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Kalina ToshevaProfessional Artist & Art Instructor
Seattle, WA, USA+1 253 326 3368[email protected]
kalinatosheva.cominstagram: @toshevart
Selected Teaching Experience

Instructor, Gage Academy of Art

2026 - Present | Seattle, WA

  • •Teach adult group courses with individualized student critiques
  • •Design curriculum, lesson structures, demonstrations, and course materials
  • •Manage on-site preparation, studio logistics, and model coordination
  • Private Studio/Instruction
    2023 – Present | Seattle, WA & Florence, Italy
  • •Drawing and painting lessons for youth and adults (beginner-advanced)
  • •Curriculum development/collaboration with other schools
  • •Small-group atelier workshops
  • •Private plein-air lessons
  • Assistant Instructor, Florence Academy of Art
    2025 | Florence, Italy
  • •Assisted Francesco Bianchini in Portraiture, Techniques and Traditions Workshop
  • •Provided demonstrations, student feedback, and studio/workshop coordination
  • Instructor, The Florence Art Studio
    2024 | Florence, Italy
  • •Private drawing and painting lessons
  • •Designed workshop curriculum & lesson structures
  • •Prepared promotional materials, scheduling, pricing, enrollment communications, etc.
  • Assistant Instructor, Florence Academy of Art
    2024 | Florence, Italy
  • •Assisted Tanvi Pathare in the Landscape Workshop
  • •Supported demonstrations, plein-air instruction, on-site preparation and studio coordination
  • Education & Atelier Training
    Drawing and Painting Program, Florence Academy of Art
    2021 Jan – 2023 Dec | Florence, Italy
    Écorché Sculpture - One-Year Course, Florence Academy of Art
    2021 – 2022 | Florence, Italy

    Anatomical sculpture of human skeleton and musculature in oil-based clay

    Instructor: Maudie Brady

    (BA) Painting Program, National Academy of Arts
    2018 – 2020 | Sofia, Bulgaria
    Erasmus Exchange Program, Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze
    2020 Mar – 2020 Jul | Florence, Italy
    Private Drawing, Painting & Sculpting Lessons, Terminal 3 Atelier under Peter Hristov
    2017 – 2019 | Sofia, Bulgaria

    Landscape Painting Workshop, Daniela Astone
    2024 | Chianti, Italy
    Portrait Drawing, Chiaroscuro Atelier under Sergey Chubirko
    2022 May – 2022 Jun | Florence, Italy

    3-D Sculpting Intensive Course (ZBrush), CGZen studio under Martin Punchev
    2020 | Sofia, Bulgaria

    Additional Arts Experience
    Creative Content Lead, Pamina Antiques
    2024 Sep – Present
  • •Produce and edit product photography, video, and social content featuring garments and models
  • •Plan and direct shoots, including styling, composition, model direction, and logistics
  • •Support web development, e-commerce, and customer service
  • Studio Assistant, Terminal 3 Atelier
    2019 Dec – 2020 Dec | Sofia, Bulgaria
  • •Assisted instruction for young and beginner students
  • •Maintained studio organization, cleanliness, materials/equipment
  • •Managed social media and communications, including promotional content for regular classes and events
  • Freelance Graphic Designer, Supernova Brand
    2018 | Sofia, Bulgaria

    Logo design for Braveheart Blended Scotch Whiskey

    Museum Guide/Youth Art Council, Bellevue Arts Museum
    2014 Jan – 2015 Dec | Bellevue, WA, USA
  • •Guided exhibit tours for visitors
  • •Organized youth-focused social events and exhibitions, related flyers and newsletters
  • •Adjudicated the "20 Under 20" competitive exhibit for young artists
  • Selected Awards & Exhibitions
    2026 - Elected Artist Member, The American Artists Professional League
    2026 - Selected, 1st Annual Juried Online Exhibition, The American Artists Professional League
    2025 - Honorable Mention, Almenara Art Prize
    2025 - Summer Faculty Show, Florence Academy of Art
    2025 - “Paper/Mirror/Paper” Portrait Exhibition, Florence Academy of Art
    2025 - Longlisted, Self Portrait Prize, Ruth Borchard Collection
    2024 - Summer Faculty Show, Florence Academy of Art
    2024 - Preselected, RP Annual Exhibition, Royal Society of Portrait Painters
    2024 - Select Fifty, 26th Annual International Portrait Competition, Portrait Society of America
    2023 - Honorable Mention, The Future Generation Competition, Portrait Society of America
    2022 - Best Figure Painting of Second Year, Florence Academy of Art, Italy
    2019 - Permanent Collection Acquisition, Vladimir Dimitrov Gallery, Kyustendil, Bulgaria
    2019 - "In the Spirit of the Master" Plein-Air Exhibition, Kyustendil, Bulgaria

    Seattle, WA, USA
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    Skills
    Teaching & Curriculum

    • Youth and adult instruction (beginning/intermediate/advanced)

    • •Lesson planning for individual and group instruction

    • Curriculum development for drawing, painting, and atelier-based study

    • Demonstrations, critiques, and constructive student feedback

    • Student progress assessment and individualized guidance

    • Collaboration with other instructors and studio programs

    Artistic Practice

    • Academic drawing and painting: figure, portraiture, still life, and landscape

    • Sight-size and constructive drawing methods

    • Anatomy, composition, color theory, material science, etc.

    • Écorché, traditional sculpture, and digital sculpting fundamentals

    Administrative & Program Support

    • Scheduling, pricing, enrollment communication, and student coordination

    • Studio organization, materials preparation, and equipment maintenance

    • Website and promotional material preparation for classes, workshops, and events

    • Social media management and event promotion

    Curatorial & Public Engagement

    • Exhibition installation and layout planning

    • Guided exhibition tours and visitor engagement

    • Exhibition descriptions, newsletters, flyers, and public-facing arts communication

    • Youth arts programming and exhibition support

    Visual Media & Content
    • •Product, editorial, and model photography
    • •Short-form video and social media content
    • •Photoshoot planning, styling, and model direction
    • •Photo and video editing
    • •Website content and e-commerce support
    Technical Skills

    • Adobe Creative Suite

    (Lightroom, Photoshop, Premiere Pro)

    • Microsoft Office Suite

    • ZBrush

    • CapCut

    Languages
    English

    Native/Bilingual

    Bulgarian

    Native/Bilingual

    Italian

    Working Proficiency

    Seattle, WA, USA
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