Faculty
Fernando Freitas
Fernando is the co-founder and senior instructor at ARA. An artist
for most of his life, Fernando’s early work focused on illustration
and animation, where he learned to become a superlative draftsman. Today, many of his drawings hang in private collections in Canada and Italy. He attended the Ontario College of Art (OCA) and later studied with Michael John Angel in Toronto, Canada and in Florence, Italy. Fernando’s diverse artistic background has allowed him to develop a unique instructional approach that has set ARA apart from other ateliers. This individualized approach is geared to the needs and capabilities of each student, thereby allowing even beginning artists to tackle some of the most challenging artistic concepts with relative ease. Fernando also conducts fine art workshops at various international locations.
Juan Carlos Martinez
Juan Carlos Martínez is an award-winning artist trained in
the atelier tradition who works in the classical realist style, focusing on the human figure. Juan studied in Toronto, Canada, and in Florence, Italy under the tutelage of master painter M. John Angel. In addition to working on commissions, Juan has acquired an international reputation as an artist and art educator. He has won several awards in the Art Renewal Center's (ARC) Salon competition, as well as from the Portrait Society of America and the Portrait Society of Canada. His work can be found in private and institutional collections in North America. Juan authored a popular six-part instructional series in International Artist Magazine entitled “The Academy Way” and has appeared on Bravo! TV's "Star Portraits" program.
Ryan Gauvin
Ryan studied at ARA for more than five years. Since then, he has
been an instructor at the Academy, as well as engages in projects
ranging from small, intimate drawings to etchings. Many of Ryan’s
works hang in group shows as well as in private homes. Ryan is
currently working on a number of commissioned projects
including portraits and landscapes. He also conducts workshops at ARA on a variety of Renaissance drawing and painting techniques.
Marc Colangelo
“Marco” joined ARA in 1998 after graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design with a degree in fine art. A specialist in portraiture, figurative work and dream imagery, Marco has participated in group shows, and has sold a number of his works
to private collectors. Now in his eighth year of teaching with ARA, Marco mainly focuses on helping students at all levels master sketching and life drawing skills. Marco also teaches figurative drawing and painting at Humber College.
Mark Daniels
Mark Daniels received a BA in art history from the University of Toronto, and subsequently studied drawing and painting with Tim Slater and Michael John Angel. He is currently a student at the Academy of Realist Art, where he now teaches drawing. His artistic pursuits have taken him to France and Italy where he studied Gothic architecture and the birth of the Renaissance in frescoes. His favourite artists include Sargent, Boldini, Annigone and Courbet.
Fernando Freitas
- Jessie and Friends
Juan Martinez
- Self Portrait
Ryan Gauvin
- Portrait of Phillip
Marc Colangelo
- Portrait of Andrea
Mark Daniels
- Still Life
