Mike Pruitt, Upper Division Fine Arts Instructor

Upper Division art teacher Mike Pruitt has an extensive background in studio art and digital imaging. His degree is from Ball State University, and he has studied at the Ringling School of Art and Design, the Savannah College of Art and Design and Eckerd College as well as taught at Western Carolina University.

Mr. Pruitt moved to St. Petersburg over 30 years ago, but he was born in Indianapolis. His grandmother encouraged him to take art lessons from a well-known, local painter, Winifred Styles, when he was in seventh grade. While still in middle school, Mr. Pruitt sold his first painting, an oil still life of flowers, to a local art collector.

Though he still paints large oil paintings, his art has evolved to include photography, digital imaging and textiles. His abstract expressionistic artwork, including quilts inspired by the Gee Bends from Alabama, will be featured in a one-man show at a gallery in North Carolina. 

Mr. Pruitt enjoys traveling to Italy and other locations with art museums for inspiration both for himself as an artist and as an instructor.

This past summer, Mr. Pruitt was honored to be the head lead critique for the MFA program at Western Carolina University. In this position, he reviewed the students’ artwork and offered feedback as to their strengths and suggestions for improvement.

Mr. Pruitt teaches Introductory Studio Art, Advanced Studio Art, Computer Graphics, and Digital Film Imaging. He enjoys teaching because “There is always something new, so you are always learning as a teacher. I like to perfect new art forms before I teach them, so I am constantly challenging myself to learn new styles and to think outside the box. The small classes at Shorecrest enable me to work one-on-one with every student two or three times each class period. The students here are great, and my colleagues are like family to me.”