Nadine K. Thola

Hi, I am Nadine K. Thola, and I live in Alexandria, Virginia, with my husband of 37 years. We have one married son. I adore my daughter-in-law and my two grandchildren. We live in a menagerie of animals. Years ago, my husband and I were bearded dragon breeders. We still have eleven breeders and rescue beardies that have become our pets. To round out our zoo, we have a leopard gecko, a ball python, a Chilean pink-haired tarantula, and two adorable Yorkshire Terriers.

My BA, Magna Cum Laude, Graphic Design major was at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and my Master of Interdisciplinary Studies, majors- Jewelry and Sculpture, came from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition, I have participated in many art workshops and guilds, including but not inclusive of calligraphy, woodworking, kiln-fired enameling, iconography, and folk art painting.

As an artist and teacher, I use technology as a tool to create, inform, and share. The leading digital programs I use on my home computers are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, InDesign, Photoshop, Facebook, Facebook Video calls, Gmail, Outlook, Canvas, Dropbox, YouTube, Zoom, and scanning software. Apps I use on my iPad and cell phone are Team Up for my studio duties, Magic Eraser to edit my photos quickly, Google Calendar, Messenger, Translate as I interact with Ukrainian artists, Photo Gallery, Daily Readings, Skype, Sketchbook, Notes, and Voice Memos. While as a temporary substitute during COVID recovery months, I worked as the art teacher for St. Stephens and St. Agnes Lower School using Seesaw and Whiteboard. I was the eyes, ears, and hands in the classroom while the art teacher was home on Zoom teaching the class. I helped direct and explained lessons and worked with the teacher for better procedures.


I was a Graphic Designer for following businesses: Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., a print magazine, and a printer in Florida. During our first 11 years of marriage, my husband and I traveled as he was a Marine. I mainly taught art and calligraphy in 29 Palms, California and Honolulu, Hawaii.  I worked at Fast Signs and Kinkos in Virginia. After getting out, I worked until my fibromyalgia bedridden me. After a miraculous intervention, I could work again for limited amounts of time. I switched to teaching and continued my spiritual work as a Russian Orthodox Iconographer. My icons are in several churches and homes. I continue to teach art part time and I used technology for art class project posters and demonstrations, websites, and any aid to my business. Although my migraines set me back many years and still distract me, I am doing better after recent sinus surgery. I am working online on my doctorate of education, Curriculum, at Liberty University. I plan to teach collegiate online art or art education classes one day. After my husband retires, we plan to get an RV and travel with me to teach online classes nightly.