Fernando Rivera Fine Arts
About
I am a natural instructor as I have been told by many students in the past. The best they have ever had.
It’s my job to find your sensibilities and talents and combine them to form a method of approach.
Training eyes to form compositions which produce a young body of work to a high caliber of execution. Every piece is a masterpiece as relates to your every present moment of capability.
I only paint in oils.
I am a sculptor in oil clay (plastalina) and I work from there in metals either cast or fabricated.
Figurative, abstract or constructive. Representational or not.
Decorative or utilitarian.
If you go to my facebook site, you can see a good cross section of what I do.
Please be advised before sending me a message. Thank you.
I also invested time, energy and lots of money for my daughter’s ballet. She started at 4 years old. At 12 years old, she was dancing with the New York City Ballet. She also danced with the San Francisco Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet and Princeton Ballet. Those were huge investments into her career.
I loved every aspect of her career. I was happy to pay for everything even though at times I didn’t know how I was going to pay. Her happiness and evolution, for me as her father were paramount.
It was what I had to do for her. It wasn’t about me and money it was about her and her ballet and being there for her when she needed to compete against all those Russian Ballerinas from the Bolshevik and Kirov companies in the 90’s flooding New York. The greatest competition she could have and it made her a better Ballerina.
If you want to make a difference in your child or children’s or yourself abilities and way of experiencing life and living, and evolve into something you can take pride and joy in, and see the results over time, there is nothing better to invest in.
There is no future without commitment.
Specialties
Experience level
Painting type
Painting medium
Number of students
Student age(s)
Photos and videos
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
begin a project through drawing from imagination or photography or live model. Begin through sketches to develop a sense of composition, to create something interesting. Either create finished drawings or transfer the inspiration to canvas or panel and or transfer the inspiration to clay or to metals. All sciences, processes, techniques wil be taken into account as the work progresses so the student learns the technical aspects of how and why. Continue through to produce a finished work.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am a technical master in metal sculpture. In foundry, fabrication and metal chasing, welding, assembly, installations, patina, mold making for pattern reproduction, wax chasing and casting, ceramic shell process and sand mold making for metal casting, etc. I have been supervisor of metal works at the Johnson Atelier Tech. Institute for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ. Supervisor at the Art Foundry, Santa Fe, NM. General Manager of production at Richard MacDonald studio in Monterey, CA. General Production at Shidoni Foundry, Santa Fe, NM. As well as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Phila., PA.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I have not done this yet though will complete this process as soon as I can establish cost of materials. We can talk about your needs and wants and establish a course of action. I have the experiences that tailoring to specific needs are better than a huge selection to further confuse a student.
How did you get started teaching?
At the Johnson Atelier, mostly through training apprentices in metal works. Though teaching and explaining to people, was something that came naturally to me.
What types of students have you worked with?
Students from all over the world, whether or not they could speak english. Students of all ages, education, experience level, etc. I have worked with the architecture dept. contingent of students from the Univ. of Pennsylvania for their summer program. I have trained crews of people to refine, expand and become more productive in sculpture foundry, metal work, mold making, etc.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
Judge for the IAIA Annual American Indian Arts Festival, for the Sculpture Classification, in Santa Fe, NM. I was a Judge for four years. I have also mentored young people towards obtaining a direction in their endeavors as young artists. These were private lessons.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find someone that will challenge you, inspire you, someone you can look at and know there is something there for you. Use your intuition to make choices as a young artist or artist to be.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Ask potential instructors about their specific needs. They should be able to indentify their needs. If not be able to explain what they are wanting or looking for. If not, then be present enough to interview or be interviewed. Most young artists, in my experience, are able to know what is happening to themselves and have certain desires. Most will have a path within and need navigation and expertise enough to just fall into what they desire. Most of any of us only needed a little direction to adjust and then make or set a course.