Our Instructors

 “I want to provide you the space and knowledge that will help reach your artistic aspiration. A place that encourages creativity and uniqueness, guide you in building your art portfolio, and helps you grow as an artist where you can follow your dreams.”  Iris Heffes graduated from H I T (The Center of Technology Education, Holon) with a major in Industrial Design and teaching diploma. She also studied two years of ceramic art at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. As an artist Iris mostly paints abstract and Sculpt figurative.   

Andrew Cortez graduated with a BFA from Laguna College of Art and Design majoring in Drawing and Painting and minoring in Animation. He has been teaching art since 2017 as well as designing Portrait and Plein Air workshops. His fine art work has been featured in multiple exhibitions and competitions across the US, and he draws and paints commission portraits. He loves teaching and hopes to inspire his students to try out many different art forms.

Olivia Stude is a graduate of Laguna College of Art and Design, receiving both a Bachelor’s degree in Drawing and Painting and a Master’s degree in Fine Art Painting. She specializes in portraiture and plein air painting. She is an experienced art teacher and uses her knowledge to enhance the skills and artwork of her students. Guided by her own artistic journey, she strives to inspire and empower emerging artists, nurturing their creativity and encouraging them to explore the limitless possibilities of artistic expression.

Cassandra Bellomo is a Storyboard artist, Illustrator, and Animator from Orange County. She graduated with her BFA from California State University Fullerton with a focus in entertainment arts. Since graduating she has been freelancing with independent studios and teaching at Orange County School of the Arts. Teaching the next generation of artists and helping them find their confidence has been an exceedingly rewarding experience, and she plans to keep the positive momentum going.

 Emma Aldridge is a student at Fullerton College majoring in Entertainment Arts studying illustration, storyboarding and digital art software. She is an aspiring concept artist specializing in vibrant fantasy landscape illustration. She is passionate about creating environments and worlds that make a story come to life. She loves helping kids develop their own unique artistic expression. 

 Shannon L. is an artist and designer based in Orange County. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Communications Design from Pratt Institute. She has a lifelong passion for the arts and believes that true knowledge begins with a firm grasp of the fundamentals. Painting and sculpting are her favorite mediums. Driven by a willingness to experiment, she finds endless inspiration in the natural world and its wonders. 

Kanjana Mathongsa holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree, with her main focus being product design, and she has a minor in contemporary clay from Otis College of Art and Design. She wears multiple creative hats, working as a freelance product designer adept in both physical and digital realms. Kanjana is also a talented ceramist who specializes in crafting functional art pieces for homes. But what truly drives her is the joy of teaching and helping her students discover their own passions and interests, making her an inspiring educator on a mission.

Anna Eisen is a senior at Laguna College of Art and Design, and is currently working towards her BFA in Drawing and Painting. Her artistic journey is inspired by her fascination with nature and diverse scientific disciplines. In addition to her love for oil painting, Anna passionately explores the world of mixed media, clay, and jewelry crafting. She believes that art doesn’t live within the box of other people’s expectations, but rather what the artist believes is great and feels fulfilled by.

Teagan Travalino is a digital illustrator from the Big Island of Hawai’i. Teagan graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She’s inspired by fairytales, nature and anything cute! Specializing in children’s book illustration her work is whimsical and colorful. Her hope is to inspire others and tell a story through her art.

Sandra Chang is a graduate of Art Center College of Design, specializing in 2D illustration both traditionally and digitally. She believes that the heart of illustration lies in the curiosity and bravery of wanting to learn about the world and to understand that illustration is a reflection of how one sees the world. With a passion for storytelling and drawing, she wants to help students explore their creative side through traditional techniques taught digitally. She wishes to inspire students to be curious enough to see the world differently and how to translate their interests into a story that they wish to tell.

Arianne Coleto graduated from California Polytechnic University, Pomona with a BFA in Visual Communication Design. She enjoys creating work that focuses on thoughtful, universal design and leaves an emotional impact on those who encounter them. Inspired by designers who create warm and heartfelt designs, she aims to design positively transformative works.