Emily Garlick (b. 1989) graduated in Fine Art from the University of the Creative Arts, England in 2010. As part of her degree course study she spent a semester at the Maryland Institute of the Creative Arts (MICA) in Baltimore, where she developed an intense passion for relating stories and emotions through artwork. This was evidenced by her final series of degree work that was based on emotion and exploring the outward representation of self. After finishing her degree, she moved to Anguilla, where she enrolled at the Ani Art Academy Anguilla. At the Academy, she has begun to create work that has surpassed her belief in her abilities and has given her the ambition and drive to make a life

(b.1988) Emma was born and raised in Oakland, CA and has always had a passion for representationalism. After creating art as a hobby her entire life, she was introduced to Anthony Waichulis’ artwork at John Pence gallery in San Francisco, CA- just across the bay from where she grew up. This sparked an unexpected journey into what is now the Ani Art Academy Waichulis. After studying at The Waichulis Studio in 2006 for 3 weeks as a part of her senior project for Drew College Preparatory School, she went on to study Political Science for two years at Eugene Lang College for Liberal Arts at The New School University in NY. Deciding that this wasn’t for her, she began to follow her true passion for art and began the Waichulis program full time, in fall of 2008.Since beginning her apprenticeship with Anthony Waichulis, Emma has been featured in several successful exhibitions and noted publications.  She continues to exhibit with The San Marino Gallery and Studio Gallery, both in California as well as Mainstreet Gallery in Kingston, PA.

Emmanuel Carty Mota (b. 1994) was born in the Dominican Republic, but migrated to Anguilla in 2007. He has always had a passion for drawing. During his childhood he would use his free time to create sketches and simple still life. While attending secondary school, Emmanuel decided to further his art skills by taking three years of drawing and graphic design. He also offered his skills throughout after school programs by designing posters and many other creative projects. Emmanuel’s goal is to become a well known artist and to have his work shown in galleries and exhibitions. To achieve his goals and to further expand his skills, he is currently attending a three year program at Ani Art Academies.

(B.1982) Erika Baez graduated with honors from Baruch College, New York, with a B.A. in Graphic Design and Photography, and later pursued Drawing and Ceramics studies from Montgomery College, Maryland. At Montgomery, she was awarded a prestigious study abroad scholarship to learn the classic approach to drawing at Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. It was in Florence that Erika developed a great interest in Trompe L'oeil and portraiture, and was later selected as an apprentice at The Ani Art Academy Waichulis where she currently studies. Her goal is to eventually be able to convey emotions and tell stories by infusing her unique imaginative concepts with her strongly developed contemporary style.

Felix Esteban Rosario Santos (b. April 30, 1989) Esteban’s earliest memory as a child is being interested in how things took form. He doesn’t know exactly how old he was when he started drawing, he just remembers that he would start out doing his homework and when he was finish, it would be covered in drawings. Esteban was later given the opportunity to attend La Aldea Artenasal, an art school in Rio San Juan. It was here that he took his first painting course when he was eighteen years old. Soon after that he studied for one year at Altos De Chavón, an art and design school. Esteban then came to Rio San Juan where he heard about Ani Art Academies Dominica where he is now happily engaged in his artist pursuits.

Fraelo was born on October 29th, 1996 in the town of Rio San Juan. Since he was very young, he always found himself drawn to art. He was eager to participate in school exhibitions and realized he was really pleased that his ideas found life on paper. Fraelo has remained dedicated to art and has been focused solely on improving his skills.  He is now studying at Ani Art Academies Dominicana.

Having grown up in New Jersey, George went to grammar school in Newark. He started doodling at an early age but his teachers preferred him to study his ABC’s instead of drawing. After high school, he went to Rutgers University followed by two years in the US Army from 1954-1956. As he became immersed in his career in the insurance industry his time for artwork disappeared. After he retired he returned to his creative pursuit and enrolled in Ani Art Academy in 2018.

(b.1993) Gina was born in Queens, New York, and lived in Brooklyn until she was 5 years old. It was at that time that she moved to Santiago, Dominican Republic. She started elementary school, and when she was about 7, he parents noticed she had a natural artistic ability and decided to enroll her in a specialized art school. Since then, her love for art has been insatiable. Once she finished high school, she moved to Rio San Juan where she visited the Ani Art Academies Dominicana. Having been accepted, she feels very happy to be a part of Ani family and eager to keep continuing to grow her knowledge and skills.

Ever since a very young age art has inspired Gineece.  She realized her passion for art at the age of 4, when she took a pencil and paper and started to draw what she had observed from a party bag.  Her career goal is to be a professional artist and to inspire generations to come.  She always says, “If my career goal does not include art, I won’t be happy.”

