Our children’s curriculum emphasizes specialized and well-rounded courses that build core skills, while pushing children to create distinctive, exceptional and meaningful work. 

​Our art training program is leading in preparing youths to seek and transform, both as artists and creative individuals. 

​We believe that creativity is the key to shape our children’s future, and our curriculum allows them to develop a creative understanding of the world. 

​We employ an inspirational method of teaching by arranging our curriculum according to the phases of children’s psychological development and is infused with current National Art Standards. Our approach intensifies students’ interest in the arts, by strengthening their skills in artistic expression. 

​A carefully calibrated mix of rigorous courses are designed to help individuals of all skills levels get the most of their art education; not only improving their abilities, creativity, but also their intellectual performance in other subjects. 

​Students ultimately build up stepping-stones to reach their full potential, and we promote a cross culture dialogue through an awareness of historical and cultural context, artistic perceptions and aesthetic valuing. 

​Through our core fundamentals, students not only improve their aesthetics, temperament, and knowledge, but also their capability of turning creative ideas into finished works. 

​Whether students simply have an interest in art, or would like to learn more about art careers, our unique art curriculum provides a breadth of knowledge necessary for facing a shifting future and setting them up for a continuous growth. 

​The Academy’s desire is to instill our students with proficiency in various areas of art study and build holistic views of art and design, as well as meant to be a transitional and enlightening time that will prepare students for their following portfolio preparation and college experience; or at least carry their education beyond the classroom becoming leaders in their respective fields while understanding careers and related fields in Art and Design targeting visual literacy and focusing on process-oriented art, building self-confidence, and keeping art fun!

On Monday June 20, 2022 the Portfolio Preparation class of West California Academy of Art and Design took a fieldtrip to the Descanso Garden in La Canada. The trip was design to give an opportunity and dynamic educational experience, activities and resources, and to encourage discussion. Topics discussed were of composition and strategies. Exercises meant to help students with there personal work. Student were given guides of landscape artist to reference to as they they received templates of compositional variants. Students created various drawings using several techniques and materials for better acquaintance in their portfolio journey’s.

It is my great pleasure to congratulate Yijie “Eric” Lin in being accepted at Art Center College of Design in the Illustration program with a scholarship of $22,500/year total $90,000.
 
In addition, Eric recently has been accepted to: SAIC–School of the Art Institute of Chicago - scholarship 17,850/year total 71,400; SVA-School of Visual Arts New York; Parsons-The New School for Design $19,000/year total $76,000.

​Since Eric arrived at our Academy, he demonstrated a talent that is exceptional. Eric’s ideas and execution have been enhanced through his determination to become a better artist technically, through process and the ability to generate and experiment with styles. 

​He executes his ideas fully with research and can connect to diverse audiences. His creative and passion for art has propelled him to be as active in class and engage outside the classroom.

​Here, in the life drawings, Eric has been able to capture a sense of movement and intimacy in his works, inspiring others to follow. 

​He has won many awards including Congressional Art Award in Spring 2020. A prize winner for 2020 China children’s Art Calligraphy and photography exhibit. The following three awards were presented to Eric as he won top prizes in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards-Alliance for Young Artists & Writers 2022: 2 Golden Key Awards,1 Silver Award and 2 Honorable Mention Awards.

​The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards were founded in 1923 and, for nearly a century, have inspired bold ideas in creative teens throughout the country.
 
Eric has a great sense of color and incorporates elements of urban style mixed with traditional media in his art. He has taken Graffiti, letter development and marker and spray control as well as color theory, with many traditional and digital classes giving him a balanced education. 

​He has extensive knowledge of art history and contemporary artists, and has been very active at his school. He is leading his AP art class, awarded the top three in South Pasadena annual art competition while taking studio studies and screen printing at UC’s. This last Summer he experienced the painting summer program at SVA School of Visual Arts. 

​In addition, past art courses include Art Center for teens, (painting graphic design and head study). He volunteers at the Armory for the Arts where he assists various art teachers, instructing 12–15-year-olds. There he also partook in embroidery, printmaking, sculpture, printmaking, and observational drawing course.

​Designing the cover page, Eric is never shy about showcasing his art and jumped at the chance to design for his school yearbook “COPA DE ORO” which included illustrations. 

​Other acclimates include participated in group shows such as PATRIAxYUIE Collab Gallery show, where he costumed painted leather and curated clothing 2019. Another show included SPARC Community art Project where he also was the business scenic painter. Eric even curated a show at Leminspace gallery show (Fall 2019), renting out a gallery space in Chinatown. 

In his spare time Eric has taught art classes for adults at the public park and at Armory Center for the Arts as the teaching assistant. As a backstage volunteer for TEDx South Pasadena High he met many people leading to painting murals on glass walls on mission street in South Pasadena, and in storefronts painting facades for many store fronts. Eric can even find the time to host P.E group lessons for 4-6 yr. old. 

