Student and Alumni Stories

Visual Arts Conservatory students were featured in an article in the Orange County Register, along with a photo slideshow showcasing their incredible pumpkin artwork, created for the conservatory's annual pumpkin silent auction.

Check out their work here

Paige Oden, Director of the Visual Arts Conservatory, has been selected to receive the 2022 Arts Schools Network (ASN) Teacher of the Year Award. Paige Oden has also been named the 2021 Woman of the Year by Congressman Lou Correa and the 46th California Congressional District. This award honors outstanding women who exemplify ethical leadership and a commitment to making a positive impact in the community.

Doyeon (Jennifer) Kim (VA, ‘25) was named the winner of the 2022 CA-39 Congressional Art Competition. Her winning artwork, titled “A Soulful Night Market,” was selected to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC for one year.

London San Luis (DM, ‘23) and Grace Jo (VA, ‘22) advanced to the top 50 in the Vans Custom Shoe Contest. This contest was created to inspire and empower high school students to embrace their creativity through art and design and bring attention to diminishing arts education budgets. The winning design will receive $50,000, which OCSA would use to build and outfit a brand new computer lab on campus.

The Orange County Register announced the winners, finalists, and semifinalists for the 8th Annual Artist of the Year Awards, and OCSA had five winners out of seven arts categories this year! The Artist of the Year program honors talented students across the county for their accomplishments in the arts.

Artist of the Year Winners:
Joyce Yuruo Hong (VA, ‘22) - Handcrafted Visual Arts

Elsa Chang (VA, ‘06) participated in a Comic-Con@Home panel for her work on “The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse” and the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attractions at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. To view the full panel, please visit: https://bit.ly/3gwDwVB

Joy Baik’s (VA, ‘19) illustration work was published in the book "In All of Your Days Have You Seen the Ways an Animal Plays an Instrument?" by Lisa Baker.

Joy Baik (VA, ‘19) provided the illustrations for the children's book In All of Your Days Have You Seen the Ways an Animal Plays an Instrument?, which was written by an OCSA alumni parent. The duo is working on a second book to be released this fall.

Michael Relth (VA, '04) wrote a children’s book titled Picture Book by a Dog, which tells the story of a dog’s journey to find his forever family.

For more information on the book, please click here.