OUR Mission
The dream is to build a community of artists who are eager to learn and live in a peaceful planet. Our goal as artists is to tell stories and raise awareness. We challenge humanity and urge compassion, respect, and coexisting for all with the understanding that that mentality begins with happiness of the self. As a teacher, my goal is to help people not only achieve their fundamental and technical goals but to facilitate a healthy state of mind where you have the tools to express your subconscious voice and do so through the journey of creating. Art is the voice of the subconscious. -PJ Svejda
Painting is a journey. Such a metaphor for life - from beginning to end the experience is filled with a symphony of emotions. In one painting you feel excitement, motivation, and inspiration; then challenged, defeated and insecure. A painting teaches humility and perseverance and above all, faith, because no matter how many revisions or stumbles you go though, you know it’s just paint and you have the power to control it. At the end of the dark tunnel - there is light. At the end of the struggle - there is accomplishment. Underneath every painting is a journey. Art is what freedom looks like.
The Artists
Founders
PJ Svejda
PJ studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design where she earned both a BA in illustration and an MA in painting. She began building her career as an artist and instructor in Atlanta, Georgia for 12 years before relocating to Orlando, Florida where she has had great success in the local art community. She is most recognized for her passionate narratives, illustrating ideas of coexistence between man, beast, and planet. She pushes the envelope, juxtaposing controversial imagery with a classical and traditional style.
She has been involved in activism for animal, environmental, and human rights and has found a way to merge her passion for art with her desire for change. Her paintings tell stories of pain and hope and raise the viewer’s self-awareness into their own humanity; urging increased consciousness of the time we spend here on earth.
https://www.instagram.com/pjsvejda/
German Lemus
Born in Honduras, raised in Miami and stationed in Hawaii while serving in the U.S. Army, German Lemus has been surrounded by vibrant colors and cultures his entire life. While he is most recognized for his mixed media portraits of recognizable people and animals, it is his surrealist take on landscapes and use of metaphors and symbolism that really make this man a creative powerhouse. Inspired by music, culture, nature and current events, his work is nothing short of conceptual all while being so beautiful and intriguing to look at. You can stare at one of Lemus's pieces everyday and find something new! As one of the founders of the B-Side artist collective in downtown Orlando, you are sure to recognize one of his large and powerful murals around town.
https://www.instagram.com/lemusart/
Artists in Residence
Gina Tyquiengco
Gina Tyquiengco was born in Fort Lewis, Washington in 1987. She earned her BS in Media Arts and Science from Indiana University in 2012. In the past three years, she's had a solo art show in Indiana, was an artist-in-residence at an international residency in Mexico, and her work has been exhibited in galleries in Orlando. Gina's work has also been published in Obra/Artifact, an experimental hybrid journal and the coloring book, Notes from the Universe. She lives and works in Orlando, and her work is held in private collections across North America and Europe.
https://www.ginatyquiengco.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ginatyquiengco/
Beth Jewett
Beth is a lifelong resident of central Florida, a contemporary water media artist, and an illustrator, and she combines her love for color and expressive painting with her close connection to the Florida’s natural resources and wildlife.
Beth has trained at Crealde School of Art (Winter Park, FL), The Art Room (Windemere, FL), and The Art Students League of New York. She has participated in workshops conducted by nationally recognized artists, and she is self taught. Beth works out of her home studio and her lack of “conventional training” gives her the opportunity to paint without external expectations, which allows room for her intuitive and creative sense of color and design.
Beth has exhibited her works at the Orlando of Museum of Art (1st Thursdays), Beth Nolen Interiors, Magnolias and Vine, and Driftwood Market. In May of 2018, she had a solo show at Downtown Credo Health Village (Orlando, FL). Her work is held in private collections across North America.
Much of what inspires and forms Beth’s work is the beauty of her surroundings, and her paintings are interpretative statements of her experiences and observations. Beth “delights in the spontaneity, and fluid nature of watercolor and the transparent results, she can achieve by applying ‘colored water’ to paper.” Correspondingly, her paintings range from abstract expressionism to traditional. She is a member of the Florida Watercolor Society and the Florida Artist Registry
https://www.instagram.com/bethjewettart/
Gina Stogran
In 2003, I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Communication Graphics from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. My life and career have since taken me on a great adventure. I have worked at a print shop, protected shipwrecks, assisted with special events and sea turtle releases, built public exhibits and parade floats. In roles from conservation to retail marketing, I have been fortunate to work with amazing people, live in beautiful places, and grow my skill set and interests.
