At Bay Area Art Explorers,
we are art coaches, providing tips, techniques and practice to enhance artistic skills and confidence!
We teach each student to increase observational skills and master new materials, and in doing so they gain confidence. Our coaching and guidance helps every student create a specific style, as well as encouragement to make their work their very own.
Every project will be unique, a reflection of personal, evolving artistic style.
We specialize in hands-on art education classes for ages 5 and above, including camps, workshops, after-school enrichment classes, in-school sessions, birthday parties, adult workshops and private lessons for both children and adults.
Homeschool Weekly Lessons 2024
Private residence in Alamo • Spring 2024
I offer 1.5-to-2-hour art lessons for your homeschool group. Lessons are adjusted based on the students’ skill level. This session had 10 students who are all cousins, who made it so fun!
Each class has this format: Start with an interactive slide-based discussion of the theme or art style of the week. We review photos of the focal artist, and their work. The kids and I will explore what makes the artwork similar in style and I will encourage them to increase their observation skills. When reviewing images, kids point out their observations as well as favorites. This helps them stay engaged. After the discussion, we will move into a directed, step-by-step art lesson representing focus style.
My approach is to make it a positive experience, so students will grow to love creating art for a lifetime, no matter the age of the student.
Peacock Birthday Party 2023
Private residence in Lafayette • December 2023
In this 2.5-hour birthday party, we celebrate a little girl turning seven years old by drawing using a template and then watercolor painting a joyful peacock. First, we observe photos of real peacocks, with their festive feathers. Next, I provide a step-by-step process for how to paint the features. The kids have fun using a straw to blow unpredictable splays of paint in their feathers. Each work is finished with a matte frame for the party goers to take home and hang their artwork.
Order up your own custom art birthday party. You can choose one of our suggested themes, or offer some ideas, and we will come up with something that your birthday, so your child be delighted.
Animal Hot Air Balloon Camps 2023
Private residences in Martinez and Walnut Creek • June and July 2023
In this is a week-long, morning art camp, children learned to make hot air balloon out of overlapping tissue paper squares. Then we build a collage of colorful overlapping papers to create playful animal characters. Lastly, we place each animal to complete the scene, just like children’s author and illustrator, Rafael Lopez. To keep some literature in the children’s’ summer, we begin each day reading one of Mr. Lopez ' books.
Junior High Watercolor Camp 2023
Private residence in Lafayette • July 2023
In this is a week-long, morning watercolor painting camp we focus on all things found in the tropical ocean waters. We taught some tricks and do lots of practice so that these older children will gain confidence to manipulate and control watercolor paint. The skill building sessions were of seashells in vibrant colors. The larger composition of a of a seahorse is the perfect subject for the flow-y turquoise watercolors. Each student frames this piece to take home.
Mother Daughter Zentangle Lessons 2023
Private residence in Martinez • February 2022
We gathered for two-week day evenings, where both moms and their older daughters created Valentine hearts using the zentanlge method of patterns and squiggles in fine permanent black marker. The following week,
I taught these ladies how to watercolor in the details to add vibrancy to their work.
Contact us to create your own custom lessons, with either your child or friends.
I’ve got some great ideas and I’ll come to you!
Private In-Home Lesson 2022
Private residence in Martinez • February 2022
I offer one-on-one lessons in your home. I come to you! Lessons are adjusted based on the student’s skill level. This class was for twin 6-year old brothers who enjoy art, and their mom was looking to give them more focus and skills.
My approach is to make it a positive experience, so students will grow to love creating art for a lifetime, no matter the age of the student. And this is the approach use in teaching to ages, including adults.
Girl Scouts Workshop 2022
Private residence in Martinez • March 2022
The Gils Scout troop gathered to work on their art badge. We begin with talking about key art concepts and discussing about the art’s development steps.
This workshop is a 2.5-to-3-hours, depending on design. The work can be either acrylics on canvas or watercolors, both 12” x 16”. Workshops always include all the supplies, and of course, the girls take their artwork home.
Reach out for any type of educative, or plain old creative, workshop for your gathering.
Lion Birthday Party 2023
Private residence in Lafayette • February 2023
In this 2.5-hour birthday party, we celebrate a little girl turning six years old by drawing and then painting her favorite animal, a female lion. First, we observe photos of real lionesses, then look at some illustrations for the to notice the details of her face and ears. Next, I provide a step-by-step process for drawing the face onto canvas. The kids paint them using acrylics, and lastly, we add the fine details with permanent marker.
Order up your own custom art birthday party! Choose one of our suggested themes, or offer your ideas, and we will come up with a project your birthday child will delight in!
Chinese Dragon Summer Camps 2021
Private residence in Martinez and Walnut Creek • June and July 2021
This is a week-long, morning art camp, children learn to make whimsical, playful animals just like children’s author and illustrator, Rafael Lopez. Through the creation of rich, textured papers and the building of collages, this colorful, dynamic Chinese dragon came to life.
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
Lizard Collage
Summer Camps 2022
Private residences in Martinez and Walnut Creek • June & July 2022
In this week-long, morning art camp, children learned to make textured lizard and desert scenes just like children’s author and illustrator, Rafael Lopez. The children will build a collage using paper they create. Each day we read one of Mr. Lopez ' books, hand-make some colorful papers, and then cut collage pieces.
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
2021 Spring Zoom
Art Camp
Weekly After School Lessons via Zoom• Spring 2021
We covered the cutest critters, like a llama, hummingbirds, and dragonflies, as well as Spring flowers in a watering can. This session is super fun as multiple projects use watercolors and a splattering technique which kids always love!
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
2021 Junior High
Watercolor Camp
Private residence in Lafayette • July 2021
In this is a week-long, morning watercolor painting camp focuses on a coastal scene with a lighthouse and a sandpiper wading in the shoreline. We taught the kids some tricks and do lots of practice to have them gain confidence, before working on a larger composition. Each student chose their favorite piece to frame.
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
Valentine’s Day Gift & Wrapping Workshop
Private residence in Moraga• February 2019
A Valentine’s Day project inspired by artist Jim Dine’s work was the basis of this adorable gift, wrapped and ready for giving! The students learned to use pattern, color and scale to make it uniquely their own.
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
Midnight Owl Acrylic
Adult Art Class
Private residence in Concord • September 2020
A group of art-loving friends got together to learn how to blend colors and create textures with this fun and versatile medium.
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
Monarch Butterfly Acrylic
Adult Art Class
Private residence in Lafayette • October 2020
Students develop their eye for shape and pattern and they closely observe the shapes and details of a Monarch butterfly’s wings.
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
Dreamcatcher Acrylic
Adult Art Class
Private residence in Lafayette • October 2020
Creativity and individual artist interpretation is highly encouraged in these whimsical dream catchers painted on stretched canvas and acrylics. This would be a fun mother+teen daughter class!
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
Birch Trees Acrylic
Adult Art Class
Private residence in Walnut Creek • March 2020
This class highlights playful ways to create art, including using the side of a credit card as a palette knife, and painter’s tape to block out the whites of the birch tree trunks…the results were unique, bright and beautiful!
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
Springtime Bunnies
Watercolor Adult Art Class
Private residence in Martinez • March 2021
With an eye on Easter, these adult students learned basic watercolor tips and techniques, such as wet-on-wet to blend the subtle colors of the rabbit’s fur.
Contact us at artexplorersbayarea@gmail.com to schedule this workshop!