Lastly, Eric is great athlete playing Squash, where he trained for 7 years competing in all age division. His highest ranking was # 35 in the nation. Currently ranked #1 in Boys under 19 competitions in Southern California he has 6 sliver tournament wins, 8 gold tournaments top finishes and 2 Regional Closed Tournaments finishing in the top 3. 

​I have seen Eric’s blossom into a more critical artist who, not only making work out of necessity but is engaging in this generation’s problems. In addition, he is motivating students through his work, ethic, and enthusiasm. This, combined with, an ambition will guide him to become an asset to his art community. 

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

WCAAD student Ray Yang has been admitted to Syracuse University for the Fall 2022 in the Architecture program！

​Ray has been a student at our academy majoring in Architecture. Ray has demonstrated focus determination and commitment. 

​His ability to focus and enhance technically proves his determination, commitment, and drive. He has shown proactive qualities and leadership. When I ask him to finish projects he will never disappoint. I am always impressed with ray’s solutions as he is a risk taker and a designer who brings modernity in his work. 

​As far as outside studies: this last summer, Ray applied for two UCLA Summer courses - Introduction to International & Area Studies, as well as An Introduction to Cities and Planning as he learned about architecture with a professor who tutors Doctors from Cornell University. Ray has done extensive research and is exposed to many articles from famous writers. Through this learnt knowledge from all areas of study has led him closer to his dream - the construction industry strengthens his passion. I see him bring this experience to all his work.

​As a child, Ray demonstrated interested in architecture, as his father’s profession gave him the insight of the design world. After the completion of his father graduate studies, he began his career as an architect. He owns a construction company, has developed, and patented a product for construction, and has built many facilities. Every time, he would introduce various kinds of architecture and knowledge to his son, inspiring his future endeavors- to create something meaningful and provocative.

​Here at WCAAD Ray has created independent work and really has come to maturity and individuality. He has improved on his fundamentals in all areas not only in architecture. 

​He has realized the competition and strived to be unique in his work. For Ray: “A building site expresses a sense of belonging and a close spiritual connection between people and the building. I think the essential natural relationship of architecture is the integration of the appearance of the building with the local atmosphere.” I know his concerns for future design buildings include sustainable materials and the connection between space and resident to increasing the sense of relationship with natural light, sense of warmth, spectacular aesthetics, and a sacred functional space.

​Ray has held art exhibition in Los Angeles for Live Charity Sale for Autistic Children held on March 17, 2021. As Vice-chairman of online auction, he collected more than $10,000 for children with autism by holding a virtual painting auction and received a certificate of congressional recognition. All proceeds were donated to a variety of hospitals or children's homes. Other online auction hosted was a virtual painting exhibition and successfully raise S2000 USD for Animal of World Foundation by auctioning paintings last October 2020.

​Extracurricular activities include: Tennis team (4 yrs.) and participated in team in the Crestview League and Century Conference honor in CIF in 2019. He participated in Swim winning Silver Medal Club 2016 2018 (4 years). In his spare time experiences include Art Learning Mission. He has also provided free art courses to children, including creating comics, anime, and painting, winning the President's Volunteer Service Award (Gold). (Volunteer: 250 Hours). For Student League LLC August 2021- As chief Human Resources Officer, Ray oversaw human resources management of online art tutoring service. (Volunteer: 100 Hours). Ray has my full support and our school as he ventures to his bright future.

​Syracuse University is a private research university in Syracuse New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. The large campus features an eclectic mix of architecture, ranging from nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival to contemporary buildings. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". Alumni and affiliates include three Nobel Prize laureates, one Fields Medalist, 36 Olympic Medalist, 13 Pulitzer Prize recipients, numerous Academy Award winners, two Rhodes Scholars, four Marshall Scholars, 46th president of the United Stated Joe Biden, and various governors and members of the US. Senate and House of Representatives. 

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

According to the Americans for the Arts, “organization are working to transform STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) into STEAM (science, technology, arts, engineering, mathematics)”. 

Creative and performing arts coexist as cursers for exploration of children’s education which often feeds into other attributes of developmental and transformative experiences and inspirations. This is a most precious time in early childhood development to take advantage of these moments as it can lead into proficiencies in hirer education and career contention, leadership and unique perspectives.

On June 13th, Teacher Omar and I were lead the students to an outdoor sketching session at the Los Angeles Zoo. This outdoor activity was a great way to take what they have been learning in life drawing  and apply to the anatomical relationships with animals and other observations. important way of painting practice, studying the animals and their habitats are a great at to compose their quick reflexive drawing techniques . As the students experience the dynamic and colorful  zoological world. They are taken in rich experiences and bringing it back to their work. It is of great significance in art learning and a basic method to exercise painting ability through observation and getting into specific detail in their anatomical perspectives. And analyses. Outdoor painting is also a very important form of the curriculum in our school. Painting is an essential part of the creative process. It can practice the basic skills of painting well and help to collect materials. It was an immersive and memorable learning experience for the students, essential to enhancing the full range of experiences inside and outside the classroom.

