Our Philosophy
Art Napa Valley is dedicated to fostering creativity and artistic expression. We provide a nurturing environment where individuals can explore their passion for art and develop their skills. Our goal is to inspire and empower each artist to reach their full potential, creating a vibrant community of diverse talents and perspectives.
Professional artist and teacher.
Michael Fitzpatrick started his art career in the mid sixties by attending Art Center College of Design in L.A. After graduating he went to work for D’Arcy, McManus, Masius Advertising in New York as an art director. Next he moved back to the coast where he started and ran his own ad agency: Fitzpatrick and Walker adv. Drawing and design were always a large part of Michael’s daily activity. In New York it was drawing storyboards for TV ads by the hundreds. In California design and illustration were the emphasis.
All this commercial activity was only a backdrop for Michael’s real love – painting. In the early nineties he broke away from the nine to five and did his fine art in earnest. Painting virtually every day since. He has many collectors around the world, and shows in galleries in Napa Valley and Sausalito. He held the prestigious position as resident painter at Domain Chandon for two years.
Michael paints in oil in a traditional style allowing him to fully utilize his classical training. While mostly he paints figurative, still – life and landscape are also very much represented in his body of work.
Award winning artist and designer.
Frank Trozzo is an award-winning artist working in oils, acrylics, and pastels. His work explores four key themes: Inspiration, celebrating individuals who shape the world; Anthropomorphism, drawing from ancient symbology to bridge human and animal narratives; The Color of Music, translating sound into vibrant visuals; and Quantum States, presenting complex scientific concepts through art. At its core, his practice is about connection—evoking joy, fostering curiosity, and inspiring wonder. He believes in the power of art to make the world a better place, even if just for a fleeting moment.
Professional Artist and Digital Media Specialist.
Ryan Frederickson has been a multidisciplinary creative professional for over 23 years, currently stirring up magic in Northern California. With a knack for turning imagination into stunning visuals, he specializes in web design, illustration, and concept art.
From doodling dragons to designing dazzling user interfaces, Ryan has tackled projects across multiple industries. His work spans illustration, concept art, storyboarding, motion graphics, video game covers and posters, murals, branding and front-end development.
When not crafting visual wonders for renowned brands and small businesses alike, Ryan dives into personal passion projects, creating quirky characters and fantastical worlds.
Always on the hunt for the next burst of inspiration, Ryan combines his extensive experience with a boundless passion for creative visuals, dedicated to making the world a more colorful, imaginative, and visually captivating place.
Painter and AI specialist.
"As a painter deeply engaged in both traditional techniques and emerging digital tools, my practice explores the interplay between human intuition and machine-generated imagery. My work is rooted in classical oil painting, while my interest in AI-driven reference generation has been shaped by my learning on OpenArt AI and teachings with artist Steve McDonald, a pioneer in AI illustration.
In my AI reference generation class, I examine how artificial intelligence can serve as a dynamic tool for artists—enhancing ideation, composition, and visual storytelling. Rather than replacing the artist’s hand, AI expands creative possibilities, offering new ways to interpret form, light, and narrative. My goal is to bridge tradition with innovation, empowering artists to harness AI while maintaining the authenticity and depth of their individual styles”.