Studio Classes

Daniel Mantilla is a Colombian-born artist with over a decade of experience teaching young people, families, and adults. In his paintings, drawing-collages, and cutouts, Mantilla explores ideas of transition and instability. He previously lived in New York City, where he recorded instructional videos for public television. His art has been exhibited across the United States and internationally. He has studied paintings in museum collections in Spain, conducted research on cadmium-free acrylic paint, and holds an MFA from Hunter College.

Jaffia Royes is a visual artist and art educator who lived and worked in New York City for seventeen years before moving to Atlanta. As an educator, she has worked with various art organizations, museums, and schools and has taught artists of all ages, including portfolio development for those entering art and design colleges and universities. While Royes’s primary medium for over two decades has been oil painting, she began developing a body of work in clay as a creative way to house her ever-growing plant collection. Her passions for art and plant life allow space for her to practice mindfulness, serenity, and self-care, which she brings into the classroom and hopes to encourage through her teaching.

Loi Laing is a visual artist and educator specializing in fiber art, natural dyeing, earth pigments, and botanical inks. She is committed to sustainability and is passionate about connecting people with nature through art. Her workshops emphasize the use of locally sourced, ecofriendly materials, fostering creativity and respect for the environment. By sharing ancient techniques alongside contemporary approaches, Laing empowers participants to explore their artistic potential while honoring the earth. Her writing is featured in the book This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community, and Connection (2021) by Jen Hewett.

Larkin Ford grew up in rural North Carolina, which informs the enigmatic narratives he weaves through his art. Ford teaches drawing and painting at the High Museum of Art and Georgia State University and previously was a visual arts professor at Emory University’s Oxford campus. He has exhibited work nationally at MOCA GA, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, Kai Lin Art, Whitespace, and Swan Coach House Gallery, and internationally in Ireland, Japan, and Belarus. He received his BFA from University of North Carolina (UNC) Asheville and his MFA from Georgia State University.