Instructor Bios

Ani Harutyunyan is an enthusiastic artist who currently lives and creates in Oakville. Ani graduated from State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia in 2006. While holding a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design and style, Ani has explored painting as self expression using many different mediums such as watercolour, oil paints, and acrylics. Ani has experience teaching art classes and workshops for children, adults, and retirees, and she has shown her work with multiple small galleries and community centres. Simple lines and complex colours are the main ingredients of Ani’s artwork, and she is heavily inspired by nature.  She was still in art school when she discovered her passion- painting on silk, which has become an inseparable part of her life since. Ani’s highest goal is to assist others in establishing their own self-connections through art.

With a deep passion for visual storytelling, Mohamad Anis Mansour brings together his skills as an artist and designer to explore the beauty of human experience, nature, and abstract expression. He holds a bachelor’s degree in art from Damascus University and works with a variety of mediums, using different techniques such as ink drawing, watercolour, and charcoal. His work reflects emotions and ideas inspired by everyday life, using form, color, and texture to tell meaningful stories. Anis enjoys sharing his passion with others through teaching. He runs ink drawing workshops with the Oakville Art Society, helping people of all ages discover the expressive power of art using ink drawing techniques. He has showcased his work both internationally and locally, including a group exhibition in Dubai and a solo exhibition in Canada titled “A Blend of Nature and Life,” held at the Trafalgar Park Community Centre in Oakville in 2025.

Artist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_byanis/

Born in Newfoundland, Barbara is heavily influenced by the natural world, rocky coasts, sky, and ever-changing atmosphere. She has studied privately, as well as pursuing Art and Art History at both Sheridan College and the University of Toronto. With a long background in adult education, she now teaches and demonstrates in Mississauga and Oakville.

Born in Toronto, Ontario Canada, Bonnie Steinberg is a practicing artist and a popular art teacher. She is a guest artist and instructor for many groups in Canada, the US, and Europe. Her teaching also emphasizes architectural elements and their incorporation in urban and rural landscape. Transparent watercolour is Bonnie’s medium of choice.With her passion and  fascination with colour and light, Bonnie’s paintings and bold use of brushstrokes make her work instantly recognizable. Plein Air painting is an added passion, and this is exemplified in a recent teaching trip to Le Monastere, France. Bonnie Steinberg is a graduate of York University where she received her Honours(B.F.A)Bachelor of Fine Arts, and is also a member in several watercolour art societies including the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC), the Society of Canadian Artists , the International Watercolour Society), and the Toronto Watercolor Society. Bonnie is honoured   to announce that her watercolour painting, “Waiting for Spring”, has been selected by the CSPWC for inclusion in the prestigious Royal Project gift. This significant initiative commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the CSPWC and represents the third phase of a distinguished 40-year project. Upon completion, 100 exceptional watercolours by Canadian artists will be placed in the Royal Collection Trust at Windsor Castle, celebrating the enduring legacy and excellence of watercolour painting.

Carolyn is an Ontario-qualified Visual Arts teacher who has returned to painting full-time after 35 of working in Education. Carolyn is interested in sharing the joys of a creative life and in building creative communities. Carolyn is also one of our Community Outreach Art Program (COAP) Instructors.

Connie is a classically trained artist who was born and raised in South Korea. During her study of fine arts in the diploma program of Visual and Creative Arts at Sheridan College, she experienced using different mediums to create representational arts. She was trained and developed into becoming a portrait artist but also loves to paint still life and landscape as subjects

Gregarious and independent minded, David became proficient in art as a child, and that sparked his ultimate passion – animation. He put art aside to earn a college diploma in structural drafting at the age of 15, and later continued with computer drafting. David returned to the arts in 1990 in order to create animated cartoons. He earned an Honours Diploma in Art Fundamentals from Sheridan College and attended the Classical Animation program. He received two grants which supported the production of his first 35mm animated film, HYPOTHERMIA / My Kayak Prayer. He has since completed seven cartoons which have received 16 festival recognitions worldwide. David’s community mindedness has earned him a 2012 Community Spirit Award Nomination, a Burlington Accessibility Award, and inspired him to establish the Oakville OASIS Drawing Bee in 2010, still going strong. David does not make animated cartoons to make money; he makes money to make animated cartoons!

David’s watercolour blog: https://wawacolour.blogspot.com/?m=flipview

Diane has been painting in different mediums for over 40 years and has for the last 20 years focused on watercolour. “I’ve been fortunate to take classes with renowned artists in Australia, Kansas, and Texas, not to mention several provinces in Canada. I love that you can be completely creative with colour vividness through glazing as well as transparency, and the portability of supplies. Whether painting portraiture, landscapes, or still life, watercolour can be used with versatility.”

