The Art Ready Teen Art Mini-Exhibition features artwork created by the amazing teens who took part in our Art Ready class—a four-session crash course in getting ready for art school. During the class, students learned about building a strong portfolio, writing artist statements, prepping for interviews, and more. The pieces in this mini-show were made either during the class or in their own time, and they highlight just how creative and motivated these young artists are. We’re so excited to see where their artistic journeys take them—they’re not just talented, they’re awesome humans too!

To me, summer is also known as “Watercolor Season”. I love my dots and extremely intricate artworks, but there’s also something special (and sanity-restoring) about heading out into nature for a day and capturing a beautiful, bold, landscape. Plein Air painting is a particular love of mine and it’s always nice to complete a painting in a number of hours instead of months!

To bring my unique mark-making style to my watercolors, I trade my dotting tools for a fine-tipped masking fluid bottle. I start by essentially sketching my composition in masking fluid. Over time, I’ve discovered that with masking fluid in hand (instead of a pencil or paint brush), my brain lets go and I can capture the flow and patterns of nature surrounding me in a loose and gestural way. After a layer or two of paints, the masking fluid is lifted. Some areas are filled in with a thin wash, but much of the white remains allowing for an interesting and unique, high contrast landscape painting. Every year I turn my watercolor paintings into desktop and mini calendars which I sell around the holiday season so the images can be enjoyed by many all year long!