Testimonials
Tiffanie Mang
Vincent Van Gogh is the reason I met Corey Peters. In March of 2016, I was scheduled to teach plein air painting at the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles, but declined because of an unexpected opportunity to animate for the groundbreaking feature film, Loving Vincent. My painting mentor, Mike Hernandez, highly recommended Corey as a substitute, to which he graciously agreed, and from that point on our friendship slowly blossomed. I now consider him an irreplaceable friend and art mentor in my life.
In 2017, I finally saw Corey’s paintings in person and was simply mesmerized and obsessed. Two of my favorite artists; Edward Seago and Nicolai Fechin come to mind, when I think of Corey’s paintings. There is something so raw and palpable in his work that speaks to my soul—pain and angst juxtaposed with triumph and purity. His brushstrokes are fiery and bold, yet applied with a delicate sense of love and care. He puts nuanced details in the right places while leaving other areas unfinished for the viewer to fill in. His color sense is phenomenal; colors you would never think existed in reality and pushed to the point of abstraction. Corey not only uses his art as a mouthpiece, but as a vessel to contain his entire being that floods into it. He is relentless in his search for perfection, honesty, and a deeper meaning that extends far beyond a pretty picture. His enduring quest to learn and grow in all areas besides art has inspired me to do the same.
Regardless of the medium he chooses, Corey’s work is diverse, personal and candid. His satirical drawings display a sense of humor and whimsy that is strikingly different from his oil paintings. Black and white works on paper such as Irrational Fears and Gluttony, (pgs. 50, 55). feature exceptional line work and design, leading the eye on endless journey's around the images to investigate ideas about personal obstacles, overconsumption, and the consequences of irresponsibility in our modern world. In Chapter 2: Sarcasm and Controversy in Color, Corey aptly utilizes bold colors and lively textures contrasted by serious themes of abandonment and separation in pieces like, Solar Flare and What the Artist Wants. None of these works are literal; viewers must dig into their own experiences and contemplate the symbols that elevate these works.
The paintings in Chapter 3: The Landscape: My Greatest Teacher, exhibit the mark of a master, due to their contagious energy contrasted by an overall delicate refinement. In Courtship, (pg. 94) The looseness of the ground, the playful shapes and textures, and the boldness of the central tree bathed in a soft light, invites the viewer into this beautiful forest adorned with flakes of gold. Corey breaks down his process in Zoroaster Temple (pgs. 156-159) and demonstrates technical mastery and his search for perfection. The final result is exquisite; one feels as though they could touch the light through the painting. It is mesmerizing to watch the loose origins of this picture slowly unfold as the shapes and forms become carefully modeled.
Chapter 4 is the cumulation of Corey’s obsessiveness, pain, and unbreakable desire for excellence. One can really grasp the fusion of his analytical and emotional self in this chapter. I recall a visit to Corey’s studio—he was in the midst of creating the crucifixion painting (pg. 185) and building its elaborate frame from scratch. His abiding commitment to hand crafting this frame to the smallest detail left me awestruck. I remember how I froze upon seeing the completed artwork altogether; the beauty and spiritual power emanating from the piece nearly prevented me from a closer inspection. Slowly, I edged closer, until my face was inches away, as I soaked in the beautiful flecks of paint, textures, and color shifts that brought the gut-wrenching emotions in Jesus’ face to life. I felt all of my senses engaged while experiencing this painting.
I witnessed Rise and Fall (pg. 235) come to fruition more thoroughly, and because of this, I learned about Corey’s obsessive and fastidious approach towards planning. I recall a visit where he had just finished a painting session on the floating figure; the way he made her glow with subtle value transitions was mystifying. Heavily built up textures in her hair contrasted by the angelic smoothness of the face was delightfully tangible and tantalizing. The painting emits a sense of ethereal, delicate beauty and pulls one in with it's use of beautiful wintery blues against fiery oranges.
