About
Nela V. Steric
MFA, MAE.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Western European studio art techniques and art history - Student motivation - Curriculum mapping - Experienced artist - Extensive exhibition history - Resourceful and creative - Professionally trained
SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE
VISUAL ART EDUCATOR SUMMARY
I have over twenty-five years of experience teaching Studio Art and Art History to students of all ages. I provide practical skills, theory, and historical context in painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture, leveraging my strong knowledge of Western European art techniques and art history to foster creativity.
I design and deliver art instruction for individuals and group classes, utilizing my expertise in curriculum mapping and visual art training programs, while drawing on my extensive exhibition history as a professionally trained, resourceful, and creative artist dedicated to student motivation.
VISUAL ARTIST SUMMARY
As a highly talented visual artist educated at the Academy of Art in Novi Sad, Serbia, my career reflects dedication, hard work, and passion, channeling mental, spiritual, and physical representations into my work.
I use the human body as figuration, alongside semi-realistic depictions of animals and other imagery, to create visual symbolism and universal truths.
Painting in watercolor on Yupo synthetic surfaces, I also explore assemblage sculpture combined with resin.
My artistic inquiries, driven by a constant pursuit of creativity, are an integral part of my life, ensuring a lifelong commitment to evolving my craft.
EDUCATION
- California Clear Single Subject Teaching Credential, Mt. St. Mary's College, Los Angeles, CA
- Master of Arts in Art Education, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA; 2009
- Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts, Novi Sad, former Yugoslavia; 1993
- Technician of Graphic Design, High School of Design, Novi Sad, former Yugoslavia; 1989
- CLAD Certificate, University of Massachusetts Global (U-Mass Global)
CURRENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Santa Maria Joint Unified School District, at Santa
Maria High School, Santa Maria
August 2021 - present
Visual Art Teacher
Creating and implementing a UC-approved visual arts program to students grade
nine to twelve.
Teaching and developing curriculum of Art I (A/B), and Intermediate Drawing
(A/B).
Working with diverse student population, most of them Spanish-speaking, to
foster their education, personal creativity and self-expression.
Active participant in the VA department's weekly PLCs and the School's meeting
regarding WASC accreditation.
Collaborating with student counselors, education specialists, college counselors,
health advisors and many others for the well-being of students
Chaminade College Preparatory, West Hills CA
08/2003 – 07/2021
Studio Art Teacher
Visual Arts Program Director
Chaminade Fine Arts Department Chairperson (2017-2019)
Create and teach exciting and challenging art programs to inspire and educate students for grades 9-12 in subjects of Studio Art, Drawing, Design for Art Graphics.
Working with faculty, educational coaching, developing Visual Arts curriculum, collaborating within and outside of the Visual Arts Program.
PREVIOUS TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Nela's Art Studio, Thousand Oaks CA
03/1996 - Current
Work one-on-one and in group settings offering private art tuition in all areas of studio art.
Learning Tree University, Chatsworth CA
09/-2002 – 05/2003
Lecturer Instructor of History of Interior Design and Decoration, Multi-Media Art, Trompe L' Oil Technique, Mosaic, Collage, and Oil Painting.
Instructor for adults experienced in the field, interior designers, and decorators pursuing Professional Certification Programs offered by nationally accredited university.
Absolutely Art, Calabasas CA
05/2002 - 08/2002
Art Teacher After-school enrichment program for public school students.
The Art Den, Thousand Oaks CA
02/2001 – 05/2002
Art Teacher Full-time teacher and assistant for over one hundred students, children, and adults. Working with children and adults of all levels, using art as therapy and stress reliever.
Karlovacka Gimnazija, (High School), former Yugoslavia
01/1993 – 12/1996
Art Teacher Art and Art History
PERSONAL DETAILS
Born in the former Yugoslavia, present-day Rep. of Serbia; Widowed (2014), 1 Son (28); Naturalized US Citizen 2002.
Awards and Recognitions
The Watercolor Art Society-Houston's 2019 42nd International Watermedia Exhibition, at WAS-H Gallery, Houston, TX, Texas Art Supply Award.
Thousand Oaks Art Association's Juried Open Exhibition, Best of Show Award (2019).
P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Member, Recognized. (2025).
- Nela V. Steric is a member of the Los Angeles Art Association (circa 2016).
- Her artworks are in many private collections nationwide.
Published works and interviews:
- Winter 2016-17 edition of Studio Visit Magazine.
- December 2018 edition of the Quarterly Art Journal.
- May 2021 edition of VoyageLA Magazine.
- April 2022 edition of ShoutoutLA Magazine.
- July 2023 issue of Bold Journey magazine.
- September 2023 issue of Canvas Rebel magazine.
- January 2024 issue of Bold Journey online magazine.
- Special feature in the quarterly digital and print P.O.W.E.R. magazine.
EXHIBITION HISTORY
the 1991- 1996
Several group exhibitions in Novi Sad and Belgrade, the former Yugoslavia.
1993
Solo exhibition “Drawings” at Culture Center in Novi Sad, former Yugoslavia.
1993
Group exhibition II Karlovacki Salon Mladih,” Palace Stefaneum, Sremski Karlovci, former Yugoslavia.
