Instructors
Coleen Carey-Mitchell
After spending a long career at various companies in Corporate America, and being retired with lots of time on my hands, I turned to The Art Place for inspiration. My focus was on something I could do with my hands, so Creative Sculpture was just the ticket! Learning how to manipulate clay and the various techniques used to build sculptures and functional items became my focus for a couple of years. Then I was fortunate to be considered for an instructor position in an area I had come to adore. I became and Instructor in Creative Sculpture at The Art Place in 2018. I have been fortunate to instruct some phenomenal artists since becoming an Instructor and continue to learn from both my peers and my students to listen to the clay as I’m building and be open to innovation when it pops up.
I also teach a knitting class at The Art Place. I’ve been knitting and crocheting most of my life. My grandmother taught me how to crochet at a very young age and a neighbor taught me how to knit when I lived in Pittsburgh in the early 1980’s. My grandmother taught me left handed (which is my dominant hand) and my neighbor taught me to knit right handed as she couldn’t figure out how to teach me left handed. This turned out to be one of the best skills I learned as it has increased my effectiveness in teaching both right and left-handers. My loyal following of students have participated in some very challenging Knit Alongs by our favorite Knitting Artist that have presented challenges to all of us. I’m proud to say we all overcame those challenges together! My beginner students have also overcome the challenges presented to someone new to the craft with determination and humor. My beginner students have been able to move much faster with honing their skills because of their determination and the willingness of everyone in the class to provide help and support.
I love what I do, and I’m proud to be a part of the group of very talented instructors at The Art Place.
Vanessa Sebastian
For 15 years, Vanessa has been a freelance graphic designer, web designer, and illustrator. She obtained an associates degree for 3D animation from the Art Institute of Atlanta after initially receiving her bachelor degree in chemical engineering. She has also been teaching character drawing classes and camps aimed at young students for about 8 years and recently started a traditional drawing class as well.
Vanessa hopes her students learn valuable art techniques while being entertained by the drawing process. She often jokingly tells her students "Failure is the path to success!" which reinforces the idea that constant practice, including all the mistakes made along the way, are what ultimately makes a successful artist. In her spare time you can find Vanessa watching Japanese anime, reading comics, playing video games, or teaching a martial arts class.
Diana Toma
Hi! I’m Diana and I see the Arts as an opportunity to touch, move and inspire others. Born and raised in an old South-East European country: Romania, I am now living in the greater Atlanta area, Georgia with my two artistic-inclined daughters who also want to pursue art when they grow up.
I love to explore the emotional aspect of what I observe around me, using classic mediums like watercolors, acrylics, and oils but also contemporary ones such as spray paints.
Alongside my studio work, I’ve been bringing together a growing community of art lovers by teaching painting classes and workshops to adults. My goal as a teacher is to facilitate participants to silence their critical inner voice in order to uncover beautiful images of the self by surrendering to play, in a quest to empower participants to become fully self-expressed through painting.
Cristina Conti
We always hear the term “life imitating art,” and just like her art, Cristina’s life is always adapting. Cristina’s mother knew she was imaginative from an early age, if the hidden crayons in her clothing were any indication. Encouraged to explore her creativity, without damaging walls and furniture, she began her art journey with paint by numbers and watching good ole Bob Ross.
At Georgia Southern University, she began her studies in art only to have her advisor tell her to quit. She told her she could only be two things “a teacher or a starving artist.” Like any teenager, who wants to hear that? Thus, she pursued a career in interior design. Cristina was a hospitality designer for 12 years designing both chain and boutique hotels across the US. After feeling the industry burnout and The Great Recession, she accepted a career change to become an event coordinator for a local university.
After suffering a brain injury in 2014, she knew her life would have to change again. Art became her therapy, her words. At that moment, she defied her old college advisor and pursued a career in her art. Cristina has been teaching since 2018. Loving every minute of being a teacher and starving artist. She lives in Marietta with her fur children, a pit bull named Georgia and black cat, Nyla.
April Verdun Brown
April Verdun Brown is a teaching artist who was born in New Orleans. She has a Bachelor’s in Fine Art Studio from Tulane University as well as a teaching certificate and Master’s in Art Education from Central Connecticut.
After teaching for 30 years in a Connecticut public school system, 19 at the elementary level (K-6) and 11 at the high school level, she is thrilled to be teaching here at The Art Place.
Through her studies, conferences, workshops, teaching and commissions, she has an extensive knowledge of art and a variety of media. She looks forward to continuing to nurture, encourage, teach and inspire her students to grow, take risks and express themselves in whatever visual art form they choose.
Having moved to East Cobb over the summer, April is very happy to be back south with her husband, who is a trumpet player, and their two kids Sam (10) and Maya (7) plus two kitties!
Bob Petersen
My interest and love for clay started years ago as an art student in college. Professionally my path in the arts has taken me to various careers, as an art educator, graphic designer, illustrator and picture frame gallery owner. I now spend my time as a studio potter and ceramics instructor which has always been a lifelong ambition of mine. I enjoy the process of taking a lump of clay and turning it into a visually interesting functional or decorative work of art. Every piece is fashioned by my hands and designed to be held, touched, passed around or just admired. My hope is that my pottery brings enjoyment to one’s life and makes their daily routine a bit better.
Kylie McConnell
I have been a potter for four years, and just started teaching this past summer, in 2024. Being able to share my passion with others has been more rewarding than I ever imagined it could be! My favorite firing method is either soda or wood firing, my favorite clay is studio reclaim, and my favorite glaze is either green celadon or a shino! If you take one of my classes, I can’t wait to meet you and see what we can learn together!