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.   

 Since graduating Chapman University in 2012 with a B.A. in Art, Mari Takeyama works as a freelance Concept and Production Artist in the film and gaming industries. She has contributed to a variety of independent films, commercials, music videos, and prototype footage for major motion picture studios. Currently designing for local fantasy board games and video game hardware, Mari also has experience commercializing her own line of personal artwork as well as classical fine art commissions. She specializes in drawing and sketching techniques, and has been teaching at Studio H for the past 4 years. 

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.

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.

Cameron Derby is an artist and photographer originally from Akron, OH.  She graduated from Columbia College Chicago where she got her Bachelor’s in Photography. Her passion and focus is portraiture, whether it be people, pets or characters.  Her interest in people, culture and color are what motivate most of her work. She also enjoys combining her fine art and photography. Cameron’s been teaching Drawing and Sketching at Studio H since 2017.  Through teaching, she loves helping students discover themselves as artists.    

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 Lee 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. 

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.