Artist runs colorful business

Andrew Edwards

Running a business is an art form for Lucia Henry.

Henry, 31, opened My Arts Studio to teach art techniques after

roaming the Newport Beach area as a mobile arts instructor.

“There was a need for art instruction at home. I started doing

one-on-one, and then it grew,” Henry said. “It grew so much that 1

1/2 years ago I got the idea to open an arts studio.”

My Arts Studio opened March 15 to hold classes on a variety of art

techniques. Almost all of the lessons are for children.

Henry grew up in Lima, Peru, and started her professional life as

a graphics designer, working in advertising. However, she felt like

she was being held back creatively by making projects to order for

clients instead of expressing her own visions.

She immigrated to the United States in 1997 after traveling to

this country to study English and figure out what she wanted to do

with her life.

“While I was figuring that out, I met my husband,” she said.

Henry, who taught art while attending college, took a job teaching

at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, but eventually realized she wanted to

start her own business. She chose to open her school in Newport Beach

since most of the students she taught as a roving arts instructor

live there.

Henry’s artistic tastes lean toward the colorful abstract

expressionism of Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee. The entry to My

Arts Studio is painted in bright purple and yellow, creating a vivid

color contrast.

“I like vibrant colors. I don’t like muted colors. I like it to be

bold,” Henry said. “Kids like vibrant colors, and they want to feel

like they’re in a comfy, friendly place.”

My Arts Studio employs two staff instructors, who teach children a

range of techniques including charcoals, acrylics, watercolors, clay

and plaster casts.

“We talk about a lot of different art styles,” instructor Melissa

Elerat said as a student made a cast of her hand.

Classes for young children focus on what Henry called

developmental art, like using finger paints to teach about color

mixing. Older students are taught more sophisticated lessons like

body proportions and how to draw a portrait.

Henry hopes her studio becomes the place to be for creative

youngsters.

“I want the kids to say, ‘Take me to My Arts Studio,’” Henry said.

“It’s their arts studio, your arts studio, my arts studio. It’s

everyone’s arts studio.”