About
Students will gain confidence and practical skills in how to draw or paint bold and expressive paintings using any medium - watercolor, oil, acrylic, charcoal, pencil and more. I am a full time award winning artist with a strict classical art etraining as a fine artist beginning in my childhood. My strong education in classical realism from the Sofia’s Academy of Fine Arts and later from FIT in New York where I studied Illustration, as well as my diverse artistic experience of over 20 years has helped me establish myself as one of the most versatile and prolific artist in the Triangle My works has been seen in museums, magazines, galleries and have taken many wards. I'm a Co-Director of the Watercolor Society NC, member of the Oil Painters of America, San Diego Watercolor Society, Southwestern Watercolor Society, North Eastern Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, ArtSpace, Durham Art Guild and many more.
I will share my knowledge and techniques for painting subjects from figurative, seascapes, nature and urban scenes with confidence. I will start with a quick demonstration followed by individual instruction to walk you step by step through the painting/drawing process. You will learn to add new dimension, vibrant color and depth to your work.
This is my bio:
Lyudmila Tomova is a star on the Triangle, North Carolina art scene and has received numerous awards and recognition for her masterfully executed work. Her recent watercolors have attracted much attention locally, nationally and internationally with the expressive brushwork, color, line and a stylized flair that emphasize movement bringing the images to life. Originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, Lyudmila immigrated to the US twenty five years ago and lived in New York City being a full time painter, editorial illustrator and designer, exhibiting nationally and abroad. Her strong education in Classical realism from the Sofia’s Academy of Fine Arts and later from FIT in New York where she studied Illustration, as well as her diverse artistic experience of over 20 years has helped her establish herself as one of the most versatile and prolific artist in the Triangle. She was recently nominated as an Emerging Woman 2016 and was personally recognized at the NC Museum of Art with her “Butterfly Women” series of watercolors. Her work was recently juried into the 1st International Watercolor Society Biennale in Vancouver, Canada and for the 41st Annual Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition in Denver, Colorado winning the People’s Choice Award. She was also accepted into the North Light Books’ latest watercolor competition 2016 Splash 18: Value | Light + Dark, part of the Splash: Best of Watercolor series for the ArtistsNetwork and in 2015 North Light Books’ drawing competition Strokes of Genius 8: Expressive Texture, and 2018 Splash 20 - Creative Compositions, all sold at Barnes & Nobles. Lyudmila resides in Cary and has a watercolor / acrylic / oil and drawing workshop at her studio.
I enjoy working with artist from all leves and experience. I love helping artists deveop their own style and not necessarily copying mine, so they can become authentic professionals with a distinct style. First I teach the fundamentals and as students gain nowledge nd experience, I help them discover their own voice. Seeing my students thrive in their elementis a great passion of mine.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
First, I typically review their work and determine their level and experience. Then we establish a plan and focus for develpment and practice. I give demos, hands on instructions and share lots of practical knowledge and techniques to help students gain confidence. I believe in the power of positive reinforcement and strive to inspire by having a very positive experience while creating! It's will be instructional and fun at the same time.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BFA in Illustration form the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City graduating with a Gold medal of Honor.
I also studied Illustration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria focusing on Classical realism.
My high schoool was also a Special School of Fine Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria where I started early on a very rigorus training in in all aspects of art.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $50-60 / hr if a single student. This price isnegotiable in some circumstances if the student is younger or less experienced. My group classes are $80 to 100 per 4hr sessions.
How did you get started teaching?
I've been receiving a lot of requests from artists at all levels throughut my artistic career to share my knowledge and techniques. Eventually I decided to start teaching in a more structured way and developed multiple workshops and classes.
What types of students have you worked with?
I'e worked with all ages, from 9yr old to 99, and all levels of experience from beginners to advanced.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
One of my recent workshops at Carolina beach was a lot of fun. Artsists were given plenty of freedom to pick and choose their own subject matter and I helped them bring out and freshen up their personal style. Everyone was very leased and inspired. That makes my day!
I'm planning to take students out to paint plein air so they can develop more confidence in painting from life.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Enjoy the process of learning! Hard work is important and quantity will lead to a better quality! And last but not least - there are no mistaes in art, so have fun!
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Think about what is your favorite medium or subject matter as well as which areas you feel you need instructions and help.