Fine Arts and Design
The CLRC is pleased to present a number of courses for students interested in Art and/or Architecture. These courses offer rewarding and creative challenges to artistic students of all skill levels–including those with no experience at all!
Nicole (Coley) Klaers received a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida. While earning her degree, she worked as a physics, math, and SAT/ACT tutor at Socrates Preparatory School. After this, she taught Honors and AP Physics courses, Algebra 1, Pre Calculus and Photography at Lake Brantley High School and then at The Geneva School, a Classical Christian School in Winter Park, FL. She has been a freelance photographer for 8 years, photographing the UCF Newspaper in addition to weddings, newborns and family photos.
Coley now resides in Old Fort, North Carolina with her husband, Daniel, their beautiful new baby girl, Jemima Milly, and two dogs. Coley enjoys reading, making art prints and hiking in her spare time.
Amy Gillispie and her husband, Father Robert, began homeschooling their nine children in 1999. Amy was graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Architecture, did her Master’s work in Liturgical Architecture, played the organ for her church at twelve years old, danced in a ballet/jazz company, worked as a photographer/developer, directs musicals, is a COPE certified health coach, a registered IEW teacher and a licensed Simply Music Piano Instructor. She wrote her own architecture curriculum and began teaching architecture courses to students from around the world when she created her business, Building Brilliant Minds, in 2009. “Architecture” and “Music/Piano” continue to hold her heart because the possibilities are intertwined and infinite. Mrs. G’s Architecture and Piano courses may be taken online during the arranged Zoom classes or privately. For more information, email Mrs. G. at musicarch.clrc@icloud.com .
Liz Greaser has been teaching homeschool art classes for the last few years and recently received her Florida teacher’s certification in art education. She holds a master’s degree in library and information science and an AMS-accredited Montessori credential. She has worked as a librarian, adjunct professor, homeschool parent, and Montessori teacher. She spent five years making computer science more accessible for children through the use of Lego robotics and the programming language, Scratch. She has a passion for creative activities and you will often find her drawing, writing, knitting or following her children’s latest interests. She and her husband enjoy discovering new things, making stuff and helping their children to craft their own learning adventure. She and her family live in north Florida, where they are still two hours from the beach.
Christine Jennings was homeschooled by her mother and began taking interest in drawing and art through Charlotte Mason-inspired nature journaling. In high school she continued her education through an independent study program with the local high school, where she attended her first course in fine art. In college she continued her education as an art major, received a 4.0, and joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She received several first-place awards for life drawings and fine art, and her art was published in the college arts journal.
She has a variety of skills and experience in painting public murals, mounting canvas icons in churches, training in the art of iconography, and commissioned art works such as portrait work. She has also exhibited her art in local Fresno Art Galleries.
Christine developed a classical curriculum to teach students the elements and principles of art and design through drawing and painting. Uniquely, she teaches her students how to make their own materials such as artists vine charcoal, and ancient gall ink.
Christine enjoys living with her family in the beautiful Sierra foothills of Fresno county, CA. Her husband Matthew is a carpenter, and small business owner. He is currently an apprentice training to become an electrician. They have five lively children whom Christine homeschools through a local charter school. Christine loves to make time for following her many other interests. If she’s not cooking a big meal, she can be found exploring the creeks and hills, gardening, making ink, singing, researching ecology, foraging for mushrooms, and general shenanigans, all with her children in tow!
Amy Gillispie and her husband, Father Robert, began homeschooling their nine children in 1999. Amy was graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Architecture, did her Master’s work in Liturgical Architecture, played the organ for her church at twelve years old, danced in a ballet/jazz company, worked as a photographer/developer, directs musicals, is a COPE certified health coach, a registered IEW teacher and a licensed Simply Music Piano Instructor. She wrote her own architecture curriculum and began teaching architecture courses to students from around the world when she created her business, Building Brilliant Minds, in 2009. “Architecture” and “Music/Piano” continue to hold her heart because the possibilities are intertwined and infinite. Mrs. G’s Architecture and Piano courses may be taken online during the arranged Zoom classes or privately. For more information, email Mrs. G. at musicarch.clrc@icloud.com , or visit her website at www.buildingbrilliantmindsonline.com .