art teacher Archives - Landscape Oil Painter John O'Keefe Jr's Artist BlogLandscape Oil Painter John O'Keefe Jr's Artist Blog

Private Art Teacher

I received private art lessons from Connecticut artist, and art teacher Kathy Singer during the late 1970s. Kathy taught me to work in several different mediums, that included watercolor, graphite, and papier-mache. We primarily worked at her home, but we also went on field trips to scenic locations around Connecticut. I remember one such trip to a farm in Cheshire where we drew one of the barns multiple times from various vantage points. It was a fun outing that took the better part of a day.

Papier-mache projects were also fun. We would make funny characters using strips of rolled and crumpled cardboard fastened together using masking tape. After the figures were shaped to our satisfaction, we coated the creation with papier-mache. Once dried, we painted our characters to bring them to life. They were fun crafty projects, and I learned a lot from Kathy.

Kathy also taught me basic watercolor techniques that I continued to develop and refine long after our art lessons had stopped. I feel that her instructions on shadow, and lighting were informative, and beneficial in my development as a young artist.

Pastel Artworks by Connecticut Artist Kathy Singer

In 2009 I received a call from Kathy Singer after she found my website. We talked about the things we have done since we last spoke over 30 years ago and she was thrilled that I was still creating art. I asked about her watercolors, and she mentioned that her new love is pastel and landscapes. She sent some images of her recent works, and I have posted them below. Please enjoy these artworks by Connecticut artist, and art teacher Kathy Singer.

Pastel on Paper, Connecticut Artist Kathy Singer, 2000's — Pastel on Paper
Kathy Singer
2000’s

Acrylic on Canvas, Connecticut Artist Kathy Singer, 2000's — Acrylic on Canvas
Kathy Singer
2000’s

Ann Fucich, who is my Aunt Ann, and who we affectionately call Teta (Slovenian) Annie, was my earliest artistic influence and instructor. I would spend my entire summer vacation at my grandparents home in Astoria in Queens, New York, and this enabled Teta Annie and I, who lived nearby, to spend a lot of time together. For example, art projects were always a large part of our time spent with each other. Also, she was always encouraging me to create art even when I was home in Connecticut and we talked on the phone. These experiences with her helped to shape my artistic interests as a young child. Because of this, I have only warm, loving memories of my earliest, and most beloved art teacher and mentor, Ann Fucich.

Beloved Art Teacher Ann Fucich History

Teta Annie’s history (and mine) reaches back to Kuzelj, Austria. Ann was born on October 28th, 1917 as Ann Saganich and died on May 3rd, 2014 at the age of 97. Teta Annie had five siblings, and her sister Elizabeth was my grandmother. Later, her first true love, Joe Fucich, married Ann. I would describe Ann’s painting style as very similar to Grandma Moses.

Acrylic on Paper, Art Teacher and Mentor Ann Fucich, 1973 — Acrylic on Paper
Ann Fucich
1973

Joe Fucich loved the ocean, and I was told that he served as a mariner when he was a young man. Therefore, inspired by his love of the ocean, Joe created maritime scenes alongside Ann, and a few of those early works continue to exist in the family collection.

Acrylic on Paper, Joe Fucich, 1973 — Acrylic on Paper
Joe Fucich
1973

Teta Annie often took my brother and me into Manhattan to visit art museums or sit in parks with a case full of drawing supplies. As a result, we had many outings to the Museum of Natural History where we would spend hours at the bird exhibit drawing and sketching. Afterwards, we would go back to Teta Annie’s apartment in Queens and draw or paint. Teta Annie would paint alongside my brother and me, giving us guidance as needed until we became comfortable expressing ourselves in our own paintings.

Busy Beach, 10 X 17 inch (25.4 x 43.2 cm), Acrylic on Board, Art Teacher and Mentor Ann Fucich, 1977 — ***“Busy Beach”***
10 X 17 inch (25.4 x 43.2 cm)
Acrylic on Board
Ann Fucich
1977

Teta Annie created many detailed paintings in acrylic and oil during her lifetime. Also, she created a large picture of my childhood home in Wallingford, Connecticut, and my mother has this painting hanging in the house to this day. Other works that have remained in the family are paintings of Annie’s ancestral town in Kuzelj, Austria and Joe’s home in Trieste, Italy.

Outstanding Paintings by Ann Fucich

'Joe's Home Town, Trieste, Italy', 12 X 16 inch (30.5 x 40.6 cm), Acrylic on Board, Art Teacher Ann Fucich, 1974 — ***“Joe’s Home Town, Trieste, Italy”***
12 X 16 inch (30.5 x 40.6 cm),
Acrylic on Board,
Ann Fucich,
1974

'Ann's Ancestral Roots, Kuzelj, Austria', 12 X 16 inch (30.5 x 40.6 cm), Acrylic on Board, Art Teacher Ann Fucich, 1974 — ***“Ann’s Ancestral Roots, Kuzelj, Austria”***
12 X 16 inch (30.5 x 40.6 cm),
Acrylic on Board,
Ann Fucich,
1974

'Wallingford Connecticut Home', 18 x 24 inch (45.7 x 61.0 cm), Acrylic on Board, Art Teacher Ann Fucich, 1977 — ***“Wallingford Connecticut Home”***
18 x 24 inch (45.7 x 61.0 cm),
Acrylic on Board,
Ann Fucich,
1977

I feel that I owe much to Teta Annie. Below are pictures of her with my family shortly before she passed away. Therefore, this post is in memory of my beloved art teacher and mentor Ann Fucich.

**Ann Fucich and my family relaxing at her apartment in Queens.**

Beloved art teacher and mentor Ann Fucich — **Ann Fucich**

Tag Archives: art teacher

Connecticut Artist and Art Teacher Kathy Singer (1970’s)

Private Art Teacher

Watercolor Portraits by Connecticut Artist Kathy Singer

Pastel Artworks by Connecticut Artist Kathy Singer

Beloved Art Teacher and Mentor Ann Fucich (1970’s)

Beloved Art Teacher Ann Fucich History

Outstanding Paintings by Ann Fucich