Young artists shine at local exhibit

An exhibit featuring 60 works by young South County artists is on display at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center.

The exhibit spotlights watercolor paintings created by more than a dozen children ages 4-17, who are students of Uvas Valley art studio, owned and operated by Diane Wallace.

An artists’ reception is scheduled Feb. 21, “to honor the kids who made the paintings,” Wallace said. The reception will take place 4-6pm at the CCC, 17000 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill. The exhibit will remain on display until March 31. 

The original watercolor expressions depict a variety of creative subjects, from imaginative whimsical scenes to realistic depictions of nature. 

Wallace, who has taught art for more than 50 years, said she teaches art by instructing children to paint their favorite subjects and taking their time to learn the fundamentals of watercolor creation. 

“They can do amazing things if they’re just taught some techniques and have some tools to work with,” Wallace said. “I let them choose their favorite subject so they’re more excited. When they’re excited they are more ambitious, and they set bigger goals and achieve them.”

Instruction at Uvas Valley art studio includes how to choose and mix colors, and encouraging each young artist to use art to convey their unique personality, Wallace said. Classes are three hours, giving students ample time to independently consider their works and how to approach them.

Wallace’s method of art instruction aims to instill problem solving and other skills that the children can use in other subjects and hone for prolonged use later in life. 

“I want them to be active learners, participate in problem solving, learn through a lot of data and sort out what is the most important thing—and plan for that first,” Wallace said. “When they’re more active learners they get more excited about it. That carries over to academic subjects and life in general. It’s teaching them how to think, how to analyze problems.”

For more information about Uvas Valley art studio, email Diane Wallace at wa***********@gm***.com or visit dianewallaceart.com. 

Youth art exhibit

About 60 watercolor paintings created by young artists learning at Uvas Valley art studio are on display at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill. An artists’ reception will take place 4-6pm Feb. 21. The exhibit will remain on display through March 31. The CCC is open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, with additional hours during community events.