The Art Studio Eleven is a private fine art studio dedicated to painting, drawing, and creative art coaching. Founded by Thadius Taylor and Dan Nguyen, the studio is led by a husband-and-wife team with over 10 years of combined teaching experience. We offer small-group studio sessions and workshops designed to help artists strengthen their craft in a focused, professional setting.

We believe in hands-on guidance, old masters’ craftsmanship, and a supportive studio culture that bridges skill and creativity.

About Our Founders

A black-and-white portrait of a young man wearing glasses, a turtleneck, and a blazer, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

Thadius Taylor is an artist residing in Southern California. He is dedicated to exploring the intricate dynamics of figuration and space in oil painting. Born and raised in California, Taylor received his BFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and an MFA from Laguna College of Art + Design. His art challenges traditional perspectives by blending meticulous planning with elements of spontaneity, employing techniques like collage to layer meanings and explore dualities.

Taylor’s work has been displayed at esteemed institutions such as the Laguna Art Museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Museum of Ventura County. He has also featured in notable group exhibitions like “Made in California” at Brea Gallery and the “Alumni Art Exhibition” at Ventura College. His commitment to the arts extends to education; he has taught at Laguna College of Art + Design and currently leads a course on mixed media at Kline Academy.

His accolades include the Trustee Choice Award, the Benjamin West Prize, and several other commendations. Taylor continues to mentor MFA students and teach, focusing on fostering skill and conceptual depth in emerging artists.

Black and white side-profile portrait of a woman with short, layered hair wearing a turtleneck sweater and hoop earring.

Dan Nguyen is a Vietnam-born figurative painter based in Ventura County, California. She holds a BFA from the Academy of Art University and an MFA from Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD), where she trained intensively in painting and figurative realism.

Nguyen is a renowned artist known for her bold use of colors in narrative paintings that depict the beauty of individuality and close relationships. Her figures are unapologetically bold, exuding a sense of comfort in their own skin. Each stroke on her canvas tells a story within, celebrating life's vast diversity and inspiring self-expression.

Her work has been shown nationally and internationally. She has been a finalist in both the 14th and 17th International ARC Salon Competitions, as well as a selected artist for the 2024 Almenara Art Prize. Her work has been featured in the Ventura County Star.

Nguyen is an established educator alongside her professional studio practice. She currently coaches emerging artists in Southern California and is an instructor at Kline Academy of Fine Art in Los Angeles, as well as an MFA mentor at LCAD.