing

Thea is an international performer and instructor of Egyptian style bellydance, teaching at McGroarty Arts Center since 2006. She is also a founding member of Zillouette bellydance ensemble. Thea performed for four years as a member of the Jewels of the Dance and has studied under such greats as Mesmera, Princess Farhana, Tempest and others. Known for her strong hip movements, flowing veil work, zills and sword, Thea has pleased many audiences with her natural fluidity and creativity in dance. Some of her appearances include Moun of Tunis, Dar Maghreb, Paraty 33 and Onile in Brazil, and bellydance conventions as well as many other events and private parties.

Thea’s classes and workshops are in high demand throughout California and have developed a strong following of loyal students. Students love the clarity of instruction, knowledge of the music and individual attention that Thea offers through her classes. Also trained in Salsa, Brazilian Samba, Swing, and even some Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop, Thea presents a well rounded dance style with energy and grace. Thea has been teaching piano privately since 1997. Thea wants all her students to enjoy music and look forward to each piano lesson. She holds a Bachelors of Music in Flute Performance and Masters degree in Afro-Latin music. She is a professional musician and music instructor.

Dance

Tobie has been an actress, choreographer, dancer, and dance instructor for over 20 years, and has performed on Broadway, Off Broadway and internationally. She is a member of AEA, SAG and AFTRA. She began teaching dance to children when she had children - a temporary situation created to guarantee her children having good instruction in an art she loves. Along the way she discovered she not only loved children, she loved teaching them. In addition to teaching, she is very active as a professional choreographer, works a great deal as a guest artist, and is currently performing a one-woman show which she created.

Theater

Veteran actress, storyteller, teacher, and author, Vernise Elaine Pelzel has 30 years experience working with children in a variety of creative venues. She has directed a myriad of musical theatre shows, including her original musical THE STORY OF ORANGE, which toured in Northern California from 1986 - 1994.

Ceramics

Victor knew at six years of age he would grow up to be an artist. Since then, the Universe launched his life as an artist. He earned his BFA from Otis Parsons Art Institute School of Design in 1986 with an emphasis in Ceramics and Fine Art. Working after graduation for Gemini G.E.L. with such artists as Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Ellsworth Kelly and the like, he soon took on other careers as Graphics Fabricator and Museum Scientist. Along with pursuits of marriage, divorce and raising a family, he entered California State University Northridge, attaining an MFA in 2006 with an emphasis in Ceramics/Sculpture and Painting.

He has spent the past three years working as an artist's artist, writer, art fabricator, collaborator, and a volunteer Ceramics instructor for Morningside Elementary in San Fernando, California. Victor continues to work on his artistic, writing and teaching career. He believes all students can learn, given the proper guidance, tools and resources. The goal is for students to develop practices and methods where the final product is only part of the emphasis; more importantly is the understanding of the entire technical process.