directory of instructors
meet our instructors
Learn from practicing artists and experienced educators in a welcoming creative community.
Browse our instructor directory for 2026.
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Category
Instructor
- Alison Purwinis
- All
- Ann Bianchi
- Anni Barnard
- Burl Dawson
- Chris Long
- Christina Ascani
- Erica O'Connell
- Jason Fong
- Jeneane Lunn
- John Hames
- Kayla Falcone
- Kris Greco
- Linda O'Connor
- Lisa Adams
- Lisa May Tobin
- Michael Klein
- Patricia Cheyne
- Robert Pillsbury
- Roxann Kasper
- Sarah Z. Short
- Shane Gutierrez
- Sharon Estes
- Sherry Italiano
- Susan Sward
- Suzi Ballenger
- Taleen Batalian
- Trish Hurley
Alison Purwinis
Ceramics Instructor | Pottery
After her formal training, Annie now teaches at Anyhow Studio in Providence, where she is also a member, and is skilled in wheel throwing, handbuilding, and mold making. Alison’s work explores both functional forms and whimsical, mixed-media sculpture.
Ann E. Bianchi
2D Instructor | Painting | Mixed Media
As a secondary educator for over 26 years, I have had the pleasure of inspiring students each day about the arts. I also regularly teach adult workshops and classes.
Anni Barnard
Ceramics Instructor | Pottery
Anni began her teaching career 30 years ago. She has taught both clay and studio art classes to middle and upper school students in a private school, as well as adult education classes.
Burl Dawson
2D Instructor | Painting | Drawing
A retired art teacher of 29 years, Burl now teaches painting and drawing at SCAA. His paintings capture the Rhode Island coastline in all seasons.
Chris Long
2D Instructor | Painting | Plein Air
After decade-long career as a figurative sculptor Chris is now a dedicated daily painter. He completes several alla prima works per day while drinking copious amounts of espresso!
Christina Ascani
2D Instructor | Photography | Mixed Media
Christina Ascani is an artist and photojournalist with a diverse background in both media and education.
Erica O'Connell
2D Instructor | Mixed Media | Wellness
Erica is passionate about art being accessible and enjoyable to all people, and that the process of creating is a powerful tool for healing.
Jeneane Lunn
2D Instructor | Painting
An experienced artist and education , Jeneane considers herself an impressionist and strives to capture the changing light effects of nature.
John Hames
2D Instructor | Photography
For more than 40 years, photography for me has been a tool for discovery. My travels have led me to all 50 US states, and another 40 countries.
Kayla Falcone
Ceramics Instructor | Pottery
Kayla is a ceramics artist and teacher whose work ranges from large abstract sculpture to functional pottery, all inspired by the natural world and organic forms.
Linda O’Connor
2D Instructor | Painting
Linda is formally trained in painting, life drawing, art history and graphic design and considers herself a lifelong student of art and design. She enjoys pastel and finds the medium to be challenging and rewarding.
Lisa Adams
2D Instructor | Painting | Plein Air
An illustrator for 26 years, Lisa is represented in New York for her magazine and book cover illustrations, She juggles her fine art commissions for drawings and paintings as well as art instruction.
Lisa May Tobin
2D Instructor | Mixed Media | Papermaking
Papermaking captured my interest while I was studying painting and sculpture at the Art Students League in New York City. I was attracted to the manipulative aspects of the medium and its creative and functional possibilities.
Michael Klein
2D Instructor | Writing | Poetry
Michael is a five-time finalist and two-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award in poetry, for his first book, “1990,” and for editing the seminal anthology, “Poets for Life: 76 Poets Respond to AIDS.”
Patricia Cheyne
2D Instructor | Printmaking
Patricia Cheyne has an extensive art career, and has a taught drawing, design, printmaking, paper making, artist books, mixed media, and art history for 20 years.
Robert Pillsbury
2D Instructor | Printmaking
Robert now resides in Wakefield, Rhode Island after a 40 plus year career in the New York metro area involving performance art, video, publishing, printmaking, painting, and art instruction.
Roxann Kasper
Ceramics Instructor | Pottery
Roxann has been an active ceramic artist and teacher at the SCAA for approximately four decades. She continues to explore her creativity through a variety of mediums, including stain glass, watercolor, painting, and natural fiber dying with plants.
Sarah Z. Short
2D Instructor | Mixed Media | Collage | Printmaking
Sarah is a mixed-media collage artist from the woods of Rhode Island. Her background as an English teacher explains her love of books, which she also enjoys using as the primary material for her collages.
Shane Gutierrez
2D Instructor | Photography
Shane Gutierrez has been working, studying and playing with photography for over 30 years. A part of what makes photography so interesting is experimenting with different film cameras.
Sharon Estes
2D Instructor | Painting | Printmaking
Sharon is a self-taught, emerging artist living in Rhode Island. She creates in two mediums -- hand-printed watercolor white line woodcuts; and acrylic paintings in a style she calls "Technicolor Realism."