Chris is a professional animator and character designer with experience in television, video game and comic book production. Clients include Knowledge Adventure, Scholastic and Discovery Kids Television. He has been teaching Digital Media Arts, Drawing, Animation and Video Game Design for the past 7 years. His interest is in creating apps to view and play them on smartphones, tablets and the internet. 
After realizing early on he could make a living as an animator and artist,  Chris moved to Southern California and drew everyday until he got his first job as an animator and illustrator. He has used technology all  along the way. Some programs he uses are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash,  Maya 3D and Mutlimedia Fusion. 
His creedo is follow your heart and be persistent. His hobbies include drawing, animation, bike riding, skateboarding,  movies, nature, music and great food and drink. 
He hopes you leave this class with work you are proud of.





















































Chris Palitz- Animator & Cartoonist 

Christo began playing at age seven when he first picked up the guitar. He was classically trained in Europe and continues with his musical education to this day. He is currently a music major on his way to getting his bachelor's degree. He can play a multitude of instruments with proficiency; including but not limited to, piano, guitar, ukulele and bass. Composition is his greatest strength having composed music of almost every genre and has sold a number of those pieces.

Pat began her studies at the California College of Arts and Crafts, transferred to the Academy of Art in San Francisco, CA where she received a B.F.A in illustration and design. Pat worked as a designer and illustrator for several years, but always found the fine arts to be more invigorating. Her work has been shown in galleries & museums nationally and internationally. Pat has been teaching adults and children for 28 years and developed an after school art curriculum, called "Art Rule"s. Learn more about Pat, visit www.pmjstudios.com.

Bruce Jackson - Drum Instructor

Christo Savaides - Piano Instructor

Our Story

Tracy Durden - ​Flute


Owners, Bruce and Pat Jackson were destined to open a business someday that represented who they were and what they were born to do in life. The arts for both of them began at an early age. Bruce has been an accomplished percussionist for the last 30 years, performing all over California.

Pat has been a successful artist for the last 26 years and a teacher for 15 years. She also developed an after school curriculum called, Art Rules that she taught for 8 years in the public school system.

The Jacksons believe that the arts are an important component of the academia world and feel that they play an important part in the development of a well rounded individual. The schools in our communities don't seem to agree with this opinion, with cuts in music and art. What would societies be without the arts?

M.J. Studios is a unique experience, with music and art in one location for the whole entire family. In our art gallery we offer a relaxed atmosphere with a beverage and snack cafe. We also have a small music store that carries accessories and books; music and art. Our teachers are all highly qualified professionals with degrees, who will customize their lessons to the student's ability, and all of our teachers are background checked and finger printed.

Doug Wendt - Guitar Instructor

Instructors

Doug earned his B.A. degree in Guitar Performance at the California State University East Bay. As a classical guitarist, Doug has worked and performed extensively with Gordon Rowland of www.guitarwork.com. He has maintained a long time collaboration with vocalist Tre Taylor, including their current jazz quintet "Dangerous Martini". Earlier bands with Tre include, Soul Attraction (a ten piece R&B) and Earl Slide Ride (featuring Motown and Blues). Read more about Doug www.dougwendt.com.

Deborah Del Mastro - Vocals & Beginning Trumpet


Deborah Del Mastro is a nationally known actress, singer and educator who makes her home in Martinez . Currently she can be seen around the Bay Area in local professional Musical Theatre and she sings with a rock band, the Mixed Nuts.  Deborah has a BA in Vocal Performance from San Francisco State University and has studied Italian opera in Italy with reknown tenor, Maestro Carlo Bergonzi and has toured, recorded and filmed nationally and overseas in many genres of music and stage.  She teaches voice, acting and musicianship skills in a holistic, supportive manner, using the Garcia Marchesi / Bel Canto Foundation technique. Deborah loves to teach and focuses on bringing out her student’s voice and creative abilities – freeing up the voice and the student (!) to be expressive and expansive.  Singing is a powerful and fun way of communicating and Deborah is here to help you find this in your own voice!

Bruce has been teaching Drums in the Bay Area for over 20 years. He has a music Degree from Cal State Hayward.  He studied with the famous drum teacher Chuck Brown who also taught David Garibaldi ( Tower of Power) and Terry Bozio (Missing Person, Frank Zappa) . Bruce has also toured the world with bands Third Rail, Cypress, The Lonely, Lipshok, and Callbox just to name a few. Bruce uses advanced techniques to get the full potential out of each student. That includes meter, syncopation, rhythm, rudiments, drum set , playing to their favorite music, and eventually a band  with our other students.

Pat Moseuk-Jackson - Artist