About

Nela V. Steric

MFA, MAE.

Nela’s Art Studio.

SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE  

Over twenty five years of experience teaching Studio Art and Art History to students of all ages. Provide practical skills, theory, and history of art; educate students in

painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture. Strong knowledge of theory and techniques required for releasing creativity in students.

Art design, teaching, and instruction for individuals and group classes.

Excellent knowledge of the principles and methods for curriculum mapping and visual art training programs.

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

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

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 (25); Naturalized US Citizen 2002.

Awards

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.

  • Nela V. Steric is a member of the Los Angeles Art Association (2016).
  • Her works are in many private collections nationwide.
  • Her works were published in the Winter 2016-17 edition of Studio Visit Magazine.
  • Her works are published in the December 2018 edition of Quarterly Art Journal.
  • The article about her career/life and works are published in the May 2021 edition of VoyageLA Magazine.
  • The article about her life/career and works are published in the April 2022 edition of ShoutoutLA Magazine.

 

EXHIBITION HISTORY

1991- 1996
Several group exhibitions in Novi Sad and Belgrade, 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 Pallace, 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.​

RECENT EXHIBITION HISTORY

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.

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.
  • Los Angeles Art Association's Annual Benefit Auction.

2021

  • The Hive Gallery Group Show (The first in-person show of the year!).

2022

  • 2022 Thousand Oaks Art Association’s Open Juried Show, T. Oaks, CA.

Awards

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).

Nela V. Steric is a member of the Los Angeles Art Association (2016).

Her works are in many private collections nationwide.

Her works are published in the Winter 2016-17 edition of Studio Visit Magazine.

Her works are published in the December 2018 edition of Quarterly Art Journal.

The article about her career/life and works are published in May 2021 edition of VoyageLA Magazine.

The Article about her carfeer/life and works are published in April 2022 edition of ShoutoutLA Magazine.