Our mission is simple: to help you become a confident watercolor artist who paints with joy and purpose. We believe everyone has creative potential waiting to be unleashed—you just need the right guidance and support to flourish.
Unlike generic tutorials or intimidating in-person classes, we provide clear, structured guidance while honoring your individual creative journey. Our workshops combine professional techniques with a nurturing approach that builds your confidence step by step.
Whether you’re drawn to abstract landscapes, the animal kingdom, or detailed urban scenes, you’ll find workshops that match your interests. Each course is carefully designed to help you develop your own artistic voice while mastering essential techniques.
Life is busy, and creativity shouldn’t feel rushed. That’s why our workshops are available whenever inspiration strikes. Paint at dawn, midnight, or anywhere in between—your courses are always accessible, and our supportive community is here to encourage you.
Simply join our email list and hit reply to any of our emails to ask me a quick question! Unsure about your next steps or feel like you need specific help with a painting? I offer solo sessions to give you personalized guidance on your journey and help you grow as an artist.
Art flows through my family’s veins. My grandfather, Jozef Olszewski, captured Poland’s soul in his oil paintings, while my mother, Maria Teresa Hopkins, became a cherished storyteller-artist in Victoria. You might think this heritage made my path to art inevitable—but my story took a different turn.
In 1980s Poland, art class meant memorizing masterpieces rather than making them. Instead of learning to hold a brush, we studied art history from textbooks. The system seemed designed to distance us from creative expression. Even surrounded by art, I felt disconnected from it, unsure if I had any talent at all.
Everything shifted when I moved to Canada at sixteen. Unable to speak English, I found myself placed in art classes as a bridge across the language barrier. In that nurturing environment, something unexpected happened—my dormant creativity began to awaken. Free from the rigid expectations of my past, I discovered joy in creating.
Life took me down various paths after that. I explored different careers, but art remained my constant companion. I exhibited in Vancouver and Calgary, selling original pieces and prints. Even during my office years, I kept painting, slowly building my portfolio and finding my voice.
These days, I call Mexico’s Costa Grande region home, where I’m surrounded by vibrant colors and rich artistic traditions. The local artisans and culture here continuously inspire my work, reminding me that creativity knows no boundaries.
But my greatest joy comes from teaching. For the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as Artist in Residence, guiding others through their creative journeys. I’ve worked with hundreds of students, and each one has taught me something profound about the nature of artistic expression.
My approach to teaching comes from my own experience of finding freedom in art later in life. I’ve learned that technical skill matters, yes, but what matters more is nurturing that spark of creativity that lives in each of us. Sometimes it’s buried under years of self-doubt or “I can’t” thinking, but it’s always there, waiting to be discovered.
I often tell my students:
This isn’t just about making pretty pictures—it’s about finding your voice, telling your story, and discovering the joy of creative expression.
When I’m not teaching or painting, you might find me teaching at my university, working on marketing projects, or exploring my interest in holistic well-being as a psychosomatic therapist. These different facets of my life all feed into my teaching, helping me understand the many ways we can unlock our creative potential.
The artist within you is already there—I know because I’ve seen it happen hundreds of times. All you need is someone to help you find your way, someone who understands both the technical aspects of watercolor and the emotional journey of becoming an artist. That’s why I’m here.
Let’s discover your artistic voice together.
Join me for a free 7-day watercolor basics course and take the first step toward becoming the watercolor artist you’ve always wanted to be.
You’ll learn the fundamentals of watercolor and become confident with your brush, so you can follow any painting tutorial in the future!
