Biography   Juan Carlos Martínez is an award-winning artist living in Toronto, Canada, whose work has been featured in various publications and shows, including International Artist Magazine, American Artist: Drawing, and the Art Renewal Center Salon Competition. He is atelier-trained, working in what is now considered the classical realist manner. Juan studied in Toronto, Canada, and Florence, Italy, under the tutelage of master painter, Michael John Angel. Prior to that period he had been, among other things, an intellectual property lawyer, but gave up that life to pursue his vocation as a professional classical painter. Today, in addition to maintaining an award-winning portfolio and working on portrait commissions, Juan is usually busy writing and teaching. He has acquired an international reputation both as an artist and art educator. His work hangs in private and institutional collections in Canada and the United States, including commissions for the office of the President of Humber College, the Crane School of Music Alumni Association, and the private collection of Fred and Sherry Ross. Juan is a chief instructor at Toronto's Academy of Realist Art (ARA) and is the author of a popular 6-part instructional series in International Artist Magazine, entitled “The Academy Way”. He also teaches workshops throughout the year at ARA and elsewhere, including at Andreeva Gallery and Portrait Academy in Santa Fe, NM. Juan is represented by Andreeva Gallery.   Awards and Achievements 2006 Presenter and Judge— Portrait Society of Canada International Portrait Arts Festival and Competition, Toronto, Canada 2006 Certificate of Excellence— Portrait Society of America, Art of the Portrait Conference, Dallas TX 2004 Best Portfolio— Portrait Society of America, Art of the Portrait Conference, Boston MA 2004 Merit Certificate— Portrait Society of America, Art of the Portrait Conference, Boston MA 2004 Invited to “Living Masters” gallery— Art Renewal Center, www.artrenewal.org 2004 Honourable Mention— Still Life category, Art Renewal Center Salon Competition, www.artrenewal.org 2003 Best in Show and Grand Prix— Portrait Society of Canada International Portrait Arts Festival and Competition, Toronto, Canada Exhibitions 2007 Young Masters— Group show, Andreeva Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, USA 2007 Converging Passions— Group show, instructors and faculty, Andreeva Gallery and Portrait Academy, Santa Fe, NM, USA 2006 Open House— Group show ARA students and faculty, Academy of Realist Art, Toronto, ON, Canada 2005 Realist Revival— Group show ARA students and faculty, Earl's Court Gallery, Hamilton, ON, Canada 2003 Still Classical: Recent Works on Paper from Florentine Academies and Studios— Westbeth Arts Center Gallery, NY, NY; ISB Gallery, Rhode Island School of Art and Design, Providence, RI; Palazzetto Cenci, Rome, Italy; Chiesa dell’Educatorio di Fuligno, Florence, Italy 2003 Arts Toronto Studio Tour— Group Show, Michael John Angel Studios, Toronto, Canada 2003 Junction Arts Festival— Group Show, Toronto, Canada 2002 RebelAngels.com— Contemporary Realist Painters’ self-portrait exhibition, invitational 2001 Canadian Miniatures— Invitation Group Show, Deerhurst Resort, Ontario, Canada Publications 2007 Brushstroke Magazine— Subject of main feature in inaugural issue. 2007 American Artist Magazine: Drawing— Featured in article regarding Academy of Realist Art. 2005 International Artist Magazine— Author of 6-part (Issues #42 to #47) "Academy Way" drawing and painting methods.