I became an unofficial pupil of Corey when in 2018, when I began work on an epic six foot wide painting of a French harbor scene. Never before had I tackled such a large painting, and I showed Corey my process throughout. He patiently and graciously gave advice on composition, color, and paint application, guiding me to dig deeper and hunger for more answers. Corey is the first person I consult when I’m stuck; he will give brutally honest advice, and due to experience and intuition, he consistently sees what my painting is lacking. His feedback always sets me free again onto the path of intuitive delight. Over the years, he has exposed me to countless artists and art making information I had never heard of, and I grew to trust his judgment unconditionally.
Because of Corey’s guidance in my journey as an artist, I have experienced many epiphanies for which I am eternally grateful. One time I asked Corey, “ How do you know when to stop working on a painting?” He disclosed two philosophcial points that will forever stick: 1. the painting will tell you, if you practice listening and 2. not to be afraid of overworking a painting, because that is crucial to the progression of the painting and your growth as an artist. This didn’t make sense to me at the time but now, I understand completely. I realize, these two ideas are tied to the essence of risk taking, and the importance of pushing oneself over the edge and down to the bottom. Failure is not defeat; it’s an opportunity for growth.
This book is not just a compilation of Corey’s work to date; it's a diary of his journey as an artist, a testament and reflection of the pain, angst, humor and unrestrained passion used to create each piece of work. As an artist, I am instantly drawn to his art, not simply because I think it’s amazing—I know that Corey aims to share the most clear, honest, and untainted message in each artwork. He is a storyteller; sometimes the narratives are delicate and romantic, and other times they are comedic and disturbing. He creates with intention, something that is so often forgotten amongst artists. Making a picture is not his sole goal; to share his narratives in the most genuine and forthright way is what he strives to do. He is not afraid to make mistakes, overwork, or take the longer route on a piece, and in the end, his relentless search brings him to the treasure every time. As you flip through his book, may you be filled with a sense of child-like awe, and pure sincerity that Corey seeks to share with you.
Melissa Biyong He, California State University, Long Beach
Currently, I am a junior student attending the Interior Design Architecture program at California State University Long Beach. In the past nine years, I have met different kinds of instructors either in China or the U.S, most of whom pursue an unconventional approach to artmaking that does not cater to any individuals’ styles. At that time, it made me believe creativity is innate until I met Corey Peters two and a half years ago at Right Brain Academy of Art. He taught me that creativity isn’t a trait, but it can be cultivated by practice over time.
I see Corey not only as an open-minded and inspiring artist/instructor but a storyteller and creator who constantly challenges himself. He never limits himself to explore within his comfort zone but allows his wild, creative thoughts to pour out into his paintings through different methods. The stories are drawn from his unique personal experience, and the characters behind his paintings are sophisticated, unique, and diverse. In the past two years, he taught me the most effective way to jump-start my imagination is through changing my self-perception, observing the details of my surroundings, drawing inspiration from other artists, and staying open to any possibility that helps convey the unique stories behind my designs. He ignited the spark in my soul that guides and pushes me forward by asking me open-ended questions, using tasks to foster my critical thinking, and providing informative feedback. Although I am a person who lacks confidence, he provided me a safe space to create a level of vulnerability that pushes me beyond my comfort zone to create more meaningful projects.
My learning experience with Corey made me realize there has always been a strong, unbreakable bond between art and design because they both benefit from expressing and telling the unique stories behind the design. Through the experience of analyzing the complex compositions of master paintings with his help, I also learned that art and design share the same fundamental principles, for example, balance, contrast, proportion, movement, rhythm and so on. Implementing those principles have greatly improved and developed my design process and helped me to achieve better outcomes for my projects.
I am more aware of how composition, color, value play an important role in the interior space after the mentorship. Corey patiently explained how to use grid lines as a means to create rhythms, establish the focal point and proportions, and organize objects to define the arrangement of the objects. As a result, my design evolved to be more intentional, engaging, and lyrical. Corey has phenomenal color vision as if a tetrachromat. The colors that he uses in his paintings keep me exciting and engaging, yet express and arouse my emotion when I look at them. My color vision has been significantly improved through the practice of mixing and sorting colors, recognizing the tone or value of the color. Most importantly, I have learned the importance of colors affecting the composition of my spaces, to set forth a visual path, to harmonize or to give contrast to the space, or to create emphasis.
