After School Art Online

I apologize in advance for posting this in multiple places but frankly this review is long overdue and I know Monica deserves it.

I started taking art lessons from Monica when I was 10 years old in her garage. I continued my weekly lessons all the way throughout high school. In those 8 years, I have watched Monica grow out of the garage and expand to a couple different studios throughout Castro Valley. I have always enjoyed art and Monica helped me develop the artistic skill for it. Talent may be innate, but hard work and practice is what will differentiate you. Because of her years of experience in the industry, she offered lessons in everything from animation to Renaissance paintings, so I never felt like I had to stick to one subject. It allowed me to explore my creative side and gave me a hobby outside of school. It was a safe space for me to forget about all my external stressors for a little bit each week. I loved taking pictures of my art at the end of each lesson and seeing the changes that slowly became a final product.

Now that I am 22 and away at pharmacy school, I still attend paint nights on the weekend when I don’t have upcoming exams. Sometimes I go to paint, because I am stressed about upcoming exams. I have tried doing art by myself at home, but it is not the same. I guess you could say I am a bit more experienced, so I don’t need a teacher to watch over me constantly, but sometimes I get stuck, not knowing where to take my work. As people say, there is always room for improvement. What that happens, Monica is there to steer me in the right direction and push me out of my comfort zone to take it to the next level. That is a considerable feat considering I am 99% introverted. Art has challenges of its own that can be very rewarding when overcome. Monica adapts her teaching style depending on the student level and now that I am older, I can appreciate that. If only my professors could do that. I could pick a picture of a cartoon to recreate and she could somehow turn it into a lesson.

Overall I am grateful to have Monica as my art teacher and will never forget the impact she has had on my life.