1996
21st Salon of Sremska Mitrovica, at the Lazar Vozarevic Gallery, Sr. Mitrovica, former Yugoslavia.
1996
Karlovacki Salon Mladih III, The Stefaneum Palace, Sremski Karlovci, former Yugoslavia.
1997
Member of the Westlake Village Art Guild, Westlake Village, CA.
Member of Thousand Oaks Art Association.
Local group exhibitions at Thousand Oaks Community Gallery, CA (March, November, December).
Solo exhibition and many local group exhibitions at Mayor Frank Shillo’s office in Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks;
Camarillo Community Bank, Westlake Village.
1998
Member of Ventura County Art Council.
Exhibition and art workshops, grand opening of the Hillcrest Center, Thousand Oaks CA.
1999
Group exhibition “Reflections” at Civic Arts Plaza, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Member of the Chicago Windy City Artists. National competition and group exhibition “Vision 99” at Zarem/Golde Art Technical Institute, Chicago, IL.
2000
International competition and group exhibition ”One Hundred Sacred Visions” (the spiritual in contemporary art) at the Austellung, Payerbach, Austria.
2003
CSU Northridge Art Education students’ group performance “Decade of 1959-1969, in USA” held at CSU Northridge, CA.
2004 – 2005
“The Iwano Project V” international group art project.
2008-2010
Artoteque.com - First International Online Exhibition Biennial.
2005
Annually CSUN Invitational Exhibition for Students and Teachers, Northridge, CA.
2013
Thousand Oaks Art Association Membership Show, Thousand Oaks, CA.
2015
Artavita, 16th Online Competition. Certificate of Excellence.
2016
Viridian Artists Inc. Gallery's 27th International Juried Exhibition, NYC, NY.
Figure One Gallery, Group Expo University of Urbana - Champaign, Department of Art/Design Art Ed Micro Residence, IL.
The Hive Gallery & Studios, “Equilibrium Rites”/”Honey and Venom”/”Cosmic Union”, Los Angeles, CA.
47th National River Road Show, Louisiana State Archives Building, Baton Rouge, LA.
Art Kudos, 2016 International Juried Art Competition and Exhibition (online only).
Seyhoun Gallery's Exhibit, "Unconscious Mind in Action", Los Angeles, CA
California Art League's Exhibit, "Spirits of the Night", CAL's 2016 Gold Medal Exhibit, Los Angeles, CA
Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery Juried National Exhibition, Denver, CO.
2017
16th Annual Juried Open Exhibition, at Topanga Canyon Gallery, Topanga, CA
Watercolor Art Society-Houston's 2017 International Watercolor Exhibition, at WAS-H Gallery, Houston, TX.
NEXT Gallery’s National Juried Show “Next Up”, Denver, CO.
Brownsville Museum of Art 45th International Art Show, Brownsville, TX.
LAAA's (Los Angeles Art Association) 2017 Benefit Auction, LA, CA.
Las Laguna Gallery's All Media, show "Spectacular", Laguna Beach, CA.
ISEA, 26th Annual International Society of Experimental Artists, Sanibel, FL.
Pittsburgh Watercolor Society's "Aqueous", 71st Annual International Exhibition, Pittsburgh, PA
New Member Group Show - an Artist Member to TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Viridian Artists Inc. Gallery's Director's Choice Show, NYC, NY.
2018
Solo Exhibition at TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
Santa Cruz Art League, “Planet Pulse”, a National Exhibit, Santa Cruz, CA.
LAAA's (Los Angeles Art Association) 2018 Benefit Auction, LA, CA.
Santa Cruz Art League, “Planet Pulse”, a National Art Exhibit, Santa Cruz, CA.
2018 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition.
Ashton Gallery @ Art on 30th, 2018 "BlackOut" National and Regional Exhibition.
2019
Watercolor Art Society-Houston's 2019 42nd International Watermedia Exhibition, at WAS-H Gallery, Houston, TX.
Pikes Peak International Watermedia Exhibition 2019, Colorado Springs, CO.
Thousand Oaks Art Association’s Open Juried Show, T. Oaks, CA.
RECENT EXHIBITION HISTORY
2020
- The series of smaller-scale, monthly, juried, online-only-due-to-COVID, group shows: "Petite Works", May 2020; "Gleaming Apollo", May 2020; "indistinct chatter", June 2020;
- "Exalted One", August 2020; "Make Plain", September 2020; "Festoon", October 2020; "Aurora", November 2020; "Gild", March 2021.
- LAAA's Annual Benefit Auction.
2021
- The Hive Gallery Group Show (The first in-person show of the year!).
- LAAA's Online, All-media show "Gild", Los Angeles, CA.
2022
- 2022 Thousand Oaks Art Association’s Open Juried Show, T. Oaks, CA.
- LAAA's Online show "Fresh", Los Angeles, CA.
- Exhibizone, by Biafarin, Online exhibition Diversia, October 2022.
- LAAA's Online show "Non-sequitur", Los Angeles, CA.
2025
- National Art Juried Competition by the Firefly Artists Gallery, Northport, NY (Long Island).
- LAAA's 2025 Annual Benefit Auction.
- Site: Brooklyn Gallery, Online exhibition "Material Process".