About Us
“What makes our art classes different? The students who take them.”
Do you have a five year old that draws for hours on end, a ten year old that has plastered the walls with paintings of horses 100 different hues, perhaps a teen that seems to do nothing else but draw Manga? Children love art but some may find it frustrating when they get it or do it “just” right. Many tweens and teens moan they don’t like to paint. One reason could be after they spent hours on a great pencil drawing, they then tried to add color smearing the pencil lines ruining their hard work.
Master Artist Thomas Cleveland, like many creative children, struggled to overcome many such creative obstacles. Perfectionism, paintings left unfinished to pursue the “next big idea”, feeling unsure of his abilities, fear of failure when considered talented, all can stifle one’s desire attempt creating art. Thomas eventually found ways to overcome or manage most of these. in 2004, he founded the Artist Within Studio School located in Cypress to help others avoid these pitfalls while taking ownership of their fledgling talent. In 2016, the school expanded with a sister location, The Houston School of Art & Design, in the Spring Branch area of Houston.
Students receive personal instruction and step-by-step demonstrations of professional drawing and painting techniques, from practicing professional artists, presented in easy to understand analogies and everyday language that takes the anxiety out of trying new art techniques and mediums. Allowing them to relax while taking their artwork to a level they may not have thought possible.
Our Aspiring Artists classes inspire, educate and encourage students in a nurturing, motivating and judgment free environment. Thomas believes allowing one self to be a perfectly flawed perfectionist, is key to enjoying the creative process and the results.
Meet our Instructors
Amber Cleveland, Director, Artist, Instructor
The eldest daughter of master artist Thomas Cleveland, Amber was born into art with both parents in the graphic design industry. In the late 1990’s, while her father was the lead instructor of the children’s program at the Houston School of Art & Design (HSAD), Amber spent every summer and weekend at the school working with a variety of artistic mentors that helped mold her creative mind. Her mentors included Charlie Brown, the original founder of HSAD, who gave her the opportunity to work as the administrative assistant starting at a young age. After Charlie’s passing, she took the opportunity offered to her family to share their wealth of artistic knowledge with a larger audience of students. In addition to the Artist Within Cypress School of Art they took on the new location and continued the dream Charlie had envisioned and adapted it with the methods her father Thomas had taught her over the years of working at both locations. With a degree in Biology she sometimes calls on her logical mindset to teach but her true calling is to inspire and support artists of all ages through the school and by visiting senior and church communities all over the Houston area.
Her students have won awards in the Houston Art Society and Lone Star Art Guild art shows. She has worked with many talented teens pursuing a career in art to help build up a solid portfolio by pushing them to enter shows and other art opportunities that can help add credibility to their creative style. She is more than just an art instructor she inspires creativity to come to its full potential.
She is an active board member of the Houston Art Society and member of Houston Art Connect which promotes the arts for HISD.
Check out Amber’s interview article (her artwork is displayed on the cover as well): Memorial Lifestyle Magazine – February 2020
Chu Okoli, Artist, Instructor – Houston School of Art & Design
Chu Okoli is a passionately-driven, award-winning Artist and Art Instructor; classically trained in the fundamentals of drawing as a backbone of all visual arts. He utilizes his vast experience in drawing to guide students through the principles and elements of art in a way that makes a lasting impression and helps to unlock their individual talents. He has created a method and approach to art instruction that’s guaranteed to improve the skills of students of all artistic levels. He enjoys helping each student uncover their hidden skills and improve their abilities through perception and spatial cognition. In doing so, this accelerates their confidence and the results often speak for themself.In his 15 years of teaching, he has guided hundreds of students (children and adults alike) to higher levels of expression by focusing on each individual student’s strengths by using the fundamentals to accelerate what they are best at to find their own signature and style.
Let the students speak for themselves though as he has worked with a promising 9 yr old throughout the years who is now a gifted 19 year old with full scholarship at SCAD, one of the top 3 Art Schools in the country.
He is also currently working with a 90 yr old retired Opthalmologist who has never drawn a day in his life, but is now creating masterful works of art since the last three years that he started working with Chu. There are so many other stories that abound in his commitment to students over the years these are just a few of the youngest and oldest artists to give you an idea that it is never too early or too late to start your path to a more creative future.