(b.1993) Giovanna was born the first of 4 brothers. Her parents are Dr. Reinaldo Portoreal Gonzales and Mrs. Maria Teresa Mosquea Berger, residents of Puerto Plata. As a child, Giovanna would create many works of art that even now, decorate the walls of her childhood home. After graduating high school, she looked for a way that she could pursue her love of art. After finding the Ani Art Academies, she relocated to Rio San Juan to begin her studies there. Giovanna is so happy to be part of the Ani family and is extremely excited to see what the future with Ani will bring.

(b. 1999) Grace, a native of northeastern Pennsylvania, could be found as a child with a writing utensil in hand using whatever blank surface was near (dining room walls were often her surface of choice).  As it became more apparent that drawing was her great love, formal art lessons seemed to be the next logical step.  Grace was taught by a local artist, Carolyn Trosky from the young age of seven until her eighteenth year. It was Carolyn who introduced her to many of the works of the old masters. Grace’s love for art grew more than she did. In 2016, while taking an Anatomy for Artists course at Luzerne County Community College, the teacher mentioned a local master trompe l’ oeil painter by the name of Anthony Waichulis, who had a school nearby. In no time at all, research had been done and calls were made. After visiting the studio, Grace immediately applied and was accepted for the summer of 2017. As she progresses in the program, Grace’s dream of achieving virtuosity in fine art becomes more of a reality. 

Helen has spent the last several years establishing her reputation as a truly gifted contemporary fine artist. Hailing from Dalton, PA Helen received her primary education in the arts within Northeastern Pennsylvania including a Liberal Arts degree from Keystone College in Laplume and a degree in Painting and Illustration from Luzerne County Community College. Helen completed her training under the guidance of nationally renowned realist Anthony Waichulis.Helen continues to exhibit nationally and her work is sought after by many knowledgeable collectors across the country, from the John Pence Gallery in San Francisco to to the Salmagundi Club of New York, Helen's work continued to garner attention and accolades. While she continues to appear in most major art publication regularly, Helen's work recently touched upon international acclaim with her top honors in the U.K. Wildscape's Wildlife Painter of the Year competition, and was awarded First Place in the Animal Category by the Art Renewal Center.Helen's work reflects her passion for animals and her love of nature. She is known to be extremely proficient working with traditional media in which her artistic concepts are brought to successful fruition. Helen continues to reside in Dalton, PA with her husband and maintains a studio where she continues to pursue her career with unwavering dedication.

From Colombo, Buddhika has spent his entire life yearning to make drawings inspired by wars historically fought. Proud of having the privilege to learn from renowned artist Timothy W. Jahn, he is focused on obtaining his dream of becoming a professional artist.

(b.1997) Maduka has found talent in both drawing and painting since childhood. At Twenty years old, Maduka completed high school and was granted a chance of joining the prestigious Ani Art Academies. He became one of the first set of apprentices in Sri Lanka studying under the celebrated artist, Timothy W. Jahn. Already enhancing his artistic abilities, Maduka, is enthusiastic to further his education at Ani with his fellow apprentices.

Jim was born in a small town in Iowa and always had the goal of becoming an artist. However, life got in his way. After a tour in Viet Nam, he became a scientist specializing in fiber optics, but he never stopped drawing. His passion is capturing life and he finds inspiration from people and animals, especially his cats.

An impossible series of occurrences led me to this path. This all began in northeastern Pennsylvania, where I still live. While in college for sustainable agriculture I sustained a shoulder injury and hearing disorder. My mind and body being a bit tattered, I reconsidered life and started studying classical Russian drawing and painting with Vyacheslav Shevchenko. Later, I attended the local community college for visual arts where my eccentric artist uncle, who has been taking classes there for over 13 years, told me about a former teacher of the college living up the mountains who was a master tromp l’oeil painter. Intrigued, I followed up on this lead which led me to the front door of the Ani Art Academy. In early 2012 Anthony accepted me as his apprentice where I continue to hone my skills under his guidance.Art is my most natural primal instinct. My earliest memory I can recall is of me sketching, it was a drawing of a lion if you must know. When I began serious training as an artist my perceptions began to drastically change. This is around the time when I realized I wanted to paint for the rest of my life. I was becoming more aware of the ordinary beauty that always surrounds me which I continually overlook. That year when spring blossomed I was seeing an entirely new world and realizing how transient the environment is.Art gives me a sense of purpose. It is what truly matters. When creating I fall into a state of rapture becoming mesmerized by the lights, shadows, reflexes and the infinite subtleties of color. I become obsessed attempting to recreate what lies before me. This intense focus and concentration pushes me into a state of flow. I disappear and become what I am drawing. In a more sentimental aspect, art also gives something me to hold on to. It strengthens my memories against an ever receding past. Sure I could take a photograph, but when I draw or paint something it becomes engraved into my brain as I study every millimeter of it. I make something where there was once a void of blank nothingness. I can never properly express myself with words, so symbols speak for me. With my pictures I can possibly even change the way they momentarily see things and maybe hypnotize the viewer, even if only for just a second.