Our Team

JIAN LU | FOUNDER、PROGRAM MANAGER

Jian Lu graduated from the esteemed Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University, the top art school in China, in 2001. In 2005 she continued her education and graduated from Tokyo Bunka Women's University in Japan. The following year, she went to the United States to purse a career in art education.

Jian Lu founded Art365 Academy in Atlanta in 2018. Her ethics in education served to help her establish a content-rich teaching curriculum and methodology. At Art365, students not only learn art technique, but subject-area topics, such as math, literature and geography are incorporated into lessons so this deeper knowledge can be applied across subject specific domains.

Jian’s teaching philosophy has unique insights which elevate students’ confidence. It focuses on the relationship between the child’s"heart" and art; exploring each child's individual talent, allowing them to shine and apply what they’ve learned. Many of her students have won recognitions and have been accepted to the most prestigious universities.

“Believe that every child is born an artist and teach them using a mother’s love. This warms the heart of every child, allowing their little flame of creation to burn forever. “ -Jian Lu

Michaela Linda Sotillo | senior instructor

Michaela Linda Sotillo was born in Berlin, Germany. Through her family’s extensive travels, Linda embraced a diversity of rich cultures and expressed her views through art at an early age. At sixteen, she was offered a summer scholarship to the Atlanta College of Art. After high school, she served as a Sergeant in the US Army, going on to graduate with honors from the Art Institute of Atlanta. Shortly thereafter, she was employed and represented by Graphique du Jour art publishing. In 1991 she started her own company Innerspace Art Publishing, producing works for many prominent agencies and private collectors. In 2001, Linda closed her publishing to focus on family. Later, she returned to her love of art, and to the community through teaching. Linda really enjoys working with students and is humbled by their unique gifts and watching them grow.

CALO AN | INSTRUCTOR

Calo graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a Master of Fine Arts in Animation. She has worked on numerous prestigious animation projects and her work has won multiple awards around the world.

Anh Ngô | INSTRUCTOR

Anh Ngo is an Atlanta based artist who specializes in character animation. Ngo graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta with an MFA in Animation in 2021. She currently works as an animator on primetime shows for clients such as Apple TV and Marvel. With a passion for animation, Ngo enjoys studying life through drawing both digitally and traditionally with pencil or pen on paper. Although any movements can be achieved by flipping through slightly different drawings, movements that suggest life and personality require a deeper understanding of a character’s anatomy and a high level of craftsmanship. Ngo strtives to teach her students to pay attention to these aspects which will help them be better at drawing not only from observation but also from imagination.

Dannie niu | INSTRUCTOR

Dannie is an award-winning illustrator and muralist. Her work has been exhibited all over the world and she has collaborated with various well-known magazines and publishers. She has a broad range of teaching experience and creativity.

Saiya Lin | INSTRUCTOR

Saiya Lin is a Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) alumnus. His work mostly consists of visual storytelling and illustrative work with an emphasis on character acting. He is passionate about telling stories in any form that appears on the screen. He is also a digital art teacher that loves teaching young students an introductory course in Photoshop painting.

GABRIELA O. FERNANDES | INSTRUCTOR

Gabi O. Fernandes was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has been drawing and painting since she her childhood. She graduated as an architect, which enhanced her knowledge of perspective, space and form. After working as an architect she traveled to the United States as an animation Master’s student, where she enhanced her art skills and learned digital Art, Animation and the principles of Art Direction. After graduating she embraced her love of teaching Art, as means to to inspire upcoming artists just like she was inspired as a kid!

PHILIP MYRICK | INSTRUCTOR

PHILIP MYRICK is an fine artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. He graduated from SCAD and Creative Circus. He is a proud husband and girl dad of two.