• Ailene Fields was an English major at Lehman College in the early 70’s, intending to become a writer. However, she then enrolled in a pottery class at Earthworks in New York City and fell in love with clay as a medium. She pursued this experience at Teacher’s College at Columbia in 1978-79 and soon thereafter began exploring other media. Her formal training in sculpture began at the New School under the tutelage of Bruno Lucchesi. Since 1985 Fields has taught numerous sculpture classes at the Sculpture Center & The Compleat Sculptor for both children and adults. As well as showing her artwork in galleries across the country, her museum show “ Allegory: The Timeless Truth” toured The Eastern Seaboard. In addition, she has executed many commissioned works as well as finding the time to pursue her own interests in sculpture.

• Rita started at TCS in 2008 as cashier and technical support representative. She then took over planning and organizing classes at TCS as Education Coordinator and is currently our Store Manager. She graduated from William Paterson University with a BFA, concentrating in sculpture. Since graduating Rita has shown several of her bronze and ceramic sculptures
  in local galleries in New Jersey. Rita's sculptures are large-scale, hand-built stoneware with her own uniquely formulated patinas. Her work is primarily abstract yet representational of organic or even female forms however she prefers to leave it up to interpretation of the viewer to determine what they really are. Although she has first hand knowledge of a variety of sculpture mediums her specialty is clay. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of fine arts with both adults and children and is currently the instructor of our new After-School Program. She teaches off-site at almost any location and offers custom classes to sculptors of all skill levels.

• Laura Gravenstine is a New Jersey based artist and graduated with a BFA from William Paterson University.  She studied the disciplines of Painting and Sculpture, and grew to have a love and respect for castings of the human form.  Her experience with materials is extensive including, but not limited to iron, bronze, aluminum, resin, crayon, chocolate, paper, wax, plastics, and soap.  She has taught Life casting privately & has done numerous jobs for clients seeking to preserve the image and essence of themselves and their families through the art of casting.

• Anthony Jones is a local New York City mold maker and effect maker artist working in the industry for over thirty one years on creatures and make – up effect movies like “Predator Island” (full foam latex costume) released by synthetic cinema and this years upcoming “The Killing ofJacob Marr” (221 films) and “Schism” by Derek Purtell.

  Anthony has worked in stone restorations at Towne House Restorations for more than a decade making Ultracal 30 & Polyurethane molds on everything from THE Lyric Theater in Times Square to the recreation of the Prow sculpture on top of the Flatiron Building.

• Mr. Carter Jones, FNSS has studied at The School of Visual Arts & The Boston Museum School as well as being sponsored in Paris. He began with clay figurative work and then, inspired by the animals around him as he grew up, he turned to sculpting animals. In 1979, he began teaching Human and Animal Anatomy for The School of Visual Arts. Over the years he has done commissioned prototypes and finished models for Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Henson Associates, Viacom, and Elizabeth Arden. He has executed over 30 medallions and commemorative coins for various mints, as well as sculpted illustrations for books, magazines, and movie posters. Mr. Jones was president of the American Medallic Sculpture Association in 1984-85 and is currently a fellow at the National Sculpture Society. A professional sculptor in New York City for over 25 years, Carter has earned the credentials necessary for teaching his craft as well as being able to impart a commercial knowledge to the student. Through all of the business, he continues to enjoy sculpting his own works.

• David Klass is a sculptor and anatomist who has taught at the University of the Arts, Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design, Bennington College, New York University and the New York Studio School. He is a recipient of the National Academy of Design Helen Foster Barnett Prize. David Klass graduated with a BFA from Pratt Institute in 1966 where he studied art and architecture. He went on to work with Theodore Roszak, and then set up his own studio in New York City. To further his understanding of the human body in 1973 and 1974, Mr. Klass studied anatomy at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Through his deep understanding of anatomy he developed a unique sculptural approach of teaching anatomy and has instructed other artists for over 25 years. His work is known for its powerful realism. In addition to his human figures his knowledge of anatomy and structures has allowed him to create animal sculptures with equal ease and facility. In 1991 the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City commissioned him to create two life size horses for their Arms and Armor Wing. David Klass is a member of the National Sculpture Society and has been showing his work professionally since 1962. His work is in numerous private and public collections.
  Website: www.davidklass.com

