The gift of giving:

Seeking inspiration for your commission or see something you would like in your home? Produced by students and graduates from four of our academies, the selected artworks below are available for sale or commission. Get to know the artists in their own words.

ÀNI ART ACADEMIES
DOMiNICANA

Meet the artisTS

Luz Sahira Rosario Bierd has shown a passionate interest in art since childhood. To decide on art as a profession, she had to first experience many careers and make many decisions in life. After living in La Vega, she decided to return to her birthplace of Rio San Juan to begin studying at ÀNI Academies Dominicana. Entitled Metamorphosis, her first work captures this life change.
Luz says: “I’m very happy! I love to be part of ÀNI Academies Dominicana. I will continue working very hard. My goal has always been to learn.”

Domingo Antonio Rosario always knew he wanted to be an artist. He first studied art in the Arteranal Village; when that closed, he desperately hoped that he could continue to improve his skills. He was elated when ÀNI Academies opened in his hometown of Río San Juan, beginning his studies there as soon as he graduated from high school. Domingo is extremely dedicated to his studies and couldn’t be happier to be a part of the ÀNI Art Academies.
Domingo says:“Thanks to ÀNI Art Academies Dominicana I improved, and I keep fighting for progress.”

John Berlyn Fernandez is an apprentice of the ÀNI Academies Dominicana. Before enrolling at ÀNI, he was already well known in the community as a painter and tattoo artist. He is inspired to improve his artistic skills not only to elevate the quality of his artwork, but also to improve his skills and techniques in tattoo design and application.
John says: “Every artwork I make, I try to learn from it, and enjoy it as much as I can.”

Patricia Alonzo Diaz was born in Río San Juan. From an early age, she felt an immense passion for art, often drawing and creating. She continued to develop her skills and knowledge as a self-taught artist. In 2012, she heard about a non-profit school of hyperrealism in Río San Juan, ÀNI Academies Dominicana. Since her first works, she has participated in group exhibitions at Rehs Contemporary Gallery, ÀNI Art Academies América, and Lovetts Gallery. Her goal is to become a great artist recognized worldwide, to do national and international solo exhibitions, and to share her knowledge with anyone who loves art.
Patricia says: “Something I admire about ÀNI is the great opportunity and unconditional support they give to each artist, along with a great knowledge of hyperrealist art.”

ÀNI ART ACADEMIES
Waichulis

Meet the artisTS

Michael Paul Carson is a contemporary representationalist oil painter engaged in the production of a body of works, ranging from imaginative realism to outright surrealism. Born in New Jersey and raised in the northeastern United States, Michael first studied electrical engineering, but then changed course to pursue a passion for art. He received a BFA in studio arts in 2013 with high honors, spent a few years as a life-drawing instructor, then left academia to become the creative director for the largest promotional products company in Pennsylvania. He has since returned to a full-time pursuit of fine art, studying as an apprentice at the ÁNI Art Academies Waichulis in Pennsylvania, where he currently resides.
Michael says: “The ÀNI Art Academies have provided me with an intelligently crafted, systematized approach to tangible skill-based art training.  Devoid of any of the stylistic impositions or ephemeral dogmatizing that permeated my experience of undergraduate university art education, the ÀNI Art Academies have helped me to rapidly improve the quality of my work and work habits, while also empowering me to pursue my own voice with greater clarity and execution.”

Mitchell Bagnas was raised in a small town in Northeast Pennsylvania. He found school and sports hard, but he delighted in drawing things from his imagination. In middle school, he was inspired by watching a fellow classmate draw a portrait of a man. After that, he started drawing a lot more, especially from life: animals, people and buildings. For birthdays and Christmas, his parents gave him sketch pads and drawing books. After high school, he enrolled in the local community college, where he studied Painting & Illustration. An instructor mentioned Anthony Waichulis and the ÀNI Art Academies apprenticeship program. Without hesitation he applied – and was accepted.
Mitchell says: “I have struggled with both anxiety and depression in the past. This drawing was inspired by these struggles, and with it, I hoped to communicate what dealing with mental illness means to me and how I imagine it may appear to others.” 

Francisco Collado was born in San Cristobal Dominican Republic. At an early age, he knew he wanted to be an artist. When he was16, his passion for art led him to move to a military base in the province of Bani in the Dominican Republic. The base provided various educational programs, including an art program. After he completed his education, he went on to study at Escuela Nacional de Artes Visuales (National School of Visual Art) where he participated in various national and international exhibitions. Francisco is currently studying at ÀNI Art Academies Waichulis.
Francisco says: “ÀNI Art Academies is the best thing that has happened to me as an artist. I have been very impressed by the teaching system. The different levels of learning are very fun and also challenging. My confidence as an artist has grown significantly as the results are impressive. Plus, the opportunities they offer us to grow are amazing. I am very proud to be part of ÀNI.”

