412-421-1230

Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA. The art school in I attended in the late ‘70s / early ‘80s. I returned there a couple of years ago and took a night course in Head Painting which inspired me to do portraits.

The Academy of the South Side, Pittsburgh, PA. Started by three friends, two of whom graduated from Art Center, this little school offers great classes in traditional drawing and oil painting. I’ve spent many hours there drawing and painting since my return to Pittsburgh.

Panza Art Gallery, Millvale, PA . Mark Panza not only has a nice gallery, but also hosts weekly life drawing and portrait painting sessions. I should be there painting tonight, but I promised myself I would finish up my new websites first.

The Portrait Institute, a group founded by John Howard Sanden, the author of Portrait Painting from Life In 29 Steps, and an excellent traditional portrait painter. I joined so I could get discounts on books.

Alice Neel, a huge inspiration for me and one of the best expressionist portrait artists ever. In 1977 when I was looking for an internship with a New York artist for my college’s semester-long Arts Program in New York, I went to her apartment and tried to convince her to take me on as an assistant. She turned me down but was kind enough to critique my drawings. I ended up apprenticing with the comic book and advertising artist Neal Adams, which set me on a career path as a commercial artist.

Everett Raymond Kinstler, one of my favorite old-school portrait artists who still teaches seminars at the Art Students League in New York City. One of these days I’m going to get up there and take one!

Wendy Bennet Fine Art Paper Conservation, the business of my beautiful and talented wife. When you drop by to get your portrait painted, be sure to bring your paper-based artwork in need of conservation!

David Coulson Quality Commercial Art, the website for my business of most of the last thirty years, commercial art.