Tucked away in a Huntington Beach neighborhood, the beautiful airy studio is home to seven art instructors and an impressive lineup of classes. The students range from young children to adults, with every level of art expertise. Some of the classes offered include ceramics, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, and painting. Hamborg’s professional career as an artist and robust education led him to starting his own studio to teach a new generation of creatives.
What inspired you to found Hamborg Academy of Art?
I saw in the educational system for both kids and adults a big gap between structured academic training to the more conceptual art side of stuff. My goal with Hamborg Academy of Art and the courses that we offer is to merge those two worlds and have a good balance of getting structured academic training and freedom to find that personal expression and develop that unique inner voice.
Tell us what you love most about the teaching process.
One of my favorite parts is just seeing that “aha” moment when a student really connects and gets something. Maybe they’re struggling, and then you try to explain in a different way, and you can just see the light bulb go off. That is really rewarding. Some of my students have even gone off to study at different art schools, like Chapman University or Laguna College of Art and Design.
How has the academy shaped you as an artist?
I had this preconceived idea that if you’re really making it as an artist, all your income is just off your art. The beautiful thing I’ve learned through having this academy and it growing is it’s so rewarding feeling like I’m having an impact on all these students and the trajectories of their own lives. It is so fulfilling. Everything I get to do with my personal work is a bonus, and they get to work hand in hand.
Why do you think people should study art?
It can be a form of therapy. We’re surrounded by screens and busyness, and it really helps you slow down and see beauty in the world around you. Even if you don’t end up becoming a professional artist, I almost feel like everyone should take some art classes and learn. When you take my seascape oil painting class, I’m teaching people how to see differently. I’m teaching them how to see color, shapes, shadows, and atmosphere. It just changes the way you see the world.
And what can students expect to gain from the academy?
Students are pushed more than they would be in another environment. It’s really more involved. I’m trying to break down my academic training to a more engaging, simplified process, but also including room for them to develop on their own as well. My art classes start off being more about technique. As the students advance, we start to switch to set up some more personal projects where they’re encouraged to search within and think about what they want to create.
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