Congratulations to Jacqueline Huang on her acceptance to the Illustration program at Art Center College of Design!
 

​Additional Colleges include
 
●      Illustration (Otis College of Art and Design - scholarship $16,000/year $64,000/4 years)
●      Illustration (UC San Diego)

​Jacqueline had less than six months to prepare a portfolio and worked very hard to complete her goal.

​Looking back at her work she was very interested in the story telling narratives depicted through dark surreal experiences in the human psyche.

Through continued dialogue about understanding her work a social criticism of image was her focus. Subsequentially, creating powerful imagery.

 
Her early influence came from her father a painter himself and her observation of his work ethic and working as a graphic designer. Throughout the years an curiosity of the unknown, dreams, experiences and the passage of storytelling intrigued her to become an artist.

​Jacqueline time here was full of enlightenment and hours of life drawing for portfolio-ready submission. Many subjects were taken on relating to Fine Art, Graphic Design and Illustration, created a well-rounded portfolio. Concentrations of knowledge, skill development, and refinement and assistance of a well written essay also contributed to the finalization of a competent submission and scholarship package.

​Jacqueline time here was full of enlightenment and hours of life drawing for portfolio-ready submission. Many subjects were taken on relating to Fine Art, Graphic Design and Illustration, created a well-rounded portfolio. Concentrations of knowledge, skill development, and refinement and assistance of a well written essay also contributed to the finalization of a competent submission and scholarship package.

Take advantage of the WCAAD online portfolio preparation class, get into your dream college！

Please contact:
San Dimas Branch, Tel：909-288-3213，
Email：[email protected];

Rancho  Cucamonga Branch, Tel：909-859-4488，
Email：[email protected];

Yorba Linda Branch, Tel：626-208-7536，
Email：[email protected];

San Gabriel Headquarters, Tel：626-292-1783，
​Email：[email protected]
 

​(By Omar Gallegos, WCAAD Vice Principal and Director of Education)

The annual China Children’s Arts, Calligraphy & Photography Contest announced the winners recently. Three students from West California Academy of Art and Design won the Grand Prize awards: Eric Chang, 9 years old; Cynthia Chao, 8 years old; Tommy Tang, 5 years old.

​Multiple WCAAD students won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, and their winning artworks will be selected in the China Children’s Arts, Calligraphy & Photography Album (Volume 23).

​WCAAD is awarded the certificate for the organization and supervision of the China Children’s Arts, Calligraphy & Photography Album (Volume 23) together with the 2020 CCAE Arts, Calligraphy & Photography Works Exhibition.

​Some of the winning artworks are WCAAD online art class projects during the COVID-19 epidemic.

​No matter where you live and how far away you are from the school, now your children are able to take the art classes of WCAAD, the WASC accredited school. The WCAAD faculty and teachers have prepared online lessons that are accessible at home and nurturing to students. As long as you have Internet access, you can register the online art classes for your children right away.

1st Place：Melanie Zhang, 8 years old

​The Academy highly encourages parents and students to try out these online classes. These are available resources for parents and students who wish to continue to learn art and create productive and proactive art during the period of school closure due to the COVID-19 epidemic.  

​1st Place：William Wang, 11 years old

​1st Place：Sophia Nguyen, 6 years old

Please contact:

San Dimas Branch Tel：909-288-3213，
Email: [email protected];

Rancho  Cucamonga Branch, Tel：909-859-4488，
Email：[email protected];

Yorba Linda Branch, Tel：626-208-7536，
Email：[email protected];
​
San  Gabriel Headquarters, Tel：626-292-1783，
Email：[email protected]    

11 years old, for her acceptance to California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley (CSArts-SGV) ! CSArts-SGV is a public charter school that provides a creative, challenging, and nurturing environment offering bright and talented students a rigorous college-preparatory education and pre-professional arts conservatory training. CSArts-SGV is a tuition-free, donation-dependent program made possible through a unique public-private partnership with the Duarte Unified School District. For certain students we realize that some youths have a clear vision of their career path. There are several high schools dedicated to the Visual and Performing Arts located in or near California, and these institutes become options for students and parents. Our program caters to a variety of tracks, particularly one where students choose an Art High School in the Visual or Performing Arts. Here they create a strong portfolio under guidance and mentorship that include: interview preparation, consultation, essay review and recommendation letters for those schools. This intensive goal-oriented curriculum, deepens their artistic development through exploration and strengths skills and range. With guided instruction students fulfill criteria set by chosen school and further, we see evidence after gaining admittance students continue their education with us for the pursuit of a college portfolio and AP assistance.

