INSTRUCTORS

PARIS ALEXANDER was born and raised in New York City where he studied art since early childhood. Since moving to North Carolina twenty years ago his work has been widely exhibited in galleries, universities and museums, with numerous public and private commissions. His work is included in the collections of Saks Fifth Avenue, SAS Institute, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, and many others. Paris maintains a studio at Artspace.

DAN CORMIER is an artist, teacher, explorer, and inventor. While studying illustration and interior design in the early ‘90s, he discovered polymer clay, and quickly became enchanted by the limitless potential of this new art medium. His work has appeared in international juried shows, several books and magazines, and is owned by collectors around the world.

Dan now devotes much of his time to sharing his discoveries with others. As a teacher, he’s traveled throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He and his partner Tracy Holmes also host intimate polymer clay retreats near their home on Canada’s West Coast. Their latest venture is The Cutting Edge, a line of precision tools and techniques they’ve designed and developed specifically for polymer clay. Together they’re working hard to help other artists realize their creative dreams and push this young medium to new heights.

KERRI ECKES received an MFA in 2005 in Studio Art with a concentration in painting from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Her work is figurative, with a formal interest primarily in color and design. Eckes has previously taught at Mount Olive College, Mount Olive, NC, as well as the School of Communication Arts, Raleigh. She currently teaches Design and Color Theory at the Art Institute of Raleigh - Durham.

AMY FUNDERBURK is a professional artist with 20 years of artistic experience. In her current work she merges figurative surreal elements with the sacred landscape. Funderburk was awarded a full fellowship for an Artist's Residency at the Vermont Studio Center in April 2005, and was honored with a Visual Artists' Fellowship for 2002 - 2003 from the North Carolina Arts Council. She has served as juror for numerous regional exhibits, and is the Exhibitions Coordinator for two alternative spaces.

JILLIAN GOLDBERG holds a BA in Art Education from the Michaelis School of Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa. In 1986 she founded the Gifted and Talented Development Center at Queens University of Charlotte, NC, which served thousands of students from all over the Southeast. In 1994 she became a licensed instructor in the internationally renowned Monart Drawing Method, opening seven art schools in the Charlotte and Triangle areas. This year Jillian opened a new art school in Cary, named LaranJillzArt.

ERIC MCRAY earned a BFA degree at the Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, MD. His work has been widely exhibited, and has been featured on TV, radio, and in numerous newspapers and magazines. The Raleigh News & Observer named Eric one of the Artists to Watch in 2001, and Metro Magazine has named him Best Local Artist. His work is featured in numerous corporate collections, including in the Triangle at the American Tobacco Campus, Duke University Medical Center, NC State University, UNC Chapel Hill, SAS Institute, and Western Wake Hospital. Eric has taught painting and collage to youths and adults throughout NC, and currently maintains a studio at Artspace.

RICH NELSON is an accomplished oil painter and is an acclaimed portrait artist who currently lives in Tyron, NC. In 1988 he earned his BFA from the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, MI. Rich has taught anatomy, figure drawing, and painting and conducts a number of workshops at various locations each year. He is also a faculty member for the Portrait Society of America. Nelson’s work has been honored with a number of awards including 2nd Place in the Portrait Society of America's 2008 Outdoor Portrait Competition, First Place in Wickwire Gallery's City Of Four Seasons/Connemara Visions Competition, and Best Of Show in Charleston's Southern Light Paint Out. His work has been featured this year in American Artist, American Art Collector, International Artist, and the the Portrait Society of America’s magazine. Rich will be listed in the next Who's Who in American Art.

SUSAN SOPER has been a studio printmaker since 1988. Before moving to NC, Susan was an adjunct art instructor in Lithography, Drawing, and General Art at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, WY. She also taught lithography to elementary and middle school students. She exhibits her work nationally, and currently maintains a studio at Artspace.

LUANA LUCONI WINNER is a founding member of the Portrait Society of America. Her award winning portraits, paintings, and murals hang in corporate headquarters, universities, and residences both here and abroad. She recently won Best in Show in an international portrait competition. Luana is in demand as a speaker, national workshop instructor, and is on the faculty of the Portrait Society of America International Conference, the International Association of Pastel Societies, and other national organizations. She is author of a series of instructional workbooks and eight DVD’s, and is a contributing writer for national publications. Luana maintains a studio at Artspace.