Award-winning illustrator, fine artist, and teacher can help you perfect your skills and personal style.

I first met Stephen Player at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco while earning my MFA in Illustration. I took his "Drawing From Imagination" course, an advanced class focused on perspective, visual construction, and drawing convincingly without reference.

From the very first class, I was impressed by both Stephen's depth of knowledge and his calm, encouraging presence in the classroom. He created an environment where mistakes were simply part of learning. I never felt embarrassed when my constructions or drawings weren't working. Instead, Stephen could immediately identify the underlying problem and, with his thoughtful, professorial approach, demonstrate exactly how to correct it while explaining why the solution worked.

What distinguished Stephen from many instructors was his ability to teach not just techniques, but principles. He has an extraordinary capacity to observe and explain how the visual world functions -- how light behaves, why forms appear as they do, how perspective creates believable space, and how all of these elements come together to communicate convincing images. Beyond that, he possesses an extensive toolkit for solving virtually any visual problem, whether it's depicting complex textures, unusual lighting, challenging perspectives, or subtle narrative and emotional moments.

When it came time to complete my MFA thesis, I specifically chose Stephen as my independent study advisor because of his rigor, his high standards, and his genuine commitment to helping students produce their best work. To this day, as I draw, paint, illustrate, and teach college art, it is Stephen's lessons and advice that I return to most often. His instruction has had a lasting influence on both my artistic practice and my own approach to teaching.

Perhaps the greatest testament to Stephen's character is that, even after graduation, he has repeatedly encouraged me to reach out whenever I encounter a difficult artistic problem. He never makes me feel like I'm imposing; instead, he genuinely enjoys helping artists think through challenges and discover solutions. That generosity, combined with his exceptional technical knowledge, patience, and passion for teaching, makes him an outstanding mentor.

If you're looking for an instructor who can not only help you improve your technical skills but also teach you how to see and how to think as an artist, I cannot recommend Stephen highly enough.