Lisa Shmaraeva

Lisa Shmaraeva
Art Coach, Film Specialist, Neurodivergent Learner Specialist

Lisa Shmaraeva is a Seattle-based artist and educator specializing in fine art, film, and portfolio development. With a background in both traditional and digital media, she helps students build competitive portfolios for top art and film schools. Lisa has years of experience teaching art, theater, and drama to middle and high school students, currently working at Fusion Academy. She excels at guiding neurodivergent learners with patience and care, helping them express their authentic selves through compelling compositions.

For illustration students, Lisa ensures that students learn the skills to tell a story in 2D mediums including graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, gouache as well as digital tools, often incorporating multiple media in one piece.

For film students, Lisa provides expert coaching in storytelling, symbolism, and continuity, ensuring their short films meet the expectations of competitive programs. She helps students refine their narratives, break rules like the 180-degree rule with purpose, and polish their work in post-production.

For emerging visual artists, she emphasizes both creative exploration and technical fundamentals, working closely with ARTriculate students to craft portfolio pieces that showcase individuality while demonstrating strong artistic principles.

Lisa holds a BFA in Film, Cinema, and Video Studies from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), with a minor in Sound Design and Editing.

Student Portfolio Work

  • Sara K., Senior

    Sara K., 12th grade

    Sara captures the intricate details of a green beetle in this striking piece, using Prismacolor pencils on black paper. The rich contrast and precise attention to reflections and lighting make the beetle appear almost lifelike, showcasing her skill in blending realism with bold color.

  • Elise R., Junior

    Elise R., 11th grade

    Elise explores facial features using pastels and the verdaccio technique, layering green tones beneath skin colors to create depth and realism. This study showcases her skill in building lifelike tones and textures, refining the nuances of light and shadow in portraiture.

  • Matthew K., Senior

    Matthew K., 12th grade

    In Impression of a Night, Matthew depicts the Griffith Observatory above Los Angeles in a vivid, expressionist style. The intense oranges and cool blues of the skyline reflect the city’s dynamic energy. This piece was a deeply hands-on process—from capturing the original photograph that inspired it to stretching his own canvas and mixing his own paints. Merging his passion for architecture with his love for expressive color, this painting holds personal significance, showcasing both technical skill and artistic emotion.

  • Zoe F., Sophomore

    Zoe F., 10th grade

    Zoe’s Crimson Surrealist captures Salvador Dalí’s bold personality using a five-color palette in Adobe Illustrator. The dominant red reflects the attention he commanded—vibrant, intense, and impossible to ignore. By simplifying forms and exaggerating features like his iconic mustache, Zoe highlights his playfulness and surrealist spirit. Created for her graphic design major, this piece showcases both technical skill and artistic expression.

  • Simran M., Senior

    Simran M., 12th grade

    Heart’s Disdain marks Simran’s first oil-painted portrait, inspired by the intrigue found in Renaissance portraiture. She aimed to capture a quiet intensity, replicating the subtle expressions often seen in historical works. The woman’s gaze, directed off to the side, conveys a sense of discomfort and disapproval in a restrained yet evocative way, showcasing Simran’s ability to express emotion through delicate nuances.

  • Olivia S., Senior

    Olivia S., 12th grade

    Olivia blends strong observational drawing with whimsy and mystery in this graphite piece. She surrounds herself with objects rich in symbolism—scissors cutting her own hair, a winding staircase, and ornate keys evoking a sense of times past. With meticulous shading and attention to detail, she creates a surreal composition that blurs the line between reality and imagination, inviting viewers to interpret the story within.