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WORKSHOPS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
NEW! Virginia Commission for the Arts Teaching Artist
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A Commitment to Arts Education
The VCA Teaching Artist Roster features 57 skilled educators available for booking by nonprofit organizations, schools, and local or tribal governments across Virginia. Teaching Artists are selected and awarded inclusion to the Roster based on their artistic expertise and their instructional experience in diverse learning environments.

About Arts in Practice Grants
Arts in Practice Grants support dynamic artist-led residencies and workshops by providing funding to organizations collaborating with artists from the VCA Teaching Artist Roster. This program is designed to reimburse organizations for residency or workshop fees and can support a wide range of learning activities for participants of all ages, as well as professional development opportunities for educators.
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Eligible applicants can apply twice per year for funding, requesting up to $2,000, with requests subject to the individual allocation for each Teaching Artist. A 15% cash match is required from the applicant. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and must be submitted at least two weeks before the residency start date.
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The current deadline for activities taking place through June 15, 2025, is April 15, 2025. The program will reopen on July 1, 2025, for activities occurring between July 1, 2025, and June 15, 2026.To explore the full list of Teaching Artists, visit the VCA Teaching Artist Roster, here.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Etching on Shells: Mastering the Dremel Technique
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, 2200 Parks Ave., Virginia Beach, VA
1 session: Sunday, April 6, 12:00–3:00 PM
Adults (16+), all skill levels welcome
In this workshop, students will learn the art of etching onto capiz shells using a dremel rotary tool. Under Rowena's guidance, participants will explore the process of carving intricate designs, experimenting with texture and detail while gaining hands-on experience with the tool. The class will focus on the technical aspects of working with rotary tools, offering a chance to develop precision and control while creating unique, detailed shell pieces.
By the end of the session, students will have crafted their own etched shell artwork, with an understanding of how to manipulate the dremel for various effects.​
Members $55; Nonmembers $70
Click here to register.

photo courtesy of Virginia MOCA
Color Mixing Workshop (Gouache)
Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center
4205 Victoria Boulevard, Hampton, VA
2 sessions: Saturdays, March 8 & 15, 10:30am - 1:30pm
Adults (18+), all skill levels welcome
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This class takes the guesswork out of color mixing, which bolsters artists' confidence, rapidly improves work, and saves on the cost of supplies! Through hands-on exercises, participants learn how to control the three components of color: hue, chroma, and value, in order to create the exact shades, they want. This practical class covers the most important and useful vocabulary and color theory concepts that can be used immediately.
By the end of the course, students will leave with several color mixing charts to help them remember and practice what they've learned. Learning about different palettes from the classic color wheel, to the split primary palette, to the Zorn palette will help students develop a stronger understanding of how to manipulate colors for their artwork, enhancing both creativity and technique.
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Price: $95 (HAL Members $90)

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

photo courtesy of Alicia Peoples
Rowena is a seasoned and engaging public speaker. She has appeared numerous times on television, including giving a live watercolor painting demonstration for the Chrysler Museum on WTKR Coast Live in 2021, and delivering several lectures as a visiting artist at Virginia Tech in 2024. She is a featured artist on PBS & WHRO's television show Curate 757, Season 9 (2025). In March 2025, she will be a panelist at the Christopher Newport University Conference on Women & Gender discussing the unique challenges of being a mother and professional artist.
As an art educator and community activist for more than a decade, Rowena is not only well-versed in teaching how to draw and paint, but in discussing the importance of art in society and art education in schools and universities. She is a founding member of the Commonwealth Artists Coalition, whose mission is to champion the needs of Virginia’s artists by providing resources, advocacy, and opportunities for growth.
Click here for a detailed list of her speaking engagements, and then contact her for booking.