ART LESSONS & PROGRAMS
Classes and Workshops for Preschoolers, Youth, Young Adults, Teens, Adults and Seniors
Our art curriculum is designed to promote a “creative-based” atmosphere, emphasizing introduction and practice in techniques, historical and cultural references, and media, allowing the student to find and explore their own artistic interpretations.
We maintain a cap on the number of participants, allowing the Fox River Academy to create a “semi-private” instructional atmosphere in the classroom. View our current ART CLASSES here.
Periodically, we will host Open Art sessions at Fox River Academy and other locations throughout the community.
Our art instructors are active professionals who share a
passion for teaching creative arts to the community.
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RaeEtta Yen
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
Tolkien enthusiast, painter, sculptor, and sewist, RaeEtta’s career spans 25 years of leaving her cozy hobbit hole in pursuit of artistic side quests. Her adventures have taken her through work as a muralist, photographer, portraiture, heritage fiber arts, and costume design. Rae uses her professional experience in these fields to teach group classes as well as private lessons geared toward the individual student’s area of interest.
When not adventuring in the company of wizards or working with her students, she spends time at her home studio making messes in the name of art and sometimes science. Reported sightings of Rae lurking in FRAMA’s art studio keep staff and students on their toes. You never know when she’s going to whisk you off on an art adventure of your own. Should you encounter Rae in the wild, she might be skittish, but can be bribed with snacks and art supplies.
Cassandra Malas
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
Cassandra Malas is an illustration major at Biola University. She chose to study art as it is a passion that has been ever present in her life. Her grandfather was a painter, her mom majored in fine arts, and her sister studied to become a children's book illustrator. Cassandra is also an honors student in her school’s academic program. She loves to learn. With both her creative abilities and academic background, she hopes to illustrate as well as teach after she graduates.
“While it is important that my students learn how to create well, it is more important that they develop a desire to learn. For I believe artistic skills–or any talent for that matter–are useless if a care for learning is absent.”
Gayle Faber
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
In between family and home obligations, I began taking several years of private acrylic decorative painting with a local teacher and classes at Banbury Fair in Bartlett IL. Then embarked on the Interior Design program at College of DuPage. The program taught me balance of space, form, line, color theory and texture that I use to this day in some form making art.
After working in Interior Design with Window Dressings Plus, I found I needed more hands-on experience. I enrolled and certified at the Chicago Institute of Fine Finishes. Upon completion and certification, I opened a mural and Faux finishing business. Several murals here in Oswego private homes and some on display at Fox Valley Winery, The Sports Dome, and a shop in Mason Square.
The Mural business eventually led to opening a Sip & Paint in 2012 in Oswego as Studio 60 Art Center which is still in operation with online classes and traveling Art. As the studio began to grow, I took pottery classes at The Fine Line Arts Center in Geneva.
I have made expanding my art experience a priority and enjoy sharing what I know with others. I have taught at Water Street Studios in Batavia and Currently honored to be teaching at Fox River Academy in Oswego.
“Art is a lifetime experience which every day is a classroom. It brings us joy, contentment and therapy for those who seek it.” – Gayle Faber
Heidi Miller
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
Heidi is a 2007 graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in Art Education, and has taught art classes with Fox River Academy for the last seven years.
Creating art and sharing her knowledge about everything art related is Heidi’s passion. Along with teaching art, she also enjoys creating new art pieces and becoming involved with many different art projects and events.
Heidi has contributed her talents to community fundraisers and charitable events, along with assisting with numerous Fox River projects
“I love being able to create art using many different art mediums together and experimenting to see how they can create something unique and personal. I believe that art should be a learning experience and a way to create something that is unique to each person, no matter the age or experience level.”
~ Heidi Miller
Adam Bedore
GENERAL ART INSTRUCTOR
Adam Bedore has worked for the last 20+ years as a video game artist, freelance illustrator, graphic designer and comic book artist. Mr. Bedore has had a number of gallery shows, and his work can be found in various graphic novels and books. Mr. Bedore studied painting and illustration at The University of Illinois and the American Academy of Art. While his primary media is now digital, he maintains that learning to draw is the most fundamental skill an artist needs.
"I look forward to working with students of all ages, and hope to impart some of the knowledge I have gained as a working artist to them." --- Adam Bedore