In 2020, when the pandemic necessitated a nationwide quarantine, I took advantage of my time spent at home. I organized my home art studio and “got messy” again with charcoal. It was a creative time, time I didn’t realize how badly I needed.
My work has become a reflection of my soul. Subjects from nature drawn as a visual representation of my inner joy, emotional struggles, and self-healing. I enjoy the immersive experience that large works create, inviting the viewer to feel my story while also giving space to write their own.
Charcoal as a medium makes a powerful graphic statement. It draws you in with its softness, grit, endless shades of gray, and deep dark blacks. The messiness is soothing and allows me to express myself through the process which leads to something beautiful from within the dark. This is where I find my peace.
https://www.instagram.com/ginabird.creative.studio/
Amanda Acevedo
Amanda Acevedo McClure was raised in Lake County and Sarasota, Florida. She finds inspiration in the beautiful forests of her childhood, as well as the colorful expression of her Puerto Rican heritage. Her work is influenced by a desire to highlight the complexities of the human experience, especially those of the most unseen in society. She has studied art under Gary Hopcraft, and is currently developing her skills with PJ Svejda.
https://www.instagram.com/amanda.m.a.mcclure_art/
https://amandamarieacevedo.wixsite.com/amandamamcclure
Michele Ann Lacy
Michele Ann Lacy is a Sorrento, Florida based Artist who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is an accomplished Mural and award winning Fine Art Body Painter. Her stunningly beautiful custom designed backdrops serve as a focal points for a variety of themed festivals and events.
Her "Mother Earth" and Fire head pieces symbolizing the balance of nature were featured at the Orland Fashion week runway show present4ed by Fierce Entertainment Network/televised on Bravo and were displayed at the Orlando Museum of Art First Thursday's Exhibit.
As exhibited by her beautiful and vibrant "Sunrise over the Taj Mahal" Michele is also a gifted fine artist who has shown her juried work at Orlando Museum of Art, City Arts Factory, and Jacksonville Art Walk
Michele takes inspiration from nature, particularly the four seasons and flora, as well as from the healing arts and inspires to promote happiness in her pieces. Her vibrant colors and beautiful images are designed to promote personal healing both spiritually and physically. She is honored to have been selected as a resident artist with Studio Art Farm and looks forward to growing as a person and artist with this inspiring artist community
https://www.micheleannlacy.com/
https://www.instagram.com/micheleannlacy/
Elsie Michielsens
Elsie was an Art Teacher for 10 years in Belgium, and had her paintings displayed at special events and a few Art Galeries around Brussels. After moving to the USA, she became a manager of a Scenic studio that build sets for theme parks, conventions, concerts and theater. After going back to school for interior design she started her own business in 2000 that provided decorative and fine art services for residential and commercial spaces. The housing crash stopped her business ….and her painting for awhile. In 2022 she started taking PJ’s classes. After a 10 year hiatus It gave her the motivation and self assurance to pick up her paint brush and canvas again.
Jawan Townsend
Local artist Jawan Townsend is the youngest artist in residence at Studio ArtFarm. At just 20 years old, right out of high school Jawan began interning at SAF where he continued learning and practicing and eventually started teaching. Jawan current teaches the teen art class and is actively working on building new collections. His work is an interesting commentary on reality and fantasy and how culture impacts identity. Bright colors and playful characters from popular culture are carefully placed along side more serious figures which represent the reality of social themes both good and bad. He hopes to expand on this idea and is excited for its evolution. He is currently a part of the young artist collective at City Arts in Orlando.
https://www.instagram.com/afrotheartgod/
Omar Herrin
I am Omar Herrin. Colombian born, at age twelve I traveled to Troy, Montana. Since my halcyon days in Troy, sketching in school notebooks, I knew I wanted to be a an artist. In 2010 I moved to Florida and my life began anew. Having been left in a basket on the doorstep of a tattoo studio, I was quickly brought in from the cold, cleaned up and set on my path. They taught me the ancient art and history of tattooing. I worked under the tutelage of my mentor Dan Abner and the rest of the crew.
With their guidance and insight I forged myself into the artist I am today, but I have never ceased in my desire to learn the multitudinous secrets of art. Finally tackling on the journey of painting with the welcoming family of studio ArtFarm, im excited to combine the styles and knowledge of tattooing into painting :)
My personal style is grounded in American traditional principles with neo-traditional presentation and a splash of art nouveau.
