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Art Academy Live was conceived in the fall of 2005 by Rick Mitchell, formerly of Raleigh, NC now residing in Pinehurst, NC. Mr. Mitchell has spent 28 years as a marketer and an entrepreneur in the computer software industry.
Mr. Mitchell's wife, Yvonne, has been an acrylic artist and tile muralist for over 20 years. In casual conversation, she suggested to Rick that he try his creative skills with art.
"I soon realized that I was not a very good artist and decided to take some workshops". After taking his first lesson with artist and national workshop instructor, Chuck McLachlan, in Greensboro, NC, Rick told his wife later that evening, that he could not recall how Chuck mixed the shade of green on the tin roof of "The Church at Valley Crucis", Chuck’s signature painting. Before calling Mr. McLachlan, Mr. Mitchell decided that it would be taking advantage to contact Chuck without booking another lesson. Rick commented to his wife, there should be someway to pay a fair amount to an artist/instructor for "pieces" of information without paying for, traveling to or scheduling an entire lesson or workshop.
After joining the Artist League of the Sandhills, Mr. Mitchell took a beginner’s course taught by Mike D’Andrea. Rick found this class to be very helpful but wanted more. When he asked Mr. D’Andrea to teach another class, the response was that he had tried but it was difficult for people to coordinate their schedules. This convinced Mr. Mitchell to set about a way to resolve these problems. Art Academy Live is the result!
"I wanted to provide a convenient, affordable and effective way to empower anyone interested in art to get only the help they need, when they need it".
Mitchell then called together artists Chuck McLachlan, Sterling Edwards, Raymond Reid, Morgan Samuel Price, and Tim Packer from Canada. After presenting the concept, these artists were made "Founding" partners and Art Academy Live
was formed.
One year later Tom lynch joined the team and soon moved up the ranks from guest artist to... Dir. of marketing ...to V.P. of operations...to become our current president. The new and expanded content along with added artists is the work of Mr. Lynch and his team. Their are several other additions that are in the works along with the return of " live " broadcasts, live critique sessions , and live Q/A sessions...all the while keeping the mission that Rick and Yvonne established " to provide a convenient, affordable and effective way to empower anyone interested in art to get only the help they need, when they need it".
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