When I think of Tika at Visions of Wonderland, the words, generous, kind and mild-tempered come to mind; all great qualities for a teacher.  I know it sounds like I am talking about a friend and well, I am.  The first time I met her was when I signed Ilias up for a spring break course last year.  In the course of two hours she taught him and 5 other kids how to draw a cheetah.  Her patience and kindness with the kids really made me a lifelong patron and now friend.  Ilias felt so good after his class; when he left, he really feeling like an artist.  Since then, he has tackled many art projects, using the technique she taught them that day. 

Ilias had so much fun at his class, when a friend invited me to a private in home lesson, I couldn't pass it up!  There was lots of giggling, “wining”, snacking and chatting, but we did get our paintings done!  At the beginning of class, I started to follow Tika's step-by-step instruction's, but then Olivia decided that she was going to paint with me.  It was so much fun and we ended up with a whole new, original, “mommy and me” work of art.  We both signed it and it is now hanging in Olivia’s bedroom.  It really is one of my most treasured moments with Olivia!

I have also gone to her “Sip and PAINT’s” with friends, at her studio.  They are just as fun as the in home lessons.  And then I’ve taken Ilias and Olivia to the kid’s workshops which ended up being a fun collaborative effort again.   Olivia was able to do most of the painting until we got to the Eiffel Tower, and the detail work, so it was really fun for her to participate this time!

What is really awesome is her service to our community through her art. Here are just a few of the painting workshops she offers that go that little extra step to make art accessible to everyone.

ART EXPLORERS - She offers classes for special needs children geared specially to their desire for freedom so lessons don’t always go as planned and she just rolls with it.

TEEN NIGHTS - Drop them off, or not, and for a very affordable price they enjoy, Pizza, Pop, and PAINTING.  An evening of hanging out with their peers in a fun environment all for themselves!

PAY WHAT YOU CAN NIGHT - One night a month she has a night where only a certain amount of seats can be reserved and then the rest are up for grabs to pay what you can.  How cool is that!

PRIVATE PARTIES both at YOUR HOME or IN STUDIO - If you would like to book your own, just pick your day and contact Tika to see if she has it available.  She will help you find the date and time right for you, along with which painting you would like!  BOOK A PARTY

To top things off; all of her art work is her own creations.  No templates, just her own imaginings that are inspired by the masters, nature, the world around us and whatever she wants!

Here's an example of the step-by-step process of painting at Visions of Wonderland.

If you want to see what she has coming up, head to Visions of Wonderland where you can also register for her current classes.  I promise you, you will be surprised by your own artistic abilities and you will want to go back again and again!  I’ll see you there!

If you want to go Visions of Wonderland is located at 632 Crater Lake Avenue, Medford, Oregon  MAP