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Yale MFA | Studio Art, Procreate & Portfolio Prep (College Professor)
Maria O.

70 hours tutoring

Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Hourly Rate: $85

About Maria


Bio

I’m a studio artist and college professor with over a decade of experience teaching drawing, painting, and art history at the university level. I hold an MFA from the Yale University School of Art, and my work spans painting, printmaking, textiles, and installation.

I work with teens and adults on digital drawing (Procreate, Adobe Fresco), studio art development, and portfolio preparation—including applications to art and design programs. I’ve mentored students across disciplines,...

I’m a studio artist and college professor with over a decade of experience teaching drawing, painting, and art history at the university level. I hold an MFA from the Yale University School of Art, and my work spans painting, printmaking, textiles, and installation.

I work with teens and adults on digital drawing (Procreate, Adobe Fresco), studio art development, and portfolio preparation—including applications to art and design programs. I’ve mentored students across disciplines, including fashion and textiles, and help them develop both technical skill and a strong visual voice.

My teaching is grounded in hands-on knowledge of materials and process. Whether working digitally or traditionally, I guide students in composition, color, and technique while also helping them think critically about their work.

I also offer support in art history and writing, particularly in developing clear, structured responses and connecting visual work to broader cultural and historical contexts.

Sessions are tailored to each student’s goals—whether building foundational skills, refining a portfolio, or deepening engagement with contemporary art.

Common sessions include:
• Editing and strengthening Art History essays (AP + college)
• Last-minute feedback before deadlines
• Portfolio reviews and application prep
• Help connecting visual analysis to historical context

I offer support for last-minute edits and can often accommodate scheduling across time zones.
If you don’t see a suitable time, feel free to message me to arrange an additional slot.


Education

Yale University School of Art
Masters

Policies

  • Hourly Rate: $85
  • Rate details: Art supplies are provided by the student or family. A recommended list will be shared. Having good materials helps assure success.
  • Lesson cancellation: 24 hours notice required
  • Background check passed on 8/25/2024

  • Your first lesson is backed by our Good Fit Guarantee

Schedule

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Approved Subjects

Art History

Art History

Art history connects visual works to the cultures and ideas that shaped them. In our sessions, we focus on close looking, clear understanding, and making meaningful connections across time and place. As both an artist and instructor, I emphasize research that does two things: places works in their proper context helps you develop your own ideas and interpretations We also work on writing—how to structure clear, focused responses that communicate your thinking effectively, especially for AP and college-level work.
Art Theory

Art Theory

Art theory asks how meaning is made in art - how images, objects, and practices are interpreted across different cultural and historical frameworks. I have over a decade of experience teaching studio art and art history at the college level and hold an MFA from Yale School of Art. My work as both an artist and instructor draws on interdisciplinary approaches, connecting theory to contemporary practice and lived experience. In sessions, we focus on developing your ability to interpret and discuss art with clarity - working through key ideas, building arguments, and articulating your perspective in writing or conversation. This is particularly valuable for college-level study, portfolio development, and for adults seeking a deeper engagement with contemporary art.
Drawing

Drawing

I teach drawing across a range of approaches, including observational drawing, figure drawing, and perspective. With over a decade of experience teaching at the college level, I emphasize clarity of form, proportion, and composition, along with a strong understanding of color. I also incorporate digital drawing and painting (Procreate, Adobe Fresco), including ways to move between hand-drawn and digital work. Sessions are tailored to your goals, whether developing foundational skills or refining a more advanced, personal direction.
Painting

Painting

I teach painting across oil, acrylic, watercolor... and have experience teaching a variety of painting courses for undergraduates and graduate students. My instruction emphasizes color, composition, and the development of a clear visual language across subjects - from portraiture and landscape to more synthesized or conceptual work. I also work across disciplines, including approaches that connect painting with drawing and digital processes. Sessions are tailored to your goals, whether building foundational skills or refining a more advanced body of work.
Writing

Writing

I teach writing with a focus on clarity and structure, particularly for art history and studio practice. I work with teens and adults, including students preparing for U.S. academic expectations for whom English is a second language. Sessions emphasize concise writing: organizing ideas, refining language, and producing strong responses for AP Art History, essays, and coursework. I also work with artists on statements, biographies, and application materials. We work directly on your writing together - clarifying meaning, strengthening structure, and refining language in real time - so you leave with usable, improved text and a clearer sense of how to shape writing that holds attention and communicates your ideas.

Examples of Expertise


Maria has provided examples of their subject expertise by answering 3 questions submitted by students on Wyzant’s Ask an Expert.

Maria O.'s Photo

Questions? Contact Maria before you book.

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Ratings and Reviews


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Reviews

AP art History

Maria has been amazing! She has helped me ( high school student) so much in studying Art History, and improving my performance in class. She is very knowledgeable, and knows how to answer all my questions. I couldn’t recommend Maria more.

Marcus , 8 lessons with Maria
Hourly Rate: $85
Contact Maria