Chu has worked with the Houston School of Art & Design from 2002 to 2015 and recently returned to us in 2019 as an instructor between his many art shows that require traveling, so take advantage of the time he has dedicated with the school and schedule a class with him today!
Rachel Parks, Artist, Instructor – Artist Within
Rachel has her Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Art History from The University of Houston. She began lessons with The Artist Within when she was 16 years old and was soon hired as an instructor. She has worked for The Artist Within for over 15 years. She also attended lessons at Houston School of Art and Design, working with various artist mentors to learn different styles of teaching. She does commission pieces, as well as teaches private lessons. Her medium of choice is colored pencil, but is also talented in acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and graphite as well.
Lucy Nguyen Holgado, Artist, Instructor – Houston School of Art & Design
Lucy graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts in Art Studio and a minor in Teaching Education. She loves creating visual art that embodies realism, expressionism, and impressionism. She works with drawing, painting, photography, and digital art. Lucy’s goal is to learn and appreciate the philosophy of art education. She enjoys building relationships with children while teaching. Lucy is one of the most beloved teachers at our school. Not only does she teach students about the art world, but she also educates herself along the way. As a novice art teacher, teaching about the art world involves appreciating the dedication and effort every artist puts into sharing their stories with the community.
Beatriz Fuentes, Artist, Instructor – Houston School of Art & Design
Mrs. Beatriz Fuentes brings over three decades of international experience as both a professional artist and art instructor. Originally from Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, Mrs. Beatriz began her artistic journey as a self-taught artist before refining her skills at the prestigious Advanced Arts Center under the guidance of Professor Paulo Branco. Her expertise spans a wide range of mediums, including graphite, colored pencils, tempera gouache, and watercolor, and she was quickly recognized for her talent, earning a position as a faculty member at the Center. She later founded her own art studio, Atelier Beatriz Mendonça, where she further explored dry pastels and mixed media techniques.
Her artistic career has taken her across the globe, including Miami, Houston, Mozambique, and Uruguay. In Houston, Mrs. Beatriz taught at The Artist Within art school, where she inspired students with her expertise and passion for teaching. During her time in Mozambique, she devoted herself to both art education and community development, volunteering as an arts assistant at the Pedagogical University of Beira. Her international experiences, combined with years of teaching and artistic exploration, have shaped her into a compassionate and versatile educator.
Based back in Houston, Texas, Mrs. Beatriz brings a wealth of experience, a deep love for the arts, and a nurturing teaching style to our art school. Her mastery of various artistic techniques and dedication to fostering creativity make her an invaluable mentor to students of all ages. Whether guiding beginners or inspiring advanced learners, Mrs. Beatriz’s commitment to artistic growth and excellence is unmatched.
Kathryne Brayton Lieser, Artist, Instructor – Houston School of Art & Design
Born in New Jersey, Lieser embarked on her artistic journey at the tender age of four. Demonstrating remarkable talent, she received her first commission at 14, producing two large acrylic paintings of tigers for a designer. Lieser pursued her academic interests, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a minor in art from Seton Hall University in 1979. Following her graduation, she served in the US Navy, utilizing her artistic abilities to craft murals for training school walls and design menus for Naval restaurants in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Guam. After eight years of dedicated service, Lieser returned to Houston to further cultivate her artistic pursuits. Establishing herself within the artistic community, she participated in various esteemed events such as The Island Market in Galveston, Texas, the First Saturday Art Market in the Houston Heights district, and the Art Market at Sawyer Yards, among numerous other outdoor exhibitions. Today, she is a respected artist represented by the Art Machine Gallery in the Silos at Sawyer Yards. Alongside her artistic endeavors, Lieser generously gives back to the community by donating pieces to various nonprofit organizations and finds fulfillment in educating aspiring artists at two esteemed art schools.
Tiffany Garcie, Artist, Instructor – Houston School of Art & Design
Tiffany’s artistic journey is rooted in her love for creating meaningful and visually captivating pieces. From designing custom birthday backdrops for her nephews to painting murals and portraits, she finds joy in bringing ideas to life through her art. One of her proudest accomplishments was winning fourth place in the Rodeo Art Contest, a moment that reinforced her passion and dedication to artistic expression.
