Mike Garcia is an award-winning painter and art instructor based in Phoenix, AZ. He is the painting instructor at the Loft Studio in Tempe, where he previously studied classical drawing and painting under Matt Dickson. Mike also regularly teaches classes at Scottsdale Artists' School and he offers private drawing and painting mentorship in-person and online. In addition to teaching, he frequently exhibits his work in group and solo shows.
Mike primarily paints portraits and the human figure. His art resides in private collections both locally and internationally. He has select work available though T.H. Brennen Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ.
TEACHING
2020-Present, Private Drawing/Painting Instruction, Phoenix AZ
2024 Oct., Presenter of the Month & Portrait Drawing Demonstration, Arizona Artists Guild, Phoenix AZ
2024 Sep., Figure Drawing, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2024 July, Alla Prima and the Nude Figure, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale AZ
2024 May, Portraits in Graphite and Chalk, Arizona Artists Guild, Phoenix AZ
2024 April, Alla Prima and the Nude Figure, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale AZ
2024 Feb.-March, The Figure in Oil, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2024 Feb., Figure & Light: Tonal Figure Drawing in Charcoal, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale AZ
2023 Oct., Alla Prima: The Figure in Oil, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2023 Sep., Presenter of the Month & Portrait Painting Demonstration, Arizona Artists Guild, Phoenix AZ
2023 Sep., Quick Sketch: Painting in Oil, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2023 May-June, The Nude Figure Illuminated, Xico Studio, Phoenix AZ
2023 April-May, Alla Prima and the Nude Figure, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale AZ
2023 April, Long Pose Figure Painting, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2023 March, Alla Prima Figure Painting, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2023 Feb., Quick Sketch Figure Painting, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2022 Oct.-Dec., Shape, Color, Light: Figure Painting, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2022 Aug., The Portrait Sketch, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
2022 June, Figure Painting, The Loft Studio, Tempe AZ
AWARDS, EXHIBITIONS, AND RELATED EXPERIENCE
2024 Oct., Chaos Theory 24, Legend City Studios, Phoenix AZ
2024 Aug., Museum Residency, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Scottsdale AZ
2024 June, Xico Draw-a-Thon Drawing Demonstration, Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe AZ
2024 April, All In Group Exhibition, Danelle Plaza, Tempe AZ
2024 March-April, Across the Tracks, Azokoza Art Space, Tempe AZ
2023 Oct., Studio Assistant, Painting Workshop with Adrian Gottlieb, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale AZ
2023 Oct., Chaos Theory 23, Legend City Studios, Phoenix AZ
2023 Oct., 4SiGHT Group Show, OneOhOne Gallery, Mesa AZ
2023 June/July, Museum Residency, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Scottsdale AZ
2023 June-Aug., Solo Show, Carly’s Bistro, 128 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix AZ
2023 June, Xico Draw-a-Thon Drawing Demonstration, Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe AZ
2023 April, Portrait Painting Demonstration, Xico Studio, Phoenix AZ
2022 Dec., Art in the Park Portrait Demonstration, Heritage Square Park, Phoenix AZ
2022 Sep., Solo Show, The Lost Leaf, Phoenix AZ
2019 Aug., Solo Show, Fair Trade Cafe, Phoenix AZ
2018 Nov., Group Show, New School for the Arts & Academics, Tempe AZ
2018 Jan., Merit Award, 8th Annual Portrait Artists of Arizona Exhibition, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale AZ
2016 Nov., Soup du Jour Pop-Up Group Show, The Liquor Gallery, Tempe AZ
2016 March, Merit Award, 6th Annual Portrait Artists of Arizona Exhibition, The University Club, Phoenix AZ
