Welcome! My name is Courtney Oquist and I am an artist and art instructor teaching all ages from pre-schoolers to youth and teens to adults for almost 20 years. For the past several years I have been leading art classes throughout North County, San Diego, serving Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Encinitas, and more communities.
I love providing students with the tools to discover their own personal vision, abilities and the limitless potential of their imagination.
Art education is an important part of social, developmental and academic education. Let's get creating!
If you are interested in children, teen or adult art classes, please fill out this form.
Student Art
Why Art Classes?
Art may seem like just an "elective" but art making and expression is fundamental to being human. When we are cutting, gluing, drawing, coloring, and painting, we are moving our hands in important ways--strengthening fine-motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and visual-spatial awareness. And importantly, art gives children (and adults) a safe place to make mistakes, try again, and experience the success that comes from working at something. I like to say, it's not called "artwork" for nothing!
Hand-Eye Coordination
Drawing, painting, cutting, and working with different materials strengthen fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Children practice translating what they see into purposeful movements, building control, precision, and confidence.
Focus & Problem-Solving
Art invites children to observe, make decisions, and work through challenges at their own pace. These experiences support concentration, visual-spatial thinking, and flexible problem-solving skills.
Creative Expression
Art gives children a hands-on way to communicate ideas, feelings, and observations. By making choices and developing their own visual language, children build independence, self-expression, and confidence in their unique perspective.