Art Instructors
April B.
April is a freelance fantasy art illustrator that works in a variety of art mediums from oil painting to digital art. She graduated with a BFA from Kennesaw State University in 2014 and her work has been featured in multiple industries including animation, video games, book cover illustrations, board games, TCG’s, and more! Past clients include; Nickelodeon, Hi-Rez Studios, Alter Reality Games, The Deck of Many, and Starling Games to name a few. Her work has been featured in several art publications, including Infected By Art, and her personal fine art continues to be exhibited in galleries around the Atlanta area. Her large range of style and passion for art has allowed April to be a part of the variety of careers art has to offer. Through her experiences, she hopes to guide the next generation to have accomplished careers in the arts. April teaches Digital Art (Beginner/Intermediate) and Cartoon, Manga, Character Design classes at Ichen Art Academy. Her artwork can be viewed at https://www.aprilrainstudios.com. |
Jeffrey F.
Jeffrey has received his BFA degrees in Illustration and Computer Arts from the Academy of Art University. He is traditionally trained in various mediums and is knowledgeable in several graphic art applications. He has worked as an art teacher’s assistant for beginners, intermediate and advanced high school students. He was a freelance motion graphic designer/illustrator for a tech company and worked as a flash artist/illustrator for an online Facebook game. His works have been featured/printed by NBC Sports Bay Area and has done spot illustrations for The Official GIANTS magazine. He is also one of the comic book/cover artists for the independent fil-am comic book, LUMPIA with a Vengeance. Jeffrey teaches Drawing and Sketch Level 1 and Level 2 classes at Ichen Art Academy. His artwork can be seen at https://jfulgencio.myportfolio.com. |
Ron H.
Ron is a professional CGI Artist with 5 years experience in the video game industry. As a Lead 3D Artist at IGG, he had contributed in multiple successful video games titles such as Lords Mobile, Castle Clash and Brave Conquest. Ron is enthusiastic about art making and sharing knowledge about art. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, video games and traditional sculpting. Ron graduated from San Jose State University 3D Animation/Illustration BFA program.He teaches 3D Modeling with Maya classes at Ichen Art Academy. |

Hattie H.
Hattie is a fine artist and a leading designer, whose passion is to incorporate innovative digital technologies into traditional mediums. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Architecture and a Master Degree in Film and Advertisement. She works with varies traditional mediums, Ink, Watercolor, Charcoal, Acrylic. In digital mediums, she specializes in 2D/3D modeling, Animation, Post production and Digital painting. She has been working in the art/design/advertisement industry for the last 15 years. Over the years, Hattie has run many art workshops, teaching children from beginning level to advanced level. Her passion is to utilize her skill and industry experience to encourage the younger generation and prepare them for their future.
Hattie teaches Children’s Creative Art and DS1-Basics classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Hattie is a fine artist and a leading designer, whose passion is to incorporate innovative digital technologies into traditional mediums. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Architecture and a Master Degree in Film and Advertisement. She works with varies traditional mediums, Ink, Watercolor, Charcoal, Acrylic. In digital mediums, she specializes in 2D/3D modeling, Animation, Post production and Digital painting. She has been working in the art/design/advertisement industry for the last 15 years. Over the years, Hattie has run many art workshops, teaching children from beginning level to advanced level. Her passion is to utilize her skill and industry experience to encourage the younger generation and prepare them for their future.
Hattie teaches Children’s Creative Art and DS1-Basics classes at Ichen Art Academy.

Sean H.
Sean is a concept artist, illustrator and fine-artist who is traditionally trained in various mediums, including charcoal, ink, oil, and digital mediums. He received his MFA in Visual Development at the Academy of Art University in 2017. He received MFA Small Works Award at the Academy of Art Spring Show. He has worked on multinational sci-fi movie production “Iron Sky: The Ark” as a concept artist and production artist. He also worked on various tv shows, video games and virtual reality project serving in various roles in the production pipeline.
Sean teaches Digital Art, Drawing and Sketch Level 23, and AP Art classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Sean is a concept artist, illustrator and fine-artist who is traditionally trained in various mediums, including charcoal, ink, oil, and digital mediums. He received his MFA in Visual Development at the Academy of Art University in 2017. He received MFA Small Works Award at the Academy of Art Spring Show. He has worked on multinational sci-fi movie production “Iron Sky: The Ark” as a concept artist and production artist. He also worked on various tv shows, video games and virtual reality project serving in various roles in the production pipeline.
Sean teaches Digital Art, Drawing and Sketch Level 23, and AP Art classes at Ichen Art Academy.