Over the years, Corey has taught me the knowledge that I’ve never been able to learn from school, even far more beyond what I have described above. He is an adventurist, experimenter, and problem solver. I truly believe those kinds of characters that he has will make him thrive and grow as an artist and a professional teacher. Regardless of my success or not, I would never forget to credit my growth to this incredible mentor that I have in my life.
Alice Yang, ArtCenter College of Design
“I started art lessons when I was five. In the past twenty years since then, I’ve had many instructors.
I graduated from UC Irvine with a B.A. in Art in 2017. Now, I’m studying Illustration at Art Center College in Pasadena, CA.
These experiences allow me to say with great certainty that Rebecca and Corey are amongst the best art instructors and life mentors one might have the fortune of finding.
My time at Art Center has helped me fully appreciate how thoughtfully Rebecca and Corey curated my art education. They helped me develop the tools I needed to feel capable and competent in a highly competitive environment. Part of this has to do with Right Brain's heavy emphasis on traditional training and conceptual understanding. In other words, they taught me how to draw, see, and think.
When I was younger, I felt rushed to work digitally as soon as possible to be relevant (aka “Instagram famous”). I’m learning now that when you’re able to design and paint, you can do anything. From personal experience and observation, artists who move most successfully into the digital realm have a strong traditional background rooted in painting and drawing. Photoshop, Procreate, and so on are just tools they use to develop their vision more quickly. I’m grateful to Rebecca and Corey for understanding this far before I could.
Right Brain gave me a safe space to explore, make mistakes, and take creative risks. Everything I learned at RBAA— research, ideation, observational drawing, painting, experimentation with medium and process—form the basis for my artistic practice now. Whatever future success I might experience, I owe in part to the foundation and community that I developed here.”
Andy Chen, Cornell University and Syracuse University
“Whatever your reason is for looking for an art school whether it’s: to make a great portfolio, to get better at painting, or because your child loves to draw like I did, Right Brain Academy of Art should be your final decision because of instructors Corey Peters and Rebecca Chen.
They have been instrumental in sending me to and in my success at both Syracuse University’s architecture program, #3 in the nation, and currently as a transfer at Cornell University’s program, #1. When my professors, my classmates, or guest critics tell me my work is so exciting, beautiful, or far ahead of my classmates, I can only direct the praise towards the unparalleled instruction I’ve received from Corey and Rebecca. I can confidently say this because I have taken design courses at amazing places like: Art Center, SCI-Arc, Syracuse, and Cornell and I have not come across a single professor that can match Corey and Rebecca in simply how much they care.
They care about your well being, they are invested in your work, and they are dedicated to your development not only as an artist, but also as a person. This doesn’t mean they go easy on their students though, and I know firsthand because I’ve been learning from them since I was twelve. They train their students to be the best artists and designers possible, so their expectations are high, but if you put in the time they will take your abilities to heights you never knew existed before.
What truly separates their teaching from their competition is that they craft individualized curriculum for each of their students. They do not have a cookie cutter portfolio formula they simply stick every student through; they tailor a program around each student’s own interests, abilities, and goals.
My achievements are a testament to their expertise, so please do yourself a favor and make an appointment now to find out what they can offer you. Then take that free trial class and signup before the wait list gets too long.”
Katie Kwak, Pratt Institute
My interest in art did not manifest until late into my sophomore year of high school when I discovered that I would need to learn how to draw and make an art portfolio for architecture college applications. In desperation, I quickly enrolled into a local art school that taught me how to sketch observationally through pencil and charcoal. As a result, my fledgling mind improperly perceived art as a matter of how accurately I could transfer what I saw in real life onto paper. After quitting that local art school and enrolling at RBAA instead, my interpretation of art was redefined.
