Classes

Karen is an artist and teacher who began her education studying traditional oil techniques from nationally known painters, learning both old-master glazing and alla prima methods. Realizing the importance of a strong foundation, she went on to study drawing, design, color theory, and perspective, and later explored watercolor, pastel, printmaking, and acrylics. In her classes, Karen emphasizes composition, design, and disciplined craft while encouraging each student’s self-expression and creative growth.

Born and raised in the Texas Hill Country, Susie’s country roots are reflected in the subjects she enjoys painting. Working primarily in transparent watercolor, her paintings range from traditionally realistic landscapes to flowers, wildflowers, and other subjects found in nature.

After discovering watercolor, Susie studied with many top instructors and combined what she learned into a style of her own. She has exhibited in local, regional, state, and international competitions, winning several major awards. Active in watercolor organizations and exhibits, she is known for her energetic, encouraging teaching style and her dedication to helping students grow in both technical skill and confidence.

Roberta Buckles is an accomplished painter known for impactful oil and mixed media paintings that focus attention on the elusive space between the hyper-real and the abstract. With an MFA and years of studio practice, she brings a deep understanding of materials, color, and visual design to her classes.

Her teaching emphasizes the essentials of materials, brushwork, composition, color theory, and drawing. Students work through successive projects designed to build strong skills over the semester while receiving individual instruction and critique. The aim is not only technical improvement but the development of a personal voice in painting.

William Rerick is an artist living in San Antonio, TX, where he paints and draws images of the body engaged in spiritual concerns. He received his BFA from the University of North Dakota and his MFA from the University of Tennessee–Knoxville, and his work has been shown in museums, university galleries, and contemporary art spaces across the country.

Rerick has been featured in publications such as Young Space Artists and Top Painters Top Paintings, appeared on Real Presence Radio, and delivered talks on art and the Catholic intellectual tradition. His teaching encourages students to analyze style, structure, and intention in master works, then apply those insights to build a coherent body of work that clearly reflects their own voice.

Kraig Kiedrowski taught a popular figure drawing class at Coppini Academy for about fifteen years beginning in the early 2000s. He has also led classes and workshops in landscape painting, perspective, drawing from nature, pastels, and applied arts, giving him a broad toolkit for helping students strengthen their work.

Kraig emphasizes fundamentals as the foundation of artistic growth while encouraging each student to clarify their own vision and intent. His teaching focuses on composition, value design, and deliberate mark-making, helping artists understand why certain images resonate and how to make more intentional choices at every stage of a picture.

Have questions about which class is right for you or how membership works? Email outreach@thecoppini.com or call (210) 530-8445.