High School Portfolio Prep - So you Wanna.....?

Royce Deans was born of parents that understood the important role that art plays in society and how crucial exposure to and participation is to the development of a young person. He was raised in the western suburbs of Chicago with access to museums and concert halls of every variety. Graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago gave him the foundation to build a life in the arts.

“Moving to Traverse City some four decades ago set his art on a wonderful trajectory. He counts each artistic endeavor as a rich experience that has shaped him into the artist he is today. Northern Michigan is such an incredibly beautiful place, the landscape has, of course, become an overwhelming source of inspiration.

Royce’s love for teaching and art has allowed him to travel far and wide. His artwork is in collections public and private in the US and in many of the countries of Western Europe, Israel. Highlights of his travels have been presenting classes, workshops, and retreats.

Richie recently moved to Traverse City from Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys rambling in the woods, snooping around stream beds, and searching for Petoskey stones with his family. Richie has a master’s degree in Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design where he also studied illustration, painting, and photography. He is a generalist, seeking to learn a little bit about everything and loves discussing art and the creative drive. 

Maia Hausler is a botanical artist based in Leelanau County whose work, in detailed pen and watercolor illustrations, focuses on the native plants of Michigan. She has lead art workshops on topics ranging from watercolor illustration to field sketching. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a BA in Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University, she obtained a Certificate in Natural History Illustration from The University of Newcastle, Australia.

You can find her greeting card line, Wander & Gather, in shops across Michigan. For more on Maia and her work, visit www.maiahausler.com.