Tatiana Retter is a professionally trained artist, illustrator, and art educator who has spent nearly 20 years helping children develop strong artistic skills while discovering their own creativity and individual artistic voice.
Originally from Moscow, Russia, Tatiana earned her Master’s degree in Illustration and Graphics from the renowned Moscow Polygraphic Institute (now Moscow State University of Printing Arts). Before immigrating to the United States in 1994, she worked professionally as a painter and illustrator for popular children’s magazines in Moscow and illustrated numerous children’s publications and books.
The Beginning of Magic of Art
As an artist and mother of three, Tatiana spent years teaching art to her own children and their friends. Through that experience, she realized that children flourish when they receive strong technical instruction while having the freedom to explore their own original ideas, individual interests, and unique imaginations.
That philosophy inspired Tatiana to open Magic of Art Studio in the spring of 2007.
From the beginning, Magic of Art has offered something different from a traditional one-size-fits-all art class. Rather than asking every student to reproduce the same project, Tatiana works with each student individually, developing their own unique ideas and styles. She teaches the fundamentals of drawing, painting, color, composition, perspective, and technique while encouraging students to develop their own imagination, style, and artistic voice.
Small classes—never more than eight students—allow Tatiana to give each artist substantial individual attention and tailor projects to the student’s age, experience, interests, and goals.
Her goal is not simply for a child to leave class with a beautiful picture. It is to give students the technical skills, creative confidence, and independence to become stronger artists.
A Long History of Developing Young Artists
Since 2007, Tatiana has taught students at every level—from children discovering art for the first time to serious young artists preparing portfolios for competitive arts programs.
During Magic of Art Studio’s years in Virginia Beach, Tatiana prepared students for admission to selective programs including the Governor’s School for the Arts, Salem High School Visual Art Academy, and Old Donation Center for Gifted Children. Former students also continued their artistic education at universities including Drexel University and James Madison University.
Magic of Art students earned recognition in local, regional, and national competitions, including the national PTA Reflections competition and Celebrating Art, where students had artwork selected for publication and several were named among the competition’s top ten winners. The studio was also recognized as a leading academic specialty school in Virginia Beach for ten consecutive years.
A New Chapter in Colorado
In 2021, following her love of the mountains, Tatiana moved to Colorado and brought Magic of Art Studio to its new home in Aurora, beginning a new chapter of her artistic journey and sharing her passion for art with children throughout the Denver area.
Over the past five years, Tatiana has built a community of young artists in Colorado while continuing the highly personalized approach that has defined Magic of Art since 2007.
Children, teenagers, and adults work with Tatiana in a wide variety of styles and media. Each student receives individualized guidance based on age, experience, interests, and goals. Students are encouraged to experiment with new materials and techniques while developing the foundational skills needed to turn their own ideas into successful works of art.
Tatiana’s Colorado students have successfully prepared portfolios and earned admission to competitive arts programs, including Denver School of the Arts and advanced visual arts programs at area high schools.
In 2023, Magic of Art Studio received the Distinguished Teaching “Best of Aurora” award, adding another Colorado milestone to the studio’s long history of art education.
A Professional Artist Who Still Creates
Tatiana continues to pursue her own work as a professional artist alongside her teaching. Her commissioned artwork has received enthusiastic praise from clients who value her technical skill and attention to detail as well as her ability to capture warmth, personality, and emotion in each individual piece.
Continuing to create professionally is also an important part of Tatiana’s teaching. Her students are learning directly from a practicing artist who can demonstrate techniques, help solve artistic challenges, and show them how an idea develops from its earliest stages into a finished work of art.
Helping Every Student Find the Artist Within
Tatiana believes artistic potential is not limited to children who already appear to be “naturally talented.”
Some students arrive at Magic of Art Studio already drawing constantly. Others arrive convinced that they simply aren’t good at art. Tatiana meets each student at his or her own level and helps build skills step by step in a warm, encouraging environment where experimentation is welcomed and individuality matters.
Students learn much more than how to draw or paint. They learn to observe carefully, think creatively, develop patience, solve problems, trust their own ideas, and take pride in what they are capable of creating.
Whether a student is picking up a paintbrush for the first time or preparing a portfolio for an advanced art program, Tatiana’s goal remains the same: to develop each student’s artistic abilities while nurturing the imagination, individuality, and love of art that make their work uniquely their own.
