Applications for our 2025 mentorship program closed on July 11, 2025. All mentorships will be starting up soon or have already started.
The Washington County Art Alliance Mentorship Program
The WCAA greatly values and supports Artist’s charitable contributions. One way a WCAA member can enrich our community is by becoming a Student Artist Mentor in our Mentorship Program. Our organization understands that the ability to pass on an artist’s techniques that one has carefully cultivated is priceless.
What is the WCAA Mentorship Program?
- The Washington County Art Alliance’s Mentorship Program is an opportunity for a WCAA member to donate their time and expertise to educate a student artist about their art form.
- Our mentorship program is a 1:1 teaching and learning experience, although a mentor may decide to take more than 1 mentee.
- The experience will include at least 9 hours of instruction time. The end result will be at least one piece of completed art work by the mentee.
- The mentor will provide all materials needed to produce the predetermined project.
- The WCAA will reimburse mentors up to $200.00 for artist materials and finishing cost (i.e. framing) when the mentor provides an itemized receipt to our treasurer.
- The mentees finished work can be displayed in the mentors studio for Open Studios weekend.
- The mentee can volunteer to help and or participate in the Open Studios weekend, but this is not a requirement.
Mentorships for 2025
2025 Mentorship with Shari Erickson
Synopsis: This mentorship is for an oil or acrylic painter who is considering changing to Golden open acrylics. If you are wanting to move away from toxic oils or are frustrated by how fast acrylics dry, open acrylics might be perfect for you. There is a bit of a learning curve involved in becoming comfortable with them. You will learn about their unique properties while creating a painting of your own design. By the end of this mentorship, you will have enough experience using open acrylics to proceed on your own.
Prerequisites: This mentorship is for an intermediate level or higher oil or acrylic painter.
Location: Outback/Downunder Artist Studio in Forest Grove.
2025 Mentorship with Jo Reimer
Synopsis: Guiding a serious student to investigate collage as an art form. We will paint and decorate papers, which will then be used for a deep dive into value and composition, useful in all applied art areas such as painting, fiber arts, photography, and mixed media.
Prerequisites: Student must arrange travel to and from my home which is 6 miles south of Forest Grove.
Location: My home studio in Gaston, Oregon.
2025 Mentorship with Sharon Dunham
Synopsis: I would love to offer instruction in one of two cold glass techniques – either a small stained glass flat panel or a “glass on glass” mosaic piece. This opportunity would allow the mentee to choose which one they would like to pursue.
Prerequisites: Mentees need to have the dexterity but not necessarily previous knowledge about how to cut glass. I will provide tools (mosaic substrate, glue, glass cutter, glass nippers, grinder, glass saw (if needed), foil, flux, solder, soldering iron, and patina.
Location: The mentorship will take place in the Cedar Mill area
2025 Mentorship with Anya Doll
Synopsis: Mentee will be guided in the process of making a HeartCenter flag using fiber collage and freestyle machine stitching. We will cover some color theory to create specific effects in fiber.
Prerequisites: Not a requirement but if someone has a portable sewing machine of their own, that’d be great. Otherwise they can use mine.
Location: My studio in Forest Grove.
2025 Mentorship with Denise Hershey
Synopsis: The student will create one small pendant in .999 fine silver clay and use a torch to fire it. Then the student will create a pair of earrings or a larger pendant that will be fired in a kiln.
Prerequisites: No Prerequisites, although I have a list of youtube tutorials that help prepare and inspire the student.
Location: In my house in Tigard, in an upstairs studio.
2025 Mentorship with Jaelynn Harris
Synopsis: I am a watercolor painter. I would like to show a student about watercolor landscape sketching and color selection. This will also include Plein-aire studies to the final picture.
Prerequisites: Some watercolor experience would be good, but not required. I can provide basic supplies for painting. Digital camera helpful and simple hiking along easy trails for painting outside.
Location: Studio space at Mosaic Art Loft in Sherwood, Or. Tualatin Valley Wildlife Park on 99W is recommended for outdoor painting.
2025 Mentorship with Jane Wilson
Synopsis: The mentee will be instructed on how to create artwork using an uncut hard-shell gourd. This involves designing the piece and deciding whether to weave on the rim, carve, or wood burn a design. They will then cut the gourd using mini jig saws, clean it with a drill press and other hand tools, and sand it with a bench sander. All safety practices will be observed. Once the gourd is prepared, they will learn techniques for woodburning, carving, or weaving on the gourd. Finally, they will apply a finish using Ink Dyes or other types of paint.
Prerequisites: All supplies need to work with gourds will be supplied
Location: My studio in King City, OR.
2025 Mentorship with Jennifer Price
Synopsis: Student will learn ceramic art materials and processes with a focus on small figure sculptures. Methods will include pinch pots and slab building.
Prerequisites: None; I am willing to work with a person with no experience.
Location: My studio in Beaverton, OR.
2025 Mentorship with Uli Kirchler
Synopsis: The scrollsaw is a very safe tool and I would like to teach how to cut and create a popup castle. I’d like to show and teach how to carve out something and how to inlay the cavity with usually found or repurposed material.
Prerequisites: Bring your passion.
Location: In my shop in Cornelius, OR.
2025 Mentorship with Gretha Lindwood
Synopsis: The student will learn different pastel strokes, underpainting techniques, how to use values, and warm and cool colors. They will work from their own photos while interpreting with their own “artistic voice.” The student will receive a good knowledge of working with soft pastels.
Prerequisites: Previous drawing or painting experience is helpful.
Location: In my studio and perhaps outdoors if the student would like to painted plein air.
Mentorships from Previous Years
The results of the 2024 mentorship program can be found here.
The results of the 2023 mentorship program can be found here.
The results of the 2022 mentorship program can be found here.
The results of the 2021 mentorship program can be found here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.