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.   

Mari Takeyama is a 2D artist specializing in realistic illustration and character-creature concept design. Since graduating with a BA in Art from Chapman University, she creates work for various companies in diverse industries, including IDW Publishing, Thermaltake USA and StandWithUs. Her passion is making art that entertains, educates and enriches, and she hopes students will feel independent and confident as they explore their limitless potential with the arts. 

Em Hernandez graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelors in Art Education. She works as a Scenic Artist at Knott’s Berry Farm and is also a freelance illustrator. Em loves to work across different mediums but her favorites are drawing, digital art, and clay sculpture. She’s inspired by folk stories and would describe her art style as whimsical and dramatic. Her philosophy is that art making should be playful, and the process is just as important as the result.

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.

Kerri Sabine-Wolf has been teaching art for over 18 years at the college level and in private art studios since receiving her MFA in painting from The Claremont Graduate University. She frequently exhibits work in galleries across southern California. Her artwork is in national and international collections. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that with a strong foundation of skills, any creative endeavor is possible. She considers herself a Contemporary Realist, and she primarily works in oil, but has a strong background in drawing. Often combing the two disciplines in her work revealing the history of the painting. The act of mark making can be beautifully realistic or abstract but each mark has meaning and can be quite meditative. 

 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. 

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.

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.

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.