Sung K.
Sung is fine-art painter who works with traditional representative style and technique that he has been achieved through the years of practice. Kim completed his BFA in Painting and Drawing in 2010 at the California College of the Arts, and graduated in 2015 with an MFA in Painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Based in the Bay Area, Kim has exhibited and earned acclaim both nationally and internationally.
Sung teaches Drawing and Sketch (Level 2 and 3), Oil Painting and AP Art at Ichen Art Academy in Pleasanton.
Sung is fine-art painter who works with traditional representative style and technique that he has been achieved through the years of practice. Kim completed his BFA in Painting and Drawing in 2010 at the California College of the Arts, and graduated in 2015 with an MFA in Painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Based in the Bay Area, Kim has exhibited and earned acclaim both nationally and internationally.
Sung teaches Drawing and Sketch (Level 2 and 3), Oil Painting and AP Art at Ichen Art Academy in Pleasanton.

Mingchien L.
Mingchien is a seasoned art instructor and artist. She has taught many courses such as Oriental Brush Painting, The Art of Drawing and East Asian Art History at the Chinese Cultural Center in Boston, Dept. of Art and Science, Wheelock College and Worcester Art Museum. Mingchien has a MA in Art Histroy from University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She teaches Drawing and Sketch level 2 and Watercolor classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Mingchien is a seasoned art instructor and artist. She has taught many courses such as Oriental Brush Painting, The Art of Drawing and East Asian Art History at the Chinese Cultural Center in Boston, Dept. of Art and Science, Wheelock College and Worcester Art Museum. Mingchien has a MA in Art Histroy from University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She teaches Drawing and Sketch level 2 and Watercolor classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Brett M.
Brett is a Concept Artist with a focus in Character/Creature Design. He graduated from Laguna College of Art and Design. He has 10-year work experience in Entertainment and Video Industries, and has been a professor of Arts at Laguna College for 8 years. His artwork can be seen at https://brettmitchellart.com. Brett teaches Digital Art (Int./Adv.) and Advanced Level classes at Ichen Art Academy. |

Derek M.
Derek is a fine-art painter and illustrator who works with a variety of mediums, such as charcoal, ink, acrylic and oil paints. He graduated from the Academy of Art University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a concentration in painting, and works as a freelance illustrator and muralist. He also works at a nonprofit multidisciplinary arts center called The Flight Deck in downtown Oakland as a visual arts core-member, doing work ranging from gallery curation, public outreach and activist work, and set artistry.
Derek teaches Drawing I & II at Ichen Art Academy.
Derek is a fine-art painter and illustrator who works with a variety of mediums, such as charcoal, ink, acrylic and oil paints. He graduated from the Academy of Art University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a concentration in painting, and works as a freelance illustrator and muralist. He also works at a nonprofit multidisciplinary arts center called The Flight Deck in downtown Oakland as a visual arts core-member, doing work ranging from gallery curation, public outreach and activist work, and set artistry.
Derek teaches Drawing I & II at Ichen Art Academy.

Erica N.
Erica is an award-winning artist who received both her B.F.A(2007) and M.A(20019) from San Francisco's Academy of Art University . Erica’s work has been featured in a wide range of publications--she’s graced the covers of Cornell's literary magazine Epoch, been a finalist multiple times in the International Artist Magazine, and was one of 21 emerging artists under the age of 31 in Southwest Art. Among her most prestigious awards was receiving second honors at the Portrait Society of America’s International Competition in 2015.
Erica teaches Drawing and Sketch (Level II and III) and Oil Painting classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Erica is an award-winning artist who received both her B.F.A(2007) and M.A(20019) from San Francisco's Academy of Art University . Erica’s work has been featured in a wide range of publications--she’s graced the covers of Cornell's literary magazine Epoch, been a finalist multiple times in the International Artist Magazine, and was one of 21 emerging artists under the age of 31 in Southwest Art. Among her most prestigious awards was receiving second honors at the Portrait Society of America’s International Competition in 2015.
Erica teaches Drawing and Sketch (Level II and III) and Oil Painting classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Kendrick S.
Ken is an artist and animator who specializes in both traditional hand-drawn, as well CG Character Animation. He has produced work such as Concept Art, Character Design, UI, Graphic Design, 3D Modeling, Rigging, Texturing, and Animation for Social Media, Short Films, and Games since 2015. He graduated from the Academy of Art University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a focus on Animation & VFX and is currently working remotely for several studios that produce short films and game projects. Kendrick teaches Drawing and Sketch Level 2, Level 23 and AP Art Prep at Ichen Art Academy. His artwork can be seen at https://www.kensparksanimation.com/portfolio. |