• In the early 80’s, Guy Louis-XVI started a Special Effects company called Louis-XVI SFX. He specialized in foam latex appliances, props and make-up for the film and television industry. Over the years, Louis-XVI SFX expanded to include plaster/resin composite sculptures, lifecastings and Hi-Realism mannequins for museums and private collectors. Always striving for realism, Guy began experimenting with silicones as a medium, in the late 90’s. He quickly learned that silicones presented many challenges. For starters, painting a silicone surface to look like human skin was exceedingly difficult. Shine and adhesion, to name a few, also proved to be troublesome.

• Stephen Shaheen is a New York-based artist who specializes in sculpture. While classically trained with an MFA from the New York Academy of Art, Shaheen’s works have an abstract and modernist bent. Prior to his attending the Academy, he received his professional certification in stone carving from an EU two-year training program in Siena, Italy. Stephen Shaheen’s work can be found in private collections in the United States and Europe, where he also shows in solo and group exhibits. He is the winner of a Ludwig Volgestein grant, and a fellowship from the Italian Cultural Institute/La Fortuna Foundation.

• Vanessa Solomon is an accomplished sculptor and sculptural technician as well as a children’s art teacher. She is a native of Tzaneen, South Africa, who completed her Masters in Fine Art (Sculpture) in 1991, at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. During the political uprisings and turmoil of the 1980s, throughout her studies Vanessa taught children art, working with organizations such as the Community Arts Project (CAP) in Woodstock, Cape Town, and the children’s organization Molo Songololo a non-profit that strives to advance children’s rights. Through workshops with teachers and children Vanessa worked to bring the visual arts to the SA black townships were the arts education was denied to black South Africans.

In 1991, Vanessa was the Curator of a South African Children’s Art Exhibition in, Greenwich, London, UK. The art reflected experiences of township violence. The Exhibition garnered International acclaim traveling for several years to various European countries. In 1993 Vanessa came to the US where she was the first International Intern at Tallix Sculpture Foundry Beacon, NY. At Tallix Vanessa perfected her sculpture making skills in Enlarging, Model-making, Wax-making, Plastic Casting and, Metal Finishing and Patina. She worked with top US and international artists developing new sculpture materials, making large-scale prototypes and public works. Working closely with Artists such as Frank Stella and Frank Gaylord, (Korean War Memorial). From 2004 to the present Vanessa is a partner in the company Razortooth Design, based in Brooklyn, NY. USA. www.carbonsculptstudio.com

Both Kiril Kirov and Vanessa Solomon met whilst working for the Museum Industry. They have built a 15-year professional record with leading American Museums, corporations, institutions and artists. Some of their past clients include Jeff Koons, Sony Pictures, Sony Style, Miller Beer, African American Hall of Fame PA, Melvin Van Peebles, Isaac Julien, Tony Matelli, Charles McGill, StudioEIS, Peroni, Do Something, and Bovis Lend Lease.

Vanessa’s personal sculptures have been exhibited in the US and internationally, notably at the United Nations, NYC, and in the permanent collection of the South African Embassy in London.

• Mira Welnowska, a renowned sculptress, is creating award-winning works of art in the Realist Tradition. She has studied at The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, the New York Academy of Figurative Art, and the Art Student League of New York. Her lengthy education has provided her with a meticulous academic background for undertaking virtually all classical and figurative forms. Her work is represented by Gallery 53 in Sarasota, Florida. Ms. Welnowska is a highly versatile and creative artist who is able to work in different mediums and subject matters. She creates landscape, still life, portraiture and three-dimensional figurative pieces. She also teaches a Sculpture Modeling Class in her studio in Jackson. She provides demonstrations and individual instruction, references to anatomy and proportion, illustrations from classical text, and composition of the figure, as the students work from a model. Website: www.mirawelnowskasculpture.com