Some top tech companies have been hiring artists-in-residence to assist engineers in designing and out of the box ideas and creative contributions. Tech research from IBM and other similar companies found that CEOs think creativity will be the most valuable skill for future innovations.

“The ability to imagine is the key challenge,” says John Seely Brown, who for twenty years ran Xerox PARC, the company at which Apple founder Steve Jobs first saw the computer mouse and graphical user interface. Xerox PARC also offers an artist-in-residence program. “We have infinitely powerful tools to build whatever we imagine. As a result, we’re limited by our imagination. Working with artists really opens our imagination,” said Brown.

Our art training program is leading in preparing youths to seek and transform, both as artists and creative individuals. We believe that creativity is the key to shape our children’s future, and our curriculum allows them to develop a creative understanding of the world.

WCAAD student Ashley Pei has announced her decision to become part of the USC legacy!

Now more than ever her portfolio created at WCAAD was even more of a deciding factor in the top-ranking school in America.  Ashely was admitted under Cinematic Art department. Her Dream has come true to be a concept artist.

​Additional college offers: Otis College of Art and Design scholarship $23,000 per year $92,000/4yrs; Pepperdine University scholarship $39,000 per year $156,000/4yrs; Art Center College of Design; Chapman University scholarship $28,000 per year $112,000/4yrs; University of California, San Diego.
​
Since Ashley arrived at our Academy, she demonstrated a talent that is exceptional. She has shown grown, committed, and demonstrated a true desire for her dream - Art and Design. 

​A few of the most impressive strengths are illuminous color schemes and her personal style in her characters. She works well with color language in character design and other art forms. She is sensitive to contrasting colors in her work. I see how she inspires others through communicating a sense of connectivity and movement as well as being strong in figure drawing. 

​Ashely also won 1st place in three contests: two from the Hope and Justice category, and one from the May 2021 Monthly Prompt.
 
She won the California State 3nd Place Award at the Global Fish Art Contest held by the Wildlife Forever. Wildlife Forever is a nonprofit conservation charity. Its mission is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and wildlife. 

​Ashley was involved in Directing Change: A statewide contest that promotes the mental well-being of today’s youth, as well as suicide prevention and the reduction of discrimination regarding mental illness. She won the California State 1st Place Award at the National Directing Change Program and Film Contest. Her winning artwork is titled “Growing Hope”.

​She won the 1st Place Award at the H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III Culture and Art Museum/ Covina Public Library Bookmark Contest. Her design was printed on bookmarks for the library.

​Ashely has been awarded César E. Chávez and Dolores Huerta Education Award Programs California Teachers Association: she was awarded $550 in recognition for artwork submitted for this contest honoring the works of César Chavez and Dolores Huerta.
 

​Outside class, Ashley has been active in-service clubs where she earned service hours and gained opportunities such as Scare Away Hunger, Tree Planting, Priceless Pets, Shoes That Fit, and the Claremont Pie Festival. She has participated in Tree Planting, Priceless Pets, Project ArtStART: This is a school club in which visited art museums in Claremont each week with a team of other ArtStarters. During weekly sessions, different artists were introduced from Claremont followed by trips to Elementary schools to teach kids art. 

​At the Beverly Hills Chinese New Year Celebration- she acted as the Chinese translator alongside other volunteers. Ashley worked very hard scholastically and since freshman year has had multiple honors class consecutively.
 

​Currently in 12th grade she is taking AP Calculus, AP Literature and Composition, Advanced Studio Art, Economics, 3D Game Animation, AP US History, AP Spanish Language and Culture. 

​ 
Personally, Ashley is a hidden jewel, she is on time, dedicated and passionate about being part of the bigger picture. She is excited to continue in her education and is a model for others to follow. She works well with others, and it has been a true pleasure getting to know her and I consider her a friend. 

​She has volunteered in art related activities and has sought knowledge, not only here, but outlets that will aid her to form a foundation that will lead to a brighter future.
 
 
(By Omar Gallegos, WCAAD Vice Principal/Director of Education)

Congratulation to Jack Wang as he is choosing a bright future in the east coast at SVA –The Schools of Visual Arts In New York!

​WCAAD student ZhengTian “Jack” Wang is a student that has been perseverant, despite draw backs and weaknesses. You will never see him give up, as he is passionate when facing obstacles and challenges. 

Jack came to us about a year ago seeking mentorship with portfolio preparation.

​Jack strengths in Art are strongest in coming-up with creative ideas and solutions. He is great with renders and sketching. 

​This is most evident in life drawing where he leads the class. I have witnessed classmates seeking advice from Jack as he inspires others. 