When I first started taking classes here, I arrived with a dream of becoming an architect and ambition to make that far-fetched dream a reality, but I also came with absolutely no design experience and a six-month deadline to create a portfolio before college applications were due. Ms. Rebecca and Mr. Corey wasted no time starting me on a still life drawing that was completely different from the ones I did before. They taught me how to advance a still life drawing past sole observational study by using the rules of design to produce an illustration that had a story within it. As I continued to take classes at RBAA, they exposed me to a variety of mediums, pushed me to embrace using color in my artwork, and developed my appreciation for art.
However, the most invaluable lesson I learned here was to take risks and to have confidence in my decisions. I was always careful with my drawings, making sure they looked clean and polished, but Ms. Rebecca forced me out of my comfort zone. After carefully rendering a portrait in graphite, she suggested I tear the edges of my paper and spray dye all over the drawing. I was obviously apprehensive to the idea in fear that this bold move could ruin my work rather than improve it. Still, I took the plunge, and as a result, my portrait had more visual impact than it did before. It was no longer just a pretty picture but one with energy and attitude, a true reflection of the subject’s personality.
By the end of six months, my portfolio was finished and I grew much more as an artist than I could have expected. There are no other art instructors that have educated me as dedicatedly as Ms. Rebecca and Mr. Corey have, nor would I have found mentors that put as much faith in me as they did. My art journey has only begun, and RBAA’s guidance has helped me build a varied but solid foundation to prepare me for my incoming years at Pratt Institute.
Jade Li, ArtCenter College of Design
I have been taking classes with Rebecca and Corey for around ten years now and ever since the first day, I have learned something new each time. Whether it be regarding art or even life lessons, they have always taught me how to better my future.
This coming fall, with the help of Corey and Rebecca, I will be attending Parsons School of Design in New York City. They have continually pushed me to challenge myself and to break past my comfort zones, which I believe was a large part in helping me get to where I am. They have also strengthened my knowledge in the basic rules of art which helps me confidently create future pieces that have good structural foundations and compositions.
I started building my portfolio pretty early on because I knew I wanted to have a future in the arts. Regardless of my head start, Corey always pushed me to do more. Although it wasn’t the most enjoyable times, in the long run, he made the whole process much less stressful and hectic. Rebecca always encouraged me to try new materials which made my portfolio much more captivating and engaging. With the combination of both their skills, technically and creatively, they have helped me develop my passion and knowledge for the arts.
Cynthia Yang , University of Pennsylvania
Learning from Rebecca and Corey for 12+ years has equipped me with not only a solid understanding of technical skill, but also an imaginative creative vision. They have taught me to approach art with an open mind and through a multi-faceted perspective. In class, the lectures on art history and concepts allowed me to be informed and well-rounded. When working on a project, whether it’d be an abstract painting or a multimedia collage, Rebecca and Corey pushed me to challenge myself in all aspects. As a result, their teachings have led me to think about art in unconventional ways. Whenever I arrive to art class, I know that I will be immersed in an environment that fosters creativity.
Rebecca and Corey have allowed me to grow in every step of my artistic journey, from my AP art portfolio to my college portfolio. Their experience guided me in strategically showcasing my strengths, while never forgetting to help me improve upon my weaknesses. More importantly, they have been instrumental in my development as an artist. Learning from them changed the way I perceive things by equipping me with the ability to see the world through an artist’s eyes.
Christy Arimoto, ArtCenter College of Design
For anyone who needs a portfolio to apply for an art and design school, I highly recommend this academy for portfolio building.
My experience learning from Ms. Rebecca and Corey started when I was preparing my portfolio for Art Center College of Design and Otis College of Design.
They had the whole thing planned out for me, including what kind of material of work I should have, to the schedule and time range I had for each piece I needed to make, to meet the requirements and the deadline.
Winnie Quan, University of Southern California
“I’ve been a student of Corey and Rebecca since I was very young, so I’m SO excited to see their art academy bloom and blossom. They’ve always been very patient and supportive of me in all of my art endeavors, teaching me different techniques and methods and guiding me through thought processes that challenged me not only to think creatively in the art realm, but also to bring these lessons to the real world and practice them in everyday situations. They fostered in me a passion and love for art and design, and I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve taught me and helped me become.
