Meet Your Instructors

The Art Room has been in existence for over 38 years, beginning as Lindsay Epstein’s Children’s Art Classes and expanding into the studio you see today- The Art Room in Glendale, CA.

TK Kuk is a graduate from Art Center College of Design with a BFA in Fine Art and a focus in painting and illustration. With nine years at the studio under her belt, she is excited to continue utilizing her skills as an instructor and grow in creativity along with her students. TK teaches weekly art classes and camps, K-12.

Jenna Macho graduated from Santa Clara University with a BA in Education and Studio Art and received her Masters and credential in Literacy Education at LMU.  She is a fully credentialed teacher and is now finally stepping back from public school life and jumping into the studio. She has worked for and with the studio for over 25 years, and continues to teach weekly after-school classes and summer camps. She heads programming for The Art Room in Schools.

Monica Virgen is new to The Art Room, but very much an old Art Room friend. She has been teaching art to TK-8th grade students for 13 years and is now helping The Art Room with our new public school programming. She has a visual communications degree from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM). She has experience both in schools and running the visual arts department, after school programming, and camps with Boys and Girls Club.

Annex Instructors:

Blake Lemons has been working in sequential art for 20+ years as a story artist, animation director, and creative producer for Netflix, DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, and Disney. He was a contributing artist and the editor-in-chief of Pratt Institute’s comic anthology “Static Fish”. Blake believes everyone has a story worth telling.

Melanie Badger is a California-born visual development artist, designer, Illustrator, and watercolor instructor. She earned a BA in Illustration from California College of the Arts in San Francisco and continued her training through additional studies at Art Center College of Design and Concept Design Academy. Melanie is dedicated to creating engaging artwork while sharing her artistic knowledge. She is continually refining her craft and inspiring others to explore their own creative potential.

FAQ

  • So Much! Aside from being a space for kids to learn social norms and community, we love to nurture creativity by allowing students room for play and room to grow.

    K-3rd: We are a mixed-media studio where classes are designed to give students autonomy in art, while teaching basic art techniques and principles. Little artists have time for free choice art, and an hour for guided art lessons in drawing, painting, clay hand-building, etc.

    4th-6th: Artists have a lot more autonomy in how they approach creating. Students choose their own subject matter and medium, with the help of the instructor, and get to work sketching, painting, etc, with individualized instruction. There are only 3-4 whole-group lessons per 12-week session.

    7th+: Art Students have the autonomy to build their own curriculum with the guidance of our art instructors. As we get to know your child, we also direct them in ways that play to their strengths as artists. Throwing on the potter’s wheel is introduced, as is portfolio building for artists applying to magnet high schools or colleges.

  • Not a problem!

    We can credit the value of your classes for up to one year or cancel completely for a $100 fee.

    Cancellations within 14 days of class start date are credit only, minus a $100 fee.

  • I’m sorry, no they can’t! Our class length is a bit too long and our table stools are not the best place for them to learn. We would love to see your child once they are enrolled in Kindergarten! For now, JUST PLAY! Have fun with art materials and explore the possibilities around you!

  • NO- We really don’t recommend your kids be in the same class. The structure of our classes is much different in our older classes, so If one child is in 1st and one is in fourth, one will always lose out on learning opportunities. Keep them separate for now, they will learn so much more on their own.

  • Sure can! Head to the “Private Parties” section- We’ve got a form for you to fill out, but we're happy to make your ideas come to life!

    And yes, this includes adults and holiday parties too!

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