He takes risk and experiments with various materials. He can look at things from other people’s perspectives, caring about the people around him as he is collected and calm under stress and is easy-going among peers.

Jack has dedicated his time with our Academy spending 15-18 hours a week with various art and design classes. This influence has persisted as he contributes to his community by providing advice and graphic designs for other outside groups (high school, and other public art groups and opportunities.)

​His interest in illustration and the history of cultural tattoo art is a motivating factor, as he merges these practices for a unique style. In high school for example, he created different logo alternatives and designed blazers for the studio at AHS. At Maranatha high school, he created graphic designs and leads his class in critiques and conversation on Art and Humanities. Other activities include courses at Art Center College of Design. 

​He has volunteered at Habitat for Humanity’s in10th and11th grade, spending 2 hours per week assisting with storage. Outside art activities, Jack is an avid sports enthusiast joining the Fencing club, swimming and kickboxing from 9th through 11th grade. In his junior year he helped organize a Graffiti project with three other college students in downtown L.A. at the Nanoseed club. He spent fundraising for the charity1 hour a week working as well as working for 9 O’clock Studio as an art director.

​Personally, Jack has really emerged himself in this passion he has for Art. He has grown immensely with dedicated and passionate about being part of a great program like SVA. He is very excited about this new venture and, he really wants to make an impact in the current art industry. He is excited to continue in his education and is a model for others to follow. He works well with others, and it has been a true pleasure getting to know him and I consider him a friend. 

I strongly feel Jack Wang will be a great artist representing SVA as he represented us as WCAAD.


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

In conversing with Laura about what she wanted to create next, originally the idea was about how despite our different skin colors or even our eye colors, we all bleed the same color. That idea eventually evolved into how we need to face certain situation now rather than later symbolized through the pain in the depicted eyes. (Violence, Covid 19, war, human suffering etc.…)

​In the piece, different materials make up the tears of blood. Each painting can symbolize a different type of pain experienced. According to Laura, the material that looks like netting represent how we are so caught up in the pain and we desperately want to escape hence why some of them are stretched away from the piece which represents “escape”. The rougher looking materials that are shredded represents the tough, hard days of someone’s life, when you just want to let go and scream at the top of your lungs from frustration or anger. The softer silkier or stringy looking material represents the uncontrollable tears that are shed in attempt to understand that humanistic experience. All the different tears (that are represented by the material) are entangled into each other culminating into one hue- the color of blood. The essence of the blood color within each of us that makes us truly equal. 

​As Laura finished up and started to hang the work other underlying questionings started to stir.

​Women have often been viewed as submissive characters in film, advertising, and visual media in other ways. In the absence of strong speaking roles and characters which are as nuanced or instrumental to the plot as the male lead, the female roles in film and television thus only become important in relation to the male characters, portraying women as submissive to men. Posters for such films further objectify and trivialize female presence in the media often obscuring the heads and faces of women favoring and sexualized body imagery. Through our conversation, as a female artist Laura Zhang is aware of her role as an artist and influencer. conversations on exploring and challenging this notion of the gaze.

​The gaze – or the male gaze, more specifically – is a discourse that dissects how we look at visual representation’s art, media, film, advertisement, and other genres. Coined by feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey in her seminal 1975 essay Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, Laura argues that perspectives in visual media are often built from the viewpoint of a heterosexual male, where women are viewed through this lens. Women in the visual arts and other contemporary media have often been depicted in a sexualized way. At its core, women are viewed as objects of male desire.

​Seeing through this critical lens, in Laura’s work, the eyes in this painting stare at the viewer. “You” are playing an active role in observing, as you approach the work. You begin to be aware of scale, positions, and the line of site. Power dynamics begin to envelop the viewer through the position of the viewer. Rather than the viewer considering the subject “the eyes” are considering how the viewer sees them. In historical and in contemporary media, the male gaze inevitably influences the way that not only men, but women perceive and relate to other women and themselves, reinforcing the objectification of women, both in art and in society.

​In created the installation, this piece becomes a space that addresses the power dynamics in a relationship between idol and worshipper. The artwork invites the audience to consider their objectification. This performative work addresses the gaze, both upon each other and from the audience/viewer point of view. The gaze beyond gender, exploring the power structures of the superior and submissive throughout society: between pop stars and fans, white people, and every other race, those who identify as non-heterosexual and the LGBTQ+ community and so on. In critical theory, sociology, and psychoanalysis, the gaze (French le regard), in the philosophical and figurative sense, is an individual's (or a group's) awareness and perception of other individuals, other groups, or oneself. The concept and the social applications of the gaze have been defined and explained by existentialist and phenomenalist and philosophers- Jean Paul Sartre, Michel Foucault, Jacque Derrida.

​We hope to see great works form this young student and she will apply next year.

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