OUR Amazing Artists
Blackbird Music Academy
Meet Julie
I am the owner/instructor of Blackbird Music and started playing around with music at the age of 4. My parents used to take me to concerts and would play vinyl records by various legendary artists and that inspired me to play the piano and start singing.
I started performing in bands at the age of 16 and learned guitar and bass along the way. I decided to turn my passion into a career and got my degree in Music from Atlanta Christian College, focusing primarily on vocal performance and coaching.
Originally from New York, I moved to Greenville and in 2017 I opened Blackbird Music Academy. I teach students of all ages how to master the Piano, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele and Voice! When I am not busy teaching I like to spend time with my husband and my dog, exploring, traveling or watching the Yankees game.
Gerri Hyman Art
Meet Gerri
I am a painter and a creator residing in Simpsonville, SC. After 15 years of running a successful business selling reproductions of my coastal art to retailers in the US and Caribbean, I decided it was time to focus on painting pretty much full-time and give up the daily grind of running a wholesale business.
I rediscovered my love for painting and creating and have found that abstract painting is my passion. My abstract art is brilliant with color, interesting shapes, and patterns. I also enjoy painting lots and lots of paper to use in collage pieces. It’s a tedious process but I am always pleased with the results!
I am a graduate of the University of South Carolina and taught elementary school art for several years. I continue to teach children and adults privately. I am married to Gary Hyman and we have 3 sons, 2 daughters in law, and a grandson.
ClayMasters
Meet Pamela
Pamela has been involved with pottery since 1998. After discovering her love for clay, she acquired a Professional Craft: Clay degree. Over the past 40 years she has lived across the USA and traveled abroad. Each area inspires her clay creations. Her work is viewed through invitation and announcements via digital mailing list. See more at www.pambrock.com.
THE INTELLIGENT ACADEMY
Meet TIKO
Tiko Sanikidze is a Georgian artist whose work is distinguished by a hyper-realistic approach, exceptional precision, and a deep attention to detail. Her artistic practice encompasses graphite drawing, watercolor, and realistic painting.
Tinatin’s passion for art began in early childhood. From the age of six, she began studying and developing her skills in drawing, which gradually evolved into a lifelong artistic journey. Her work combines technical mastery with emotional depth, using realism as a means of exploring the inner world of her subjects, as well as the beauty and character found in nature and living beings.
A defining quality of Sanikidze’s work is her remarkable attention to detail, subtle treatment of light and shadow, and delicate rendering of textures and surfaces. She is particularly recognized for her animal portraits and figurative works, in which she seeks to capture not only physical likeness, but also the unique character and emotion of each subject.
Sanikidze’s artwork has been presented in international exhibitions and art platforms in the United States and Europe. Her artistic career has included participation in exhibitions and professional art events, as well as recognition through international art competitions and platforms.
For Sanikidze, realism is more than technical precision. It is a way of inviting the viewer to discover beauty, emotion, and a deeper story within ordinary subjects and living beings.
Currently based in South Carolina, Tiko Sanikidze continues to pursue her artistic practice and develop her work within the American art community.
At the heart of her creative practice is a desire to create artwork that not only reflects reality, but also evokes emotion, connection, and a lasting impression in the viewer.