Congratulations to WCAAD student Catherine Ruan on her acceptance to Claremont McKenna for 2021! Catherine will pursue Neuroscience and psychology.

Catherine creative journey really began early on where she attended children’s art classes as a hobby while she pursued other interest.
 

​Years later she returned to the portfolio preparation class at West California Academy of Art and Design. Working with Catherine was always a joy in seeing her enthusiastic about all aspects of art. She was always interested in learning about her interest as well as what others were learning.
 

​Her ideas and drive to carry them out, demonstrates a person who is willing to go to, far lengths in everything she sets out to achieve. Every project is considered and researched with care. Her genuine, spontaneous wit never disappoints, and, her desire to innovate and inspire will guide her to a bright future.

Notable achievements are going to Regionals with the school's Robotics team while maintaining her grades and taking 8 AP,s  while balancing Art classes at WCAAD.

Catherine's Statement

​“There is art all around us and despite having drawn my whole life, it has never failed to astound me. Whether it's others' art or even my own, the ability to conjure up a story or a message in one's head and then spread it out onto a canvas of any sort is only a small part of what's so magical about art. For quite some time during my life, I drew and it felt like a chore. But as I began to become more serious about refining my skills and improving, I started to have fun again, because I was growing more confident in myself and what I can do. There is no right or wrong answer in art; there is only your hand, your heart, and your mind. I truly believe art is what you make of it. Always ask yourself what are you trying to convey? It doesn't have to be a strong message calling for justice or change. It can be a simple story. It can be nothing. It can be everything. I love art, even if I'm not majoring in it, and it's something I'll always take with me no matter where I go in the future. Have fun with art! Let yourself free!”
​

Parental support
 
“My parents have always been a big influence in my life. Unlike the stereotypical Asian family where being a doctor or a lawyer when you grow up is mandatory, my parents have always supported me in whatever subject I wanted to explore Even though I still want to be in the medical field when I am in the workforce, my parents have always supported the mindset that as long as I was happy with my career, then they would be happy too.”
​

Catherine’s Parent Testimonial
 
2020 was an unusual year due to the COVID-19 which made people very depressed. On the afternoon of December 15, I suddenly heard that "I got in!" My daughter earned acceptance to her dream college: Claremont McKenna. That was really the happiest news for us in 2020. 17 years’ effort finally paid off. At a very young age my daughter showed interest in various art forms including music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but what she loved most is drawing. We sent her to learn art at West California Academy of Art and Design. Although she is busy with her studies and extracurricular activities, she takes art classes with a persistent attitude. She said she loves drawing very much and art makes her relax and happy. To her, art creation is a big joy of life.  According to the Montessori, an Italian preschool educator, children learn through the work that they do, and able to move onto extensions when they complete the task. It is not adults who shape children’s future, but children who complete their own self construction, who interact with the surrounding environment and understand the environment. Children have their own personalities, and they have the beauty and dignity of creative spirit. Children's progress does not depend on their age, but on being able to freely watch everything around them, and achieve self-learning through children's inner strength. Interest is always the best teacher for children.
​

About CMC
Claremont McKenna College, one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, prepares students to make a difference. Located on a scenic, tree-lined residential campus 30 miles east of Los Angeles, Claremont McKenna is a member of The Claremont Colleges, a seven-college consortium modeled after Oxford University. CMC students choose from more than 2,200 classes and participate in co-curricular activities with 7,000 other students at Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College, Pomona College, and Scripps College, as well as the Claremont Graduate University and Keck Graduate Institute. Students have the best of both worlds: the intimacy of a small residential college with small classes and a student-faculty ratio of nine to one, and the shared resources of a larger research university.



​Many Claremont McKenna graduates go on to receive prestigious post-graduate fellowships and degrees in business, law, medicine, and many other fields. CMC alumni thrive in a wide range of careers including consulting, education, financial services, government and public policy, media and entertainment, medicine, nonprofit leadership, science, and technology.  Claremont McKenna excels nationally in post-graduate job placement and satisfaction, salaries, and career success.
​
(By Omar Gallegos, Vice Principal and Director of Education for West California Academy of Art and Design)