Leadership

Colette Barcilon, President

Colette found a passion for art as a child traveling throughout Europe with her family. Educated in France and Switzerland, Colette started her career as a Personal Assistant in Lausanne, Switzerland where she met a young artist: Roger Barcilon. They soon married and Colette quickly became an indispensable business manager and agent for Roger's freelance advertising and publishing work. She and Roger opened the original Gemini School of Illustration (located in Thatcham, England) in 1984 and Colette turned her attention to the school, managing recruiting and admissions. She also taught business ethics and art licensing classes while helping students learn to sell their own artwork to publishers and agencies throughout Europe.

In 1999 Colette moved with Roger to the US to open The Gemini School of Visual Arts & Communication. After she arrived in the States, Colette spent nearly three years focused on the school’s site selection, renovation and state licensing process. The Gemini School of Visual Arts and Communication was officially licensed and opened in October 2003.

Now as President of the Gemini School of Visual Arts & Communication, Colette leads recruitment, admissions and the regulatory departments. For our international students, Colette is fluent in, French, Italian and Spanish.

Roger Barcilon, Vice President

Roger graduated with honors from the Academy of Fine Arts in Barcelona, Spain. He has been a professional illustrator for over 50 years in the advertising and publishing industries where, when not in the classroom, he continues to work today. His previous client list includes major advertising agencies throughout the US and Europe where his illustrations were used in campaigns for L’Oreal de Paris, Coca Cola, Pirelli, Gillette, Omega and many more. His later work can be seen on videogame art (XMEN Legends, Enter the Matrix, Ghost Recon2, dead to Rights, Metal Gear Solid 3 etc) and in national consumer publications and advertisements.

As a renowned European fine artist, Roger has exhibited throughout Europe and the Americas where many of his paintings hang in private collections. Roger has the honor of being included in the Italian Encyclopedia of Art "II Commanducci" and was honored with an International Award of Excellence and included in the publication “Painter”. Among the 135 artists chosen from over 2,000 entries, Roger’s award winning work titled “Self Portrait” embodies the Gemini School’s teaching philosophy by combining classic painting techniques with the latest digital tools.

Now as Vice President of the Gemini School of Visual Arts & Communication, Roger devotes his day to teaching a new breed of commercial artist. "Today one of my greatest satisfactions is seeing a young artist grow and mature into a successful professional. It's a joy to see them succeed and produce art that I would never have dreamt of doing at such a young age."

Cynthia McGrail, Director of Marketing

Cynthia McGrail, Director of Marketing, has over 15 years of integrated marketing, fundraising and digital media experience in the corporate, non profit and agency sectors. She spent 10 years in Washington DC developing marketing & fundraising campaigns for non-profit organizations including the American Red Cross and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Soon after leaving the non profit world, Cynthia found her passion for Digital Art & Media while working in creative services for groundbreaking Interactive Television System Tele-TV. After moving to Austin, she managed consumer software marketing accounts, including Dell and Compaq, for a Dallas, TX based promotions agency. In 2001, she joined Big Sesh Studios, an award winning digital design firm, where she managed the studio’s marketing and client services. Cynthia was a part of the original team that launched the Gemini School of Visual Arts & Communication in November, 2003. Today, she leads Gemini School marketing, public relations and student recruitment. Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Tech University.