Disha is a watercolor artist, illustrator, and educator. She works across both traditional and digital mediums, specializing in realistic botanicals, loose florals, abstract landscapes, and whimsical desserts. In addition to teaching online classes, live workshops, and presenting at creative summits, Disha collaborates with brands, publishers, and magazines on commissioned illustrations, editorial features, and visual content. Through her art and instruction, she aims to make watercolor approachable while encouraging creative exploration and emotional expression.

Instagram: @markdisha

Gary is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey has been intertwined with spirituality since his teens, when he began exploring meditation and energy work.

He formalized his art training through Sheridan College’s Visual and Creative Arts program and later deepened his interest in creative wellness by earning a Therapeutic Arts Life Coach Certificate in 2023. Gary now facilitates The Conscious Canvas workshops, which he originally co-founded under the name Paint Your Mind, blending expressive art and mindfulness to support self-discovery and inner peace.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpiriTek-you

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritekhq/

Website: https://www.spiritek.org/

Since I was a young child lying on the floor, spending countless hours sketching in my bedroom, creating and designing have been a part of my everyday life. With a background in the fashion design industry, I have pivoted into facilitating accessible creativity in the community at all ages and stages in life. I enjoy working with beginner artists in the safe environment of the art studio to learn skills and techniques and unlock their creative potential. I believe that the creative process is not defined by perfection, but by exploration, growth mindset, and that “making” is necessary, healing, and soul-filling. I enjoy all forms of art, especially painting (mostly acrylics), creating mixed media, murals/street art, and am currently discovering my evolving personal artistic style. I look forward to creating with you!

Jamie is a Toronto-based artist and designer who enjoys using different media in her creative work. Holding a BA from  Sheridan College Craft and Design program followed with a Fine Arts Diploma from Fu-Hsin Trade and Art school(Taiwan); both of these educational experiences influenced different areas of her work to expand the possibilities of materials in its various forms. With a passion for storytelling, Jamie draws inspiration from daily life experiences, memories, and emotions, journalizing the visuals of the ethereal and substantial. Jamie’s recent work, Walking Through the Mist, has been exhibited at the Textiles Museum of Canada, earning her the William and Mary Corcoran Craft Award.

An award winning visual artist, Judy’s early foundation was influenced by European Culture. Renaissance Paintings, Sculptures, the Black Forest, the Rhine River, and  Swiss Alps all shaped her into a lifelong visual artist. Judy’s portfolio includes traditional, digital, and mixed media, showcasing her extensive skill set. She attended Ontario College of Art and Design University (HONS) Major/Communication and Design, as well as The Art Centre CTS, Toronto ON, Post Secondary Art Education. She brings her knowledge from her personal work and education into her teaching, creating an environment for creativity to thrive.

Julie Wurtele is a British/Canadian artist and dedicated art educator known for her vibrant acrylic paintings and her infectious passion for creativity. Drawing on a lifetime of inspiration from European and North American landscapes, her work blends semi-realism and playfulness. She believes that art is for everyone and there are no mistakes, maybe happy little accidents.

For over a decade, Julie has taught both children and adults at Oakville Art Society where her encouraging down to earth teaching style has made her a favourite amongst students of all ages. Her classes focus on building confidence and finding joy through creativity. She has worked with thousands of students through in-person and virtual workshops.

She also designs and leads public and private paint nights, corporate team building to large businesses including CBC, Hilton Police, Ikea, RBC, McMaster and many more.

Outside of the art studio Julie performs with her band HWYSIX at music festivals and private functions, a creative outlet that mirrors the energy and rhythm of her art.

Karlene is one of our Community Outreach Art Program (COAP) and Community Art Programs (CAP) Instructors. Karlene is dedicated to providing a warm, caring, and inspiring environment for seniors and those struggling with disabilities. Her genuine love of teaching and her bubbly, friendly personality have made a lasting impression on all those she meets.

Kat has been stitching since her early teens and is mostly self taught.  Crocheting and knitting have been a big part of her fibre journey. In recent years stitching, knitting and crocheting have acted as a bridge to the larger world of fibre art.  Workshops with fibre artists Meredith Woolnough and Sue Stone have influenced the direction of her fibre art.  With the addition of fabric painting and mark making her fibre art is branching out in new directions with her inspiration coming from the natural world. Kat is currently a member of the Oakville Fibre Artists and also with Stitch Club through the auspices of Textile Artists.org.

