Text: (858)-203-8508
Email: Contact@TheArtistLabSD.com
Meet Our Team
Fine Art Teacher Team
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Lead Instructor
Mr. John
It is an absolute pleasure to be helping others make discoveries, reach milestones and further expand their creative path. John's scope of mediums range from drawing/painting, murals, large scale and multimedia work. He believes that no project is impossible and is ready and willing to join you on your artistic journey.
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Senior Instructor
Ms. Arden
Passionate about all things colorful and creative, Arden works in a variety of mediums including pastels, paint, and colored pencils. As an illustrator, she’s skilled in design, composition, perspective, and color theory. In her free time, she enjoys crafting collages and small sculptures, always eager for a new artistic challenge.
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Team Coach/Instructor
Ms. Jessie
With a Master’s in Art Education and 10 years of experience in the Bay Area, she focuses on nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and social-emotional growth through collaborative art learning. Her strengths include curriculum design, education leadership, and working with both traditional media like charcoal and clay, as well as tech-based art such as 3D printing, animation, AI, and AR.
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Instructor
Ms. Ivonne
With both the love and passion for art and teaching, being able to educate people about new artistic worlds is an amazing opportunity. Ivonne works with various types of mediums like Painting/Illustrating and explores with different art styles like Expressionism and Surrealism. She loves to artistically challenge herself and is committed to guide you into learning something new and further strengthen your abilities in your artistic journey.
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Instructor/ Marketing Designer
Ms. Joyce
Joyce’s passion for art and design began with helping her grandmother adjust font sizes and colors on her phone, revealing how small changes can make a big difference. This inspired her journey into digital and UI/UX design, where she now uses tools like Procreate, Adobe XD, and Figma to create accessible, inclusive visuals. She is dedicated to designing user-friendly experiences that support individuals with disabilities and special education needs.
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Instructor
Ms. Claudia
Claudia Salas graduated from Laguna College of Art and Design in 2021. She majored in Fine arts, drawing, and painting. She has experience in multiple mediums including oil paint, charcoal, and watercolor. In her free time she creates colorful still lifes, plein air paintings, and figure drawings, taking influence from the eye-catching female pre-raphaelite poses and the rendering of William-Adolphe Bouguereau.
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Instructor
Mr. Jeremy
Jeremy has been been practicing and studying art since he can remember. His specialties include acrylic, watercolor, sketching & drawing, and multimedia. His teaching experience includes introducing children to various schools and techniques of art to adult painting instruction provided at Michaels craft stores sponsored by Grumbacher. When Jeremy isn’t working on his own art projects, he enjoys spending time outdoors with friends and family and walking his beloved pug, Paco.
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Instructor
Mr. Deron
Deron Cohen, a San Diego native and UCLA BFA graduate, has exhibited widely, including a solo show at Intersection Arts in 2023 and international work in Amsterdam. As co-founder of Paint Night Group, he’s collaborated for over 20 years. Deron also creates illustrations and graphic design, and teaches art to all ages, focusing on art as a healing practice. His recent work explores inspiration and the transformative power of creativity.
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Instructor
Ms. Olivia
As a practicing artist, Olivia enjoys working with various mediums including, but not limited to, charcoal, acrylic, house paint and paper clippings. Her work often focuses on themes of nature and metamorphosis. Olivia’s style lies at the intersection between representational and abstract artwork. She uses art as a way to grow as an individual and as a way to connect with others, striving to build community through both sharing and teaching art.
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Instructor
Ms. Heather
Heather’s passion for art has led her to explore diverse creative paths. A UCSD Visual Arts graduate, she’s a published illustrator and advocate for children's art education. Skilled in acrylic and oil painting, she also works with graphite, colored pencil, and charcoal. She’s currently seeking opportunities to exhibit her work and teach art, sharing her creativity with others.
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Instructor
Ms. Shelly
Shelly is a passionate art educator with 15 years of experience and a strong fine arts background. She works with various mediums like charcoal, acrylic, pastels, watercolor and more. She teaches K–12 students in schools, museums, and camps. Outside the classroom, she creates both realistic and abstract art.
Instructor
Mr. Leon
Leon began his art education at Watts Atelier, studying for 2.5 years under Ron Lemen, whose mentorship inspired him to believe in himself and pursue excellence. In 2011, he earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Fine Arts from the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since then, he has built a successful career as both an artist and educator, dedicated to inspiring his students to follow their passions and strive for their best work.
Management Team
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Founder of The Artist Lab San Diego
Ms. Stella
Stella has a background in advertising, marketing strategies, and a master’s degree in media management. Throughout her career, she has explored many fields, but education has always been her true passion. As the founder of The Artist Lab San Diego, she focuses on building a strong team of instructors and creating an environment where kids can learn, explore, and express themselves through art. Her goal is to inspire creativity and confidence in children by providing them with the right guidance and resources to grow.
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Business Development Manager
Ms. Catherine
Catherine has a diverse background in music administration, fashion retail, and behavioral therapy for children with autism. She found her passion in art administration, collaborating with artists and educators to provide creative opportunities for youth. With a BA in psychology, she values art's role in child development and is committed to enhancing art education in schools. In her spare time, Catherine sings with the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus and enjoys beach outings with her dog.
Teachers' Portfolio
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