Both Corey and Rebecca are unbelievably skilled and talented artists and I’ve been so fortunate to have gotten to know them and received their mentorship throughout these years as their student. I’ve continued to keep in touch with them since going to college, and am still blessed with their unconditional support and encouragement. They’re truly inspiring and motivating, and have an incredible vision for art and education that never ceases to amaze me.
So whether you simply have a budding interest in the arts or have an innate talent that you’re just waiting to discover, this is definitely the place to be. Corey and Rebecca have taught me to love what I do and do what I love, and have continued to surprise and inspire me in ways I have never dreamed of. I whole-heartedly promise that you’ll enjoy every second of working with these two amazing instructors because they will encourage you, challenge you, and push you to develop your skills, realize your potential, and become the best that you can be.”
Evon Chang, Pratt Institute and California Polytechnic State University
I began my art education at Right Brain Academy of Art in spring 2016. Having never received any prior formal training, I lacked even the most fundamental skills that I needed in order to be the artist I aspired to. Mr. Corey and Ms. Rebecca were extremely patient in teaching me. My lessons began with a myriad of observational studies. Once my observation skills sharpened, they challenged me further—pushing me to learn everything from “Design Principles” to “How to Correctly Hold a Pencil for Drawing”. Their methods of teaching open my eyes, as I have always believed that Art was subjective. My initial beliefs that art lacked rules and structure were dramatically overturned. As a result, my fascination with (and my passion for) the infinite possibilities of art and design increased tenfold.
Not only did they sharpen my drawing skills in the two years I’ve spent with them, but they also trained me to think more critically. Whenever I proposed an idea, they would ask me, “Why? What is the reason behind this decision? Why do you think this is the best approach?” If my answers to these questions didn’t reflect the depth of thought they expected of me, they would encourage me to dig deeper and gave valuable feedback on how to improve. They encouraged me to think more deeply about my actions and decisions in order to make meaningful art so that I could become a better and more responsible designer.
Though I have always thought of myself as a timid individual, Rebecca and Corey have given me the tools to allow me to express my thoughts loudly and confidently through art. The education I’ve gained here at Right Brain Academy of Art has helped me to mature into a stronger designer, and even more so, a stronger individual who now has the courage to explore the world and boundless potential to match.
Angela Sun, Boston University
I first started taking lessons from Rebecca and Corey about ten years ago. They have since been an integral part of my growing up and getting to where I am today.
When I first started thinking about applying to colleges, they were both so supportive yet constructive about my choices and the arrangement of my portfolio through the whole process. Each project I did previously led up to this portfolio and they knew exactly how to play to my strengths and let originality shine through because they pay such close attention to each student. They are willing to spend as much time with you to try and achieve your goal.
At some other art schools I have attended, all students are forced to replicate the same image. Rebecca and Corey’s open-mindedness to everyone thoughts allows us to think outside the box while still learning the technical aspects of art. This allowed me to find my own style or personality through art. Rebecca has helped me develop a very creative sense of thinking through many unorthodox projects from greeting card design to marble paintings. Corey has helped me improve and think more technically, but these qualities combined has helped me become a stronger thinker and artist. Both of them are extremely passionate and very approachable.
The talent and knowledge that Rebecca and Corey have will help students find a true sense of individuality through the thought process of creating art for kids of all ages.
Christine Gu, University of Michigan
I started art lessons with Mrs. Rebecca and Mr. Corey hoping to just improve my drawing abilities but I left each lesson with immensely more. Mrs. Rebecca and Mr. Corey are two teachers that are as invested in their students’ artistic development just as much as they are invested in their students’ personal growth. With each individualized project I took on in their class, I was challenged to think of ways that would best capture the stories I wanted to share on canvas. This helped me not only train my eyes to understand the difference good composition and great composition in an artistic sense, but also emboldened me to develop my own ideas about the world on a more personalized level.
