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Just In Time For The Holidays 2025
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In Their Own Words: Stephany
‘Last year, seeing my art hanging in the San Diego Watercolor Society gallery felt like a dream.’
May 3, 2024
Upcoming events
May 7: Yoga Workshop
May 7: Next Jobs Workshop
May 8: Rise To Resilience Workshop
May 8: Financial Fitness 103 Workshop
May 11: My First Home Shopping Day
“I started drawing and painting when I was 12 years old, when I was at an emergency group home called Polinsky. I watched a girl drawing Mickey Mouse and I was amazed that she could draw something just by looking at it. She told me to just sit down and try, so I did, and before I knew it, I could do it too.
After I turned 18, I focused on moving out of my transitional housing program and experiencing life without foster care. I stopped drawing and painting.
When I attended the first art workshop for R2R hosted by the San Diego Watercolor Society, I wondered why I ever let it go of painting in the first place.
It’s the only time that my mind is genuinely quiet – there’s no buzz or extra, crazy, spiraling thoughts. Just peace. I feel like the workshops let me reconnect to that version of myself.
I learned new techniques for painting, like how to get a better splatter on your paintings, how to thin out your paints, complimentary, cool and warm colors. I also learned about Basquiat and doodle art – the kind of things I never imagined could hang in a gallery.
Michele, the workshop facilitator taught me that it’s common to have doubts or to second guess your artwork. She called it the “teenager phase,” a part in the creative process where you start to judge everything. She encouraged me to let my painting rest and come back to it later with fresh eyes.
If you didn’t grow up with art training or around an art community, you don’t know that almost all artists struggle with the “teenager phase.” Now, I’m better equipped to move past that stage, take a step back, relax and come return to it when I’m ready to tune in again.
One of my favorite parts of the workshops was seeing how much the San Diego Watercolor Society artists really cared about us. They were willing to help and teach us so much. They built relationships with us, and it was really emotional to see how proud they were of us. It was really fulfilling.
Last year, seeing my art hanging in the gallery felt like a dream. Now I know that this is something I can do, it doesn’t matter if I didn’t get to explore it as much as I wanted to when I was younger.
I had a large piece called “A Girl Hidden in A World of Color” in last year’s show. It was sold to a woman who has a daughter with autism. Her daughter loves color and that piece hangs in her room now. It’s amazing. And I am so excited to show new work again this year!
Support JIT Artists!
The Palette of Possibilities Exhibit, featuring work from Just in Time for Foster Youth participants opens Friday, May 3rd from 5p-8pm at the San Diego Watercolor Society’s Liberty Station gallery.
Their artwork will be on display throughout May, National Foster Care Awareness month. All proceeds from work sold will go directly to the youth.
