Georgia O’Keeffe once said, “Nobody sees a flower—really—it is so small it takes time.” Slow down with your subject. Instead of rushing to capture the whole, zoom in on a single detail—like the curve of a petal or the texture of a shadow. By enlarging and exaggerating what you see, you not only transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, you also train your eye to notice subtleties most people overlook.

Discover how to layer, blend, and burnish with colored pencils for vibrant, professional results. Learn beginner-friendly techniques to create depth, smooth shading, and luminous color in your artwork

Discover the art of encaustic collage — a luminous mixed-media technique that uses wax to layer paper, fabric, and photographs. Learn tips, materials, and safety basics to create glowing, textured artworks.

Feeling stuck at the blank canvas stage? Here's your permission to break the rules. Abstract art isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. It's where your emotions take the lead and your brush becomes your voice.

Discover how to use Gamble Garden in Palo Alto as inspiration for plein air sketching with a limited nature-inspired palette.

As summer winds down, August offers some of the most breathtaking sunsets of the year—golden yellows melting into soft pinks and dusky purples.

Camper at Pacific Art League painting a portrait in oil paint

Pacific Art League’s Expressive Art Summer Camp with Bill Wilson Center offers free, trauma-informed visual arts education to underserved San Jose youth—fostering creativity, confidence, and connection through community-based art programs.

It all begins with an idea.