Our Team

Ashley,Studio Manager, Instructor

Ashley has her Masters in Counseling & Art Therapy from Ursuline College and a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Kent State University. Ashley is also currently the facilitator of the Wellness Art classes at Akron Artworks. Ashley’s favorite mediums are acrylics and mixed media.

Mellissa, MFA, Instructor

Mellissa earned her Masters in Painting from Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University and a Bachelors in Painting and Drawing from The University of Akron. She is presently the Art Specialist at the Shaw JCC of Akron’s Camp JCC and the visual art coordinator for Akron’s 2017 High Arts Festival. During the 2015-16 school year Mellissa was a featured artist in the Midwest Artist Studios ProjectTM. Watercolor is her favorite medium to work with and her paintings tend to include drawing, serigraphy and collage.

Sara, MA, Instructor

Sara has her Bachelor's degree in Fine Art with a focus in painting and art history and has earned her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Art Education from the University of Akron. Sara is also a middle school art teacher. Although she enjoys learning about, making, and teaching art of all kinds, she is especially passionate about oil painting, multicultural art, and figure drawing.

Samuel, Instructor

Samuel is one of our studio assistants and instructors. He studied art at East Tennessee State University and has a background in teaching K-12 students. He has been a freelance artist for over 10 years. Samuel’s primary art mediums are mix-media/watercolor and digital art.

Melissa, Instructor

Melissa is a visual art teacher and artist in Northeast Ohio. While currently teaching middle school art, Melissa encourages students to experiment with painting, weaving, sewing, and natural dyeing. Passionate about connecting art to everyday creativity, Melissa helps her students express themselves through hands-on projects and celebrates their achievements in exhibitions and art contests.

Kennedy, Studio Assistant

Kennedy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kent State University, with minors in Art Business and Metalworking. She is deeply passionate about mentoring and inspiring students to become their best, most well-rounded selves. Kennedy’s career is centered around youth camps and arts education, with a special focus on outdoor experiences. In her personal artwork, she favors working with metals and acrylics, blending creativity with craftsmanship.

Emzi, Studio Assistant/Instructor

Emzi is a passionate student of art education and painting, currently pursuing their degree at Kent State University. Deeply engaged with all forms of artistic expression, Emzi thrives in collaborative studio environments where they connect with fellow creatives to explore diverse mediums and inspire innovative ideas. Their enthusiasm for art is contagious, and they are committed to fostering a space where creativity flourishes and boundaries are continually pushed.