ÀNI ART ACADEMIES
SRI LANKA

Meet the artists

I. G. M. Dilshan discovered his ability to draw and paint at a young age. At 20, he completed his high-school education with Distinction in art and had the opportunity to join the first batch of amateur artists at ÀNI Art Academies Sri Lanka in 2018. He was able to hone his artistic skills through his education under Timothy W. Jahn and won second place in the 6th Annual ÀNI Art Academies Art Competition. Now, aged 26, he is further committed to enhancing his ability as an artist and is currently a Teacher Trainee.
I. G. M. Dilshan says: “In this painting, a young wizard appears deeply engrossed in his magical endeavor, conducting an experiment with an expression of both anticipation and surprise. As he works his magic, he is met with an unexpected outcome, portrayed through subtle elements of wonder and amazement on his face. This painting captures a moment of magical discovery, where the boundary between reality and the fantastical blurs, inviting viewers in.”

Nimeshika  Wilegodage was born in Sri Lanka and received higher education at St. Mary’s College. After that, she joined ÀNI Art Academies Sri Lanka to further develop her art skills. She is currently studying under Timothy W. Jahn. Nimeshika was able to get an honorable mention for her first drawing in the 6th Annual ÀNI Art Academies Drawing Competition in 2022. Her hope is to portray her artworks with an allegory.
Nimeshika says: “Women are bound by society so that they cannot raise their voices. Due to their inability to stand up for their rights in the face of injustice, they live in constant pressure, pain, and hardship. My mission is to emphasize that women deserve the right to live a happy and liberated life within society, breaking free from the notion that they must perpetually sacrifice their entire existence for their husbands, children, and family.”

Lahiru A.W. Arachchige was born in Morawaka, Sri Lanka. Lahiru’s art journey started at school. His passion for the arts led him to participate in school art contests and also in the Annual Buddhist Art contests, in which he studied and won prizes. He also illustrates the children’s books his father writes. He joined ÀNI Art Academies Sri Lanka in 2018, studying under the supervision of Timothy W. Jahn. Using charcoal as the medium, he creates art that emphasizes the true beauty of nature and animal behavior. He adores the opportunity from ÀNI Art Academies to enhance his skills.
Lahiru says: “My artwork, Fighting till the End, highlights the power of parental love and the laws of nature. It portrays a mother bird’s brave defense of her eggs against a predator, showcasing the lengths parents will go to protect their young. This piece aims to inspire viewers to appreciate the incredible strength and selflessness of parental instincts.”

ÀNI ART ACADEMIES
ANGUILLA

Meet the artisTS

Kowsalya Devi was born and raised in Puducherry, India. She moved to Anguilla in her adult years, where she now resides with her husband and newborn.
Kowsalya says: “I always loved to draw as a hobby daily, whether feeling happy or sad. ÀNI Art Academies has given me a wonderful opportunity to become a professional artist. I’m very thankful that they have offered me this great knowledge in Fine Art. Also thanks to our instructor, Taffari Crawford.”

Venroy Findlay was born in Anguilla in 1993. As a child, Findlay was fond of drawing his favorite animated characters, which propelled a love of art and the desire to pursue it as a career. In the future, he is interested in creating comic illustrations, as well as seeing his work alongside some of the great artworks worldwide.
Venroy says: “The inspiration for Glass Wing Passion came from being captivated by the beauty of a hibiscus while visiting the gardens of ÀNI Anguilla one day, and how the butterflies all gathered around the flower. As an artist, I was inspired to recreate what I saw that day.”

Michael Hernandez was born in the Dominican Republic in 1994, migrating to Anguilla in 2007. As a child, he admired the graffiti skills of his older brothers. Later on, he sought to mature his skills under the tutelage of artist Juan Moreno Francis, before beginning his apprenticeship at ÀNI Academies Anguilla.
Taffari Crawford, Dean and his Instructor, says: “As he is deaf, Michael encounters some daily challenges that only serve to fuel his passion to become great. Art is undoubtedly Michael’s voice, and he demands to be heard.”

Raheim Webster  is a contemporary artist residing in Anguilla. While growing up, he discovered a natural inclination to art and gravitated towards it. Today, Raheim is devoted to creating artworks  exploring important topics and real-world challenges that speak to the heart and minds of his patrons.
Raheim says: “The inspiration behind Delicate Flower #1 stems from the idea of isolation and resilience. The isolated flower represents an individual’s ability to stand alone, yet flourish and thrive.”

Commissioning an artwork from
ÀNI Art Academies:

To help things run smoothly, here’s a step-by-step guide to the commissioning process, courtesy of Timothy W. Jahn: the esteemed Dean of our ÀNI Art Academies.  The time it takes to complete the artwork varies based on the complexity of the piece and the artist’s schedule. Be sure to discuss this with the artist during the initial conversation. Turnaround time can range from a minimum of six weeks to three months.