Johana grew up in Bogota, Colombia, among the beauty of the Andes mountains and the architectural variety of Spanish Colonial homes. Her passion for the arts started from the young age when she experimented with various materials and observed the colorful natural world around her with wonder and curiosity. Johana migrated to New York City in the 90’s and studied Illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Later, Johana combined her interests in the arts and business by completing a Marketing Management degree at Notre Dame de Namur University and working for a Fortune 500 Global Fashion Company.

Johana is a mother of a young artist, and has embraced her passion for the arts in combination with becoming an educator. Johana experienced a variety of global communities, languages, and cultures, and uses this knowledge to insert an experiential and meaningful approach to her art classes. Johana is passionate about utilizing materials and techniques appropriate for each age group with a foundation of joyful creative play.

Delila Smalley is a native Floridian who teaches English and art. She started her journey with clay at age 16. She spent time at a studio in Hawaii and had her own wheel. Delila went on to get her MFA from Stetson University. She represented Stetson as a Sullivan Scholar in Portugal .

She built a high school ceramic program from the ground up, as well as rebuilt and restructured a middle school ceramics program in Orange county. She runs a local jewelry/pottery business and typically works in her home studio. Delila loves sharing her passion for clay to help others connect with art.

Abby Girand began her ceramics career at Valencia College, where she earned an Associate of Arts degree in Studio Art. She later attended the University of Central Florida, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as well as the President’s Award, which granted her the honor of having her ceramic works purchased and permanently displayed in the President’s Office.

Abby strives to cultivate greater accessibility to art and ceramics for people from all backgrounds, while educating her students on the lasting impact and responsibility that comes with engaging in a permanent art form. She enjoys creating functional and nonfunctional art exploring topics of nature and technology, mental health, and interpersonal relationships.

Growth as an artist is directly related to the acceptance of one’s self as an individual who dresses, talks, visualizes and creates differently from any other human. In fact, we are unique functioning designs. The more I embrace this the more freedom I exhibit as an artist. Understanding this, coupled with the history of art and a working knowledge of technical and visual language skills, enables me to create. These distinct aesthetic and sociological experiences create values and circumstances that shape my life and in turn impact my artwork. It is the pursuit of this individualism that is important to me. All artