Keep cool at the Potocki Center for the Arts
Keep cool this summer with exciting art courses at the Potocki Center for the Arts. Classes include pressed petal resin, free motion embroidery, marbling, drawing and much more. We also have new art camps for kids. Beat the heat this summer by heading to the Potocki Center and registering for fun.
Register for any of our summer courses by clicking here.
Potocki Center for the Arts is located at 27301 La Paz Road.
For more information, contact 949-470-8470 or arts@cityofmissionviejo.org.
Craft Supply Swap
Join us on Saturday, June 13 in the Friends Storytime Room at the Mission Viejo Library for a craft supply swap. Craft supplies, generously donated by the community, are available for free to take home.
We welcome donations of clean, new or gently used craft supplies June 5-12. Donations can be dropped off at the Mission Viejo Library or the Potocki Center for the Arts during regular operating hours. Donors will receive an early entry ticket to the event. Early entry is from 9-10 am with general entry from 10 am-noon. We look forward to seeing you there!
Email arts@cityofmissionviejo.org for more information.
Symphony in the Cities and Prelude in the Park
Mark your calendars! Symphony in the Cities and Prelude in the Park returns to the Village Green on Saturday, August 8. The fun starts at 4 pm at Oso Viejo Community Park, 24932 Veterans Way.
During the Prelude in the Park, guests of all ages can enjoy delectable food from a variety of food trucks, live music and dancing, community booths with activities, and games to play with friends and family. Wine and beer will also be available for purchase.
The Symphony in the Cities concert presented by Pacific Symphony begins at 7 pm. Guests are welcome to set up blankets and chairs starting at 1 pm. To facilitate parking, a shuttle service will operate from the Civic Center to the Village Green.
Email arts@cityofmissionviejo.org for more information.
Art Instructor Spotlight on Kathleen Black
The Potocki Center for the Arts is proud to shine its summer Instructor Spotlight on Kathleen Black. Kathleen has been a staple with the Potocki Center since 2022. She is an accomplished artist whose work can be found in galleries across Orange County. Her next exhibit is at the Mission Viejo Library beginning June 5. We asked her a few questions about her life and journey as an artist.
Q: Tell us about your journey as an artist. When did you begin painting and how did you choose watercolor as your medium?
A: While still in high school, I spent my summers working in the art department of a large engineering company in Los Angeles where my dad was a civil engineer responsible for the renderings of many projects such as Fashion Island and the LA Airport. After high school, I went to work for another engineering company as a draftsman. I prepared all the mapping by hand with radiograph pens on mylar and vellum. I continued my career as a civil engineer for the next 46 years. I tried oils, pastels and acrylics and found them too heavy, flat and not vibrant enough. I loved watercolors, so I took some classes. Watercolors were the most challenging and beautiful to me.
Q: You have such a wonderful rapport with your students. What drew you to become an instructor?
A: When my granddaughters turned a year old, I started painting with them. This evolved into art classes, and soon their friends wanted to join. Some of my neighbors and friends wanted to paint, so I held art classes in my garage. One day after my granddaughter’s soccer game at the World Cup fields, I stopped by the Potocki Center to see what it was about. I was asked if I wanted to teach and that is how I started teaching the public.
I give my students a lot of tips, tools and explanations to guide their journeys. I find teaching the most rewarding! I love to bring out the talent they already possess and see the joy in their faces.
Q: Tell us about a favorite piece that you’ve painted. How did you choose the subject and how long did it take you to complete?
A: I have painted hundreds of paintings. It is hard to pick a favorite piece. I love to paint so many different subjects.
Q: How do you spend your time when not teaching at the Potocki Center?
A: I am a busy girl. I am also part of The Cottage Gallery on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano and enjoy gardening, golfing, and working out. I also spend time with family and friends.
Q: What advice would you give someone who thinks they can’t learn to paint or create art?
A: We all have art in our souls. It will manifest with a little desire, a good guide, and the will to try. I find that art is the best therapy. Two of my favorite sayings are: “There are no mistakes in art” and “if everyone likes it, it’s not art.”