Portrait Painting Workshop Recap
I had so much fun leading this Valentine’s Day workshop at A Reason to Survive as part of ARTS After Dark! 💘 It felt really special to gather close friends, colleagues, and local students in one space to create memories and shared experiences. I got to put my “Teacher” cap back on, diving into color theory, illustration fundamentals, and most importantly, making space for joy and creativity. Grateful for community, connection, and art that brings us together. I am so proud of everyone for being brave and painting portraits! They all came out so good!
My approach to planning this workshop was to encourage my students to take their time and really practice illustration techniques by mapping out their subject’s face, mix colors and learn about color theory, and jump right into painting. The class took its time, and folks were finishing around 2.5 hours into the workshop. The unveilings were the fun part; each pairing revealed their paintings to their partner at the same time!
The space looked so beautiful, all lit up with the big paper flower sculptures created by ARTS staff member, Kelsey Kenny. The ARTS event’s team did an amazing job. I highly recommend ARTS After Dark for community art workshops.
Location: The ARTS Center, National City
Photographs: T.Jay Santa Ana
Example Artwork created by: Katie Carrion, Ulises Galicia, Zade Landegger
Sanctuary Everywhere with ARTS
I had the opportunity to make art in collaboration with hundreds of youth participants who participate in ARTS enrichment, afterschool programs, during the Fall 2025 Season at A Reason to Survive. Each season, ARTS selects an overarching theme to develop art lessons and meaningful conversations around. Last Fall the theme was, “Sanctuary Everywhere,” the places we find peace, safety, and community.
To develop the branding for the ARTS seasonal exhibition in this theme, I created a survey to go out to all classes in the Fall. I provided a prompt and a box for writing and drawing to help me navigate imagery for this special Project.
The outcome was fun branding, illustrated and watercolored, displaying a wide variety of places and things that youth and staff feel a sense of sanctuary in! The festival had the artwork and process displayed around the building for the audience to experience and interact with. ARTS made buttons of my artwork!! I loved the buttons so much. I was so proud of this work, and it was so fun to spend my time painting these, reading the words of youth ages 5-18, and seeing the artwork blown up at the festival! Please enjoy the paintings and a blog written and posted on the website for A Reason to Survive, my workplace I have had the honor coordinating programming at for the last three years.