For Tiffany, art is more than just creativity—it’s about connection. She loves seeing the joy on people’s faces when they experience her work, and she takes pride in being someone others can rely on. Whether she’s painting, teaching, or collaborating with fellow artists, she strives to inspire and uplift those around her.
Beyond art, Tiffany is passionate about music, her faith, and fostering meaningful relationships with family and friends. Being part of Houston School of Art and Design has allowed her to grow not only as an artist but also as a teacher and a mentor for the next generation of creatives. She is excited to continue learning, sharing, and guiding students as they discover the power of artistic expression.
Olivia Tao, Artist, Instructor – Houston School of Art & Design
With an immeasurable passion for art, Olivia finds joy in working with a variety of mediums, from painting and drawing to her latest exploration into digital art. She recently graduated from the Savannah College of Art & Design, earning a degree in Interior Design with a minor in Painting. Her background allows her to seamlessly blend aesthetics, creativity, and functionality in her artistic approach.
Beyond her own artistic pursuits, Olivia thrives on connecting with others, whether it’s through exchanging ideas, discussing techniques, or collaborating on projects. She believes that art is a lifelong journey of learning and self-expression, and she is eager to share her knowledge and inspire others along the way.
Art has always been an integral part of Olivia’s life, shaping the way she sees the world and fueling her creative spirit. She’s excited to continue growing in the field, pushing boundaries, and helping others discover the joy of artistic expression.
“To see, we must forget the name of the things we are looking at.” — Claude Monet
Ellis Moreno, Artist, Instructor – Houston School of Art & Design
Ellis is a passionate, freelance artist specializing in character and mascot design, 2D animation, and illustration. He graduated from the Art Institute of Houston in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Media Arts and Animation and had the privilege of learning from Tina Nawrocki, one of the 2D animators behind the hit indie game Cuphead.
His artistic journey began as soon as he could hold a pencil, and at just 11 years old, he was enrolled in HSAD, where he studied for five years. As a former student, he gained valuable foundational skills that helped shape his artistic development. With expertise in both digital art and traditional mediums like acrylic, colored pencil, and Copic markers, his signature style fuses the charm of 1930s rubber hose animation with a sharp anime edge. His work includes Silver Bullion Illustrations, Mascot and Character designs for online entertainers, and Dynamic 2D animations.
Dedicated to nurturing the next generation of artists, he is always eager to share his skills and inspire others to push their creative boundaries. Just like he enjoyed helping his peers in school, he is more than happy to support and mentor aspiring artists today.
Jenjira Pintong, Admin, Instructor – Houston School of Art & Design
Originally from Thailand, Jen moved to the U.S. in 2015 as an Au Pair. After completing the program, she continued working as a part-time nanny while pursuing her second bachelor’s degree at the University of Houston. With over seven years of experience working with children, she has developed a deep understanding of how to communicate with and support young artists in their creative journeys.
Art and craft have been a passion of hers since childhood—whether it’s making her own stickers or transforming her apartment into a winter wonderland every Christmas. However, she never imagined she would one day be teaching art until she joined Houston School of Art and Design. Initially hired as an admin to assist with paperwork, her artistic talent and passion for working with students quickly led her to take on a teaching role as well.
She finds immense joy in watching children express themselves through art and witnessing their excitement when they complete a project. One of her most heartwarming experiences was with a young student in summer camp who struggled with his Koala bear painting and wanted to start over. Encouraging him to trust the process and keep adding details, she watched as his frustration transformed into pride. By the end, his Koala bear had become his favorite project—a reminder that perseverance and creativity go hand in hand.
Houston School of Art & Design
1450 W Sam Houston Pkwy N #110
Houston, TX 77043
(346) 446-6795 (MAIN)
(713) 464-2787 (CELL)
Artist Within School of Art
12639 Kluge Rd.
Cypress, TX 77429
(346) 446-6795 (MAIN)
(713) 464-2787 (CELL)
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