As an award-winning artist and designer, I’m Sanya, and I’m thrilled to bring my passion for drawing, costume design, and character creation to this exciting course! With an MFA from Northwestern University and years of experience teaching both young artists and university graduates, I’m here to guide you on a creative adventure.

But that’s not all—joining me are two fantastic educators, fellow artists and my friends, Megan and Jelly! 
Megan and I first crossed paths at Northwestern University, where we both pursued our Masters and discovered our shared love for art. Megan, with her vibrant Chicago energy, is also a talented set designer for theatre, bringing dramatic flair to her creations. 
Jelly and I met at the University of Arts Belgrade, where we not only collaborated on creative projects but also co-founded a fashion brand that won multiple awards, including the prestigious Elle Fashion Award. Jelly, hailing from NYC, is an acclaimed costume designer who infuses her work with innovative style.

Together, we’re a dynamic team with a shared passion for storytelling and character creation. As a multidisciplinary artist, I bring my experience in designing for movies, theatre, fashion and fine arts, adding a unique perspective to our creative endeavors. Megan’s theatrical set design, Jelly’s costume expertise, and my broad artistic background create a rich tapestry of skills and knowledge.

We can’t wait to share our talents and enthusiasm with you! Get ready to dive into a world where art and imagination collide. Let’s create magic together and make unforgettable artistic memories!

About me
I'm absolutely thrilled to be here on Outschool, ready to teach and inspire learners through the power of art! Join me in the series of classes My Art Academia where we embrace creativity, kindness, and diversity. In our class, we value respect and maturity while having fun and engaging in the creative process.

⭐️ Welcome to My Art Academia’s vibrant world of creativity! My name is Sanya (Sanja Manakoski) and I am the visionary behind a small, female-owned and operated art organization based in the enchanting paradise of Hawaii. However, our reach extends far beyond these beautiful shores, stretching across the globe through our captivating online classes.  Based in art capitals like Chicago and New York City, our team includes talented artists and teachers!

⭐️ Our Teachers:

⭐️👩‍🎨Founder and Art Prof Sanya -Sanja Manakoski
⭐️ 👩‍🎨 Art Prof Yelly- Jelena Antanasijevic
⭐️ 👩‍🎨 Art Prof Megan- Megan Truscot

At My Art Academia, our aim is to ensure that each artist who enters our classroom leaves with a profound sense of achievement. By offering personalized support, we instill the fundamental tenets of art while fostering their innate creativity, curiosity, and distinct character.


⭐️👩‍🎨Founder and Art Prof Sanya -Sanja Manakoski:

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Costume and Fashion Design from University of Applied Arts and Design in Belgrade, and my Master of Fine Arts in Stage Design from Northwestern University in Chicago.

I've taught various art and design related classes for 10 years and I have worked with all different age learners. Aside from teaching young developing artists I am also teaching regularly at college level, such as Northwestern University. Watching students learn to discover and create with the help of my guidance inspires me a lot. I am an active professional multidisciplinary artist, and I have been costume designing internationally and in the US for the last 10 years. I also have experience in other design areas, such as film, fashion, makeup and illustration. As a result, I am able to share my first-hand experience, skills and knowledge that help students consider various creative opportunities and moreover the joy of creating art. 
For me learning never ends- as much as students learn from me, I am also the one who learns from them all the time. Being an artist and teacher is not just a profession for me, it is a way of life.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY 

Picasso once said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Teaching enables me to remain an artist, rediscovering new ways to be passionate about theater and art. My teaching philosophy is that all students must have a stimulating creative environment that will foster their artistic, creative, social, and intellectual growth. I approach each student individually by celebrating their specific point of view. 
My goal is to create a class that is never one-note or repetitive, but rather collaborative, interactive and dynamic. I want every student to have a meaningful experience in my class. 
In a safe, process-based environment I invite my students to learn through experimentation, share their ideas and discover the joy of creating art. I want to help students feel comfortable unlocking their creative voices and developing their talents.

Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in some of my classes!

BIOGRAPHY

Sanja Manakoski is a full time teaching artist and professional multidisciplinary artist. Sanja recently relocated to Hawaii from Chicago and she is originally from Serbia, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Costume and Fashion Design from University of Applied Arts and Design in Belgrade, and her Master of Fine Arts in Stage Design from Northwestern University. 
Recently, Sanja won the 2019 Michael Merritt Award for the best professional theatre design exhibit. In 2018, she was featured in American Theatre Magazine in the Roll Call Series 6 Theatre Workers You Should Know. Sanja’s drawings, paintings and designs have been seen internationally and across the United States in theatres such as the Writers theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Gift Theatre, Teatro Vista Theatre, Western Stage Theatre, Music Theatre Works, and others.
In addition to her theatre accomplishments, Sanja is also recognized as a fashion designer and educator. She was one of the judges for the 2018 Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence in Chicago. 
Furthermore, she is the co-creator of the fashion label KLASA, which received many prestigious awards such as the ELLE Fashion Award. 
Her costume designs and illustrations have also been exhibited internationally. For example, her up cycle multifunctional costume design received the ULUPUDS design award in Belgrade and was exhibited in the Theatre Festival Prague Quadrennial 2015. 
Sanja is also teaching as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University for theatre design at both undergraduate and graduate levels. She also has experience teaching at University of Illinois at Chicago and Hartnell College in California. Some of the classes that she taught are Costume Design, Stage Makeup, Scenic Design, Scenography, Computer Graphics Design, Figure Drawing, Theatre Crafts Class and so on.
She currently works in Hawaii in her art studio on series of paintings and preparing for her solo exhibition.