With a philosophy that anyone can paint and that art is a result of experimentation and play, Maia is a mixed-media artist residing in Oakville. Maia works as a freelance artist and illustrator, specializing in acrylic and digital paint. She has created album covers, movie posters, pet portraits, and continues to expand her portfolio. A lover of all forms of art and creative expression, she is always learning and trying out new projects. Maia graduated McMaster University with a BA in Media Arts and Communications, and has since followed her heart and pursued art as a career, something she has always dreamed of since she was a child painting in her bedroom.

Instagram: @/MuuneFish

Megan Hazen is an artist from the Ottawa Valley and currently based in Burlington, ON. Hazen’s work consists of acrylic paintings, often with the addition of wood burning, depicting animals, places and things that are reminders of home. Megan has exhibited in Ottawa and the Valley, Toronto, Burlington, the GTA and Florence, Italy. Highlights include the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and being a participant on CBC’s ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’. In the past, she has done mural work with Living Stream Studios and is currently on the board for the Elizabeth Gardens Creative Collective. Megan is proud to be a part of the Oakville Art Society team as both OAS’ Administrative Coordinator and an instructor.

Mehrzad Jaberi is a professional visual artist and instructor with over 30 years of experience, specializing in realism and hyperrealism. He believes that art is a powerful way to connect with the world, capturing beauty in everyday moments and inspiring creativity in others. He has participated in solo, group, and virtual exhibitions, and received awards from the Oakville Art Society Gallery in 2025. His classes, from beginner to advanced levels, cover drawing fundamentals, composition, perspective, light and shadow control, color theory, and painting techniques in acrylic and oil, including still life and landscape styles.

Instagram: @Jaberi_painter

YouTube: @Mehrzad.Art

Pamela is an expressive landscape artist whose work is deeply rooted in a love for nature and its ever-changing beauty. Her artistic endeavors strive to capture the essence of the natural world, focusing on the stunning landscapes of Ontario in an abstract expressionist style. Pamela teaches art at the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Toronto District Art Programs and exhibits her own work all over Ontario.

Robin paints daily life, things that inspire and excite. All the paintings are small, making it easier for people to buy and collect them. “Creating these small treasures brings great joy to my life.” Robin has won a Gemini Award for his work on the movie Nuremberg and has served on a Program Advisory Board at Sheridan College with the Dean of the Arts Program as well as the Dean of the College. His daily paintings on his blog have been viewed by almost fifty thousand visitors.

Ron is an Oakville-based professional photographer. He is an Ontario-certified teacher with over 30 years of experience in the classroom and a passion for sharing his knowledge. His goals are simple: to nurture the artist in everyone and to make it fun!

Shelley’s passion for nature is evident in much of her work, but she also enjoys painting portraits, landscapes, and still life. A graduate of Sheridan College in Oakville and Dundas Valley School of Art, Shelley has taught watercolour and acrylic painting throughout Ontario for more than 20 years. Her work has been seen in several local juried shows and has won local and international awards.

Stephanie began her career as a Fashion designer, and fashion illustrator in the 80’s and later became a Graduate of Communication and Design at OCAD in Toronto in the 90’s. She then entered the Liturgical world of Design, where she established Labyrinth Studios Inc., designing and manufacturing sanctuary décor for Churches across Canada and the US.

Her passion for designing and painting lead to sharing her knowledge in the arts through workshops, with the Continuing Education Board in Wellington County, Mohawk College, and in various establishments throughout the GTA area, such as Visual Arts Mississauga, Credit Valley Artisan,Clarkson Society, Haliburton School of the Arts to name a few. She also has experience working on Juror panels or individually, mainly for the Public Art Sector in Halton, Wellington, and Peel regions. Stephanie’s creations can be found in private collections throughout Canada, US and Europe. Most recently Stephanie is the recipient of the MARTY 2023 Award for Visual Arts in the traditional form, and the Civic Award.

Stephanie’s Website: stephanieschirm.com

Susan attended Fanshawe College for Advertising art and Fine art. She’s exhibited her work at different area venues. Inspiration comes through her photography and enjoys reimaging some of her work into more abstract pieces.

Tritan’s work captures and examines overlooked everyday objects and moments and the light around them. He uses photography to freeze change, light, and movement and transfers his chosen image into canvas using a high level of technical skill during the painting process. It is during this process that he gives his subject an intriguing presence while building a relationship between figuration and abstraction.