Jeff Bernstein

Jeff Bernstein
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Jeff Bernstein was born (1950) in Chicago, Illinois, He was raised in Omaha, Nebraska. His earliest art training was in Omaha, where he recieved private instruction through middle school and highschool. He continued his studies at the San Francisco Art Institute, the Kansas City Art Institute, and the Cornish School of Art in Seattle, Washington. He also studied as an architectural draughtsman. Bernstein now lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. His work has been shown in a number of galleries in the Southeast, Midwest, and Northwest.

Jeff Bernstein is currently a Character TD at Disney Feature Animation working on the upcoming animated feature, "Meet the Robinson's".In the past, he's worked at ILM and the Orphanage on films such as ‘Van Helsing', ‘Day After Tomorrow', and ‘Hellboy', focusing on Character Setup.In addition to production work, Jeff has taught classes in Character Setup at the Art Institute of San Francisco, the Academy of Art, CCA, and Expressions Center for New Media, as well as Maya Master Classes at Siggraph and classes in Advanced Setup for Disney Feature Animation.Jeff holds B.A in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.F.A in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, and has studied 3d animation at the Academy of Art College.

Bernstein's sculptures are an immersion in the modern life experience -- the natural result of a talented artist at home and at play in his environment.

That's not to say he's not serious about his art.He is.Bernstein has traveled and studied extensively.Born in Chicago in 1950, he was raised in Omaha, Nebraska where he received private art training throughout middle and high school.

In the late 60s, he attended painting and life drawing classes at the San Francisco Art Institute.He continued at the Kansas City Art Institute with "a nerve-wracking, grueling foundation course for the first year," he says.Despite the difficulty of the academic courses, Bernstein was impacted by his studies of Chinese art and Zen.

"I had a sense of adventure and a wanderlust that wouldn't quit," he says."So in 1971, with my parents' sort-of blessing, I moved to Seattle to study independently at the Cornish School of Art.My drawing instructor there had a tremendous influence on me.He was somewhat a Zen Buddhist, lived on a docked ferry boat on Lake Union and had an early morning paper route.Some of us students would occasionally join him on his route in the wee hours of the morning."

Bernstein also found powerful influences among American and Mexican folk artists, but primarily, the European masters.His family took a trip to Europe and they visited museums in every country they traveled through - Portugal, Spain, Greece, Israel, Italy, France and England."One that touched me deeply was the Impressionists museum in Paris," he says.
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The connection of the man-made and the organic is a recurring theme for Bernstein.According to his Artist's Statement, "My father used to take me fishing on the Missouri River when I was young.
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Instead, Bernstein infuses a sense of joy and peace with his environment and its rhythms.We feel the artist at play, comfortable in his world, using all it offers to express and share his vision.
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He's always been very supportive of me, I consider him a good friend and I'm honored to be one of the contemporary artists selected to show at his gallery," Bernstein says.

Since he lives in Peachtree City, Bernstein's work has also appeared at area venues, including Teavana Tea House Cafe & Gifts and Famous Fish Company.

Sculpture isn't the only means of expression for Bernstein.He's also been performing his music - acoustic guitar folk music and blues -- for the last six years, off and on, at local coffeehouses and restaurants.Lately, he's been performing somewhat regularly at the Starbucks in Peachtree City on Saturday nights.

Whether he's welding a metal brace or strumming an original tune, Bernstein brings playfulness and skill together in his artistry.

Jeff Bernstein's sculptures are available for viewing and purchase at Thomas Deans and Company Gallery at its Atlanta location in the Tula Art Center, 75 Bennett Street, Gallery K-2; 404-352-3778; www.britishwatercolors.com.