Long comfortable with a pencil and pen, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduate Ian M. Sherwin had to struggle to regain his craft after losing sight in one eye.

As he relearned how to draw with diminished depth perception, the vivid colors and bold lines possible in painting suddenly seemed more tempting than ever before.

Today Ian continues to use his artistic gifts to help students of all ages. At Ian Sherwin Gallery, he teaches young artists in multi-discilpinary classes and workshops. During his 10-week fine art program, he introduces students to a wealth of mediums, including clay pots, origami, and watercolor abstracts. He also shares his talents with adults during BYOB painting classes. Rather than leading the entire class through the process of reproducing a single image, Ian encourages his students to come up with their own idea, whether it be a natural landscape or a bowl filled with apple trees. Folks leave his classes not only with their own painting, but with a better idea of how to paint.