Our Teachers

PAPPA classes and workshops are taught by world-class professional artists and teachers.

Rebecca Bui

BFA  Art Institute of Chicago

EXPERIENCE

In her years of experience teaching art Rebecca has specialized in many arts disciplines, painting, drawing, ceramics, papier mache, figure painting and doll making. Patient, confident and committed to their welfare, Rebecca has honed her skills of getting students involved in the creative process.

In Palo Alto she has served as assistant director of Project Look at Palo Alto Art Center and has taught SPECTRA art in Palo Alto schools. She has taught for PAPPA since 1991. Currently, she teaches for PAPPA in both arts camps and after-school art classes,and at Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View, specializing in painting, drawing and sculpture  in both programs.

Stephanie Enos

Byam Shaw School of Art, London
BA Battersea College of Education, University of London

EXPERIENCE

Stephanie’s introduction to teaching was as an art teacher at Dunedin School in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she also did work in summer theatre workshops. Since coming to Palo Alto
in 1993, she has taught as a SPECTRA art teacher in several Palo Alto elementary schools and has been a visiting artist to both Palo Alto and Menlo Park and East Palo Alto schools, teaching in the inter-city Cultural Kaleidoscope program.
Since 2003 she has taught for PAPPA in both arts camps and after-school art classes, where she specializes in helping students to create and solve their unique art and design problems, often relying on the use of recyclable materials. Students need to use their visual thinking “muscles” as they make art from “throwaways.”

An avid environmentalist in addition to teaching art, Stephanie acts as a docent for Environmental Volunteers, visiting schools in San Jose, Redwood City and Palo Alto.

Todd Geiseler

BFA Foothill College, San Francisco State College
MA  University of California, Davis

EXPERIENCE

An artist of wide experience, Todd has practiced in the disciplines of drawing, photography and printmaking as well as the ceramic and glass arts. Todd has taught ceramic art to children and adults for 22 years. He also takes pride in his mastery of a variety of kiln firing techniques for both clay and glass.

In his work for PAPPA he has successfully combined ceramic art lessons and charcpal drawing for elementary and older students. He has created a summer ceramic art studio, inviting students of all ages to experience the joy of working with clay and glazes

“I Think I can (and have) helped students on their path of individuation through a range of art experiences; that is, to access and strengthen their abilities through discovery, genuine search and perhaps a little struggle.”

Richard Becker

BFA  san Francisco Academy of Art

EXPERIENCE

With more than twenty years of teaching water colors, acrylics, life drawing, landscape painting, illustration, graphic story telling., fantasy illustration and cartooning, Richard is renowned as both a painter and teacher. His landscapes have been displayed in Los Altos Art Gallery and Christine Oliver’s studio in Cupertino..One of his specialties is historic compositions on pirates. His illustrations were featured in the DVD release of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Locally, Richard is the illustrator of the Klutz book of cartooning

Richard encourages students to create their own unique cartoons, but only after he has carefully guided them through the techniques of drawing and cartooning. One of the most popular booths in the Kids’ Art Studio at the annual Palo Alto Festival of the Arts is Richard’s cartooning studio.

Francis Coniglio

BA/MA   San Jose State University
Advanced studies at L’Ecole d’Art et Architecture, Lumily, Marseille, France
Graduate level work at San Jose emphasized techniques of ceramics, glazing and glass blowing.

EXPERIENCE

In Marseille, France Frank taught coil and slab building to children and wheel throwing techniques to adults. His seven years in France were devoted to studying the “old masters” and French Impressionists, and painting in his own style in the area from Arles to Marseille. His works have been exhibited in Connecticut, Florida, California and in France and Italy.Frank’s repertoire includes portraiture, florals, landscapes in several mediums… oils. water color.pastels, pen and ink, aquatint and clay.

In his ceramic art “studio” students are encouraged to understand well the basic nature of clay as an art medium and be willing and able to experiment even if they don’t always know for sure how it will turn out.

Kathleen Murphy

BS/MS   Buffalo State College,  New York

EXPERIENCE

Eighteen years’ experience as an elementary school art teacher in Marlboro, Buffalo and Fishkill, New York. Responsible for 450-500 students in grades 1 to 5, including special education students. Kathy designed grade level appropriate curricula, meeting New York state grade level standards and requirements. Curriculum included all forms of two and three dimensional art: water color, collage, sculpture, ceramics, puppets, masks, stitchery

Kathy specializes in fiber arts. She designs handmade purses, wearable art, pillows and wall hangings. Her works have been exhibited in invitational shows throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Relatively new to PAPPA, Kathy draws on a long & varied K-8 art teaching career in New York and eagerly encourages and guides students in their personal creation of a wide variety of works of art.