As I’m going into my third year of college and am aspiring towards a career in product design, I thank Mrs. Rebecca and Mr. Corey for the many lessons they’ve taught me. From putting together a successful presentation to being tasked to think critically about an issue, I know that I have been well prepared with an invaluable skill-set I’ve developed over the years at Right Brain Academy of Art.
Yiyung, ArtCenter College of Design
If you like fine art, and want to improve your artistic sense and drawing level, or are preparing to build your own portfolio, please firmly choose Right Brain Art Academy. Corey Peters and Rebecca Chen will be your best mentors on the journey of making art. I feel that being able to meet these two teachers in my life is the luckiest thing happened to me. In these two years of study, I have improved a lot not only in terms of painting skills but also the consideration of my life and the future.
In their continuous careful teaching, enlightenment and encouragement, I changed my perspective of seeing things, learned to introspect and think. In the past, I never considered the big picture, always obsessed with the performance of the details of the picture. Under their unique and effective training, I have absorbed a lot of professional design principles and elements of knowledge. And in each course, I learned a lot of outstanding domestic and foreign masters' works. They have given me great help in the process of building my entrance portfolio. Give me the opportunity received a scholarship of US$23,000 from Otis College of Art and Design.
Paula Wong, Parsons School of Design
To say that Rebecca and Corey have changed my life forever, would be an understatement. Through the 10+ years of art education by Rebecca and Corey, they have prepared me for my first year at Parsons School of Design.
They have both provided me with fundamental art education and prepared me for college with a full array of experience with working in different media. I was constantly challenged with new techniques and materials to express my creativity through art. But not only that, they have constantly implemented life skills into my brain to help me be a functioning young adult. I more than thankful for all of the lessons, in both art and life that has been passed to me.
Larene Woo, LACHSA, Rhode Island School of Design
Both Rebecca and Corey are phenomenal instructors. As a working professional in the field of design, who has had the opportunity to attend both a well-established art college and art high school, I feel confident in expressing that both are extremely capable, knowledgeable and caring individuals.
Having been a student of Corey and Rebecca's for near decades, it is clear to me that they have worked continuously and tirelessly to refine their craft in order to provide the best possible art and design education for their students. I've also been in the unique position of having taught at their school for a number of years and have had first-hand experience behind the scenes in helping to develop what I perceive to be a dynamic and expansive curriculum, that is both appropriate and challenging at each level.
In regards to students serious about pursuing an art degree and profession, they are thoughtful and careful to provide relevant and current information that is necessary to keep pace with the ever changing field of art and design. Both are incredibly generous with their time and information and care deeply about their student's progress and overall well-being. I've been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn and teach with them, and highly recommend their tutelage and art program for all levels and ages.
Annika Wang, Rhode Island School of Design
I’d like to think I grew up into art. From a young age, I’ve like to color and draw, and I believe that my love for creating the imaginable only grew the first time I met Mrs. Rebecca. I might have been 7 years old at the time, young and impressionable, and like a sponge, I desperately soaked up what she could teach me.
Every project I had I always had fun with, and even if she was the one assigning each project I did, I always had the freedom to do the imagining myself. She helped me cultivate my imagination and transfer ideas to the paper in front of me. I met Corey a few years later. And where Mrs. Rebecca steadily built up my creativity, Corey built my skills. I don’t think I noticed it at the time, but slowly, my drawings changed from the works of a child into the works of a fledgling artist.
Every piece of art I brought home showed more and more life, and started to be more and more real. The chunky lines of crayons and markers softened into more delicate marks as I sanded down the rough edges of my skill set. I began to pick up the abilities I would need to build a portfolio, and every class I had with them I seemed to love art more and more, until I decided I couldn’t do without it and began to apply to different art schools, resolute in my goal to make art surround my life.
All the while, they were there to guide me, even from the table in my own house, every line I drew and piece I colored held the skills of a dozen years under the tutelage of two amazing teachers. I don’t think I could have ever gotten to where I am today, or even be who I am today without them.