Sam S.
Sam received a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design in 2006. He works as a cartoonist and freelance illustrator. His Eisner Award-nominated comics have been included in Best American Comics, written about in the LA Times, and featured in the New Yorker Online. Currently He is working on a graphic novel tited Mom: A Story of Love and Mental Illness which will be published by First Second Books in 2017. He teaches Digital Illustration and AP Art Prep classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Sam received a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design in 2006. He works as a cartoonist and freelance illustrator. His Eisner Award-nominated comics have been included in Best American Comics, written about in the LA Times, and featured in the New Yorker Online. Currently He is working on a graphic novel tited Mom: A Story of Love and Mental Illness which will be published by First Second Books in 2017. He teaches Digital Illustration and AP Art Prep classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Elaine S.
Graduated from SJSU with a BA in Animation and Illustration, Elaine is very experienced with both traditional fine art and digital art. Her artworks were exhibited in Taiwan where she grew up, and in the States where she pursued her Bachelor’s degree. Her multi-cultural background and education have motivated her to become an enthusiastic and accomplished young artist. Elaine teaches Children’s Creative Art and DS1-Basics at Ichen Art Academy, while serving the role of an Assistant Office Manager. |

Ryan W.
Ryan, our Artist in Residence, is an award-winning painter who teaches our most advanced classes (i.e. Drawing and Sketch III, Oil Painting and AP Art) here at Ichen Art Academy.
Born in California, Ryan grew up in a family of artists who encouraged his young passions for drawing with guidance and directed his education through private art schools into what would become an accomplished career in the arts. After distilling his many well-rounded proficiencies -- including everything from illustration and animation to sculpture, printmaking and more -- Ryan focused on oil painting and charcoal rendering to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Ryan has incorporated continual art education into his lifestyle through exploring new mediums, concepts, and techniques; always pushing forward to provide a practical path to inspiration for himself and his students. His competency with digital painting and streaming technology has allowed him to lead online classes, where students view and discuss painting demonstrations. Students appreciate receiving individually tailored visual instruction of how they need to improve their artwork in real time, at any distance.
While his students have won awards in competitions ranging from gold medals in the state fair to state and national recognition in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competitions, Ryan himself has been awarded gold keys as a teacher for fostering exemplary student performance.
Ryan’s aim is to help each student define and obtain their personal goals. By utilizing his experience with the different portfolio preferences and requirements of leading art schools, Ryan has guided students from beginning their high school AP portfolio all the way through packaging College admission portfolios with great success. His students have achieved their dreams of attending programs in the nation’s top art schools, including: CalArts, ArtCenter, Ringling, PRATT, Chicago Art Institute, RISD, and more.
Ryan, our Artist in Residence, is an award-winning painter who teaches our most advanced classes (i.e. Drawing and Sketch III, Oil Painting and AP Art) here at Ichen Art Academy.
Born in California, Ryan grew up in a family of artists who encouraged his young passions for drawing with guidance and directed his education through private art schools into what would become an accomplished career in the arts. After distilling his many well-rounded proficiencies -- including everything from illustration and animation to sculpture, printmaking and more -- Ryan focused on oil painting and charcoal rendering to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Ryan has incorporated continual art education into his lifestyle through exploring new mediums, concepts, and techniques; always pushing forward to provide a practical path to inspiration for himself and his students. His competency with digital painting and streaming technology has allowed him to lead online classes, where students view and discuss painting demonstrations. Students appreciate receiving individually tailored visual instruction of how they need to improve their artwork in real time, at any distance.
While his students have won awards in competitions ranging from gold medals in the state fair to state and national recognition in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competitions, Ryan himself has been awarded gold keys as a teacher for fostering exemplary student performance.
Ryan’s aim is to help each student define and obtain their personal goals. By utilizing his experience with the different portfolio preferences and requirements of leading art schools, Ryan has guided students from beginning their high school AP portfolio all the way through packaging College admission portfolios with great success. His students have achieved their dreams of attending programs in the nation’s top art schools, including: CalArts, ArtCenter, Ringling, PRATT, Chicago Art Institute, RISD, and more.

Ichen W.
As the founder of Ichen Art Academy, Ichen has been practicing Chinese painting and calligraphy as well as western style painting for over 30 years. She has been teaching Chinese painting and calligraphy at Ichen Art Studio since 1997. She has a BFA degree in Fine Arts and Interior Design from University of Dayton in Ohio. Her students have won many awards in regional, state, national and international competitions. Ichen teaches Chinese Painting and Calligraphy classes at Ichen Art Academy.
As the founder of Ichen Art Academy, Ichen has been practicing Chinese painting and calligraphy as well as western style painting for over 30 years. She has been teaching Chinese painting and calligraphy at Ichen Art Studio since 1997. She has a BFA degree in Fine Arts and Interior Design from University of Dayton in Ohio. Her students have won many awards in regional, state, national and international competitions. Ichen teaches Chinese Painting and Calligraphy classes at Ichen Art Academy.
Joevic Y.
A native of San Jose, California, Joevic demonstrated a strong interest in drawings at a young age, influenced by his father’s drawings and sketches. In 2012, he received his BFA from the Academy of Art University, with a degree in fine arts. His artwork can be viewed at http://www.joevicyeban.com. Joevic paints primarily with oil, focusing on Bay Area cities as his subject matter. His paintings have been part of many group shows in the Bay Area and his work has been sought out by collectors throughout the country. In 2012, he was featured in Southwest Art Magazine’s, “emerging artist” issue. Joevic currently paints full time in his studio in Oakland, CA and teaches part time at The Academy of Art University. He teaches Drawing and Sketch Level 2, Level 23 and AP Art Prep at Ichen Art Academy. |

Sarah Z.
Sarah graduated from School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Master Degree in Fashion Design, and Beijing Film Academy, with a Bachelor Degree in Costume Design.
As a fashion designer, Sarah likes to integrate the bits and pieces of life into her design. She likes to constantly find new ideas and expresses them in the design language. Her passion is to help students understand design and use efficient methods to solve their problems is her passion.
Sarah works as an Art Counselor at Ichen Art Academy, specializing in helping students apply for top fashion design colleges.
Sarah graduated from School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a Master Degree in Fashion Design, and Beijing Film Academy, with a Bachelor Degree in Costume Design.
As a fashion designer, Sarah likes to integrate the bits and pieces of life into her design. She likes to constantly find new ideas and expresses them in the design language. Her passion is to help students understand design and use efficient methods to solve their problems is her passion.
Sarah works as an Art Counselor at Ichen Art Academy, specializing in helping students apply for top fashion design colleges.
Guest Instructors
Guest instructors teach special workshops during the summer quarter at Ichen Art Academy

David T.
David is an illustrator and art instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience. His professional experience includes concept art for film studios and illustration for the gaming industry. As an instructor and mentor, David currently works with employees at Pixar Studios as well as with college bound students. His students have been accepted to the top art programs in the nation at schools including ArtCenter, Cal Arts, Otis College of Art and Design, LCAD and many more. David teaches Digital Art, Caroon Character Design, Manga and Anime, and Advanced Digital Illustration workshops at Ichen Art Academy.
David is an illustrator and art instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience. His professional experience includes concept art for film studios and illustration for the gaming industry. As an instructor and mentor, David currently works with employees at Pixar Studios as well as with college bound students. His students have been accepted to the top art programs in the nation at schools including ArtCenter, Cal Arts, Otis College of Art and Design, LCAD and many more. David teaches Digital Art, Caroon Character Design, Manga and Anime, and Advanced Digital Illustration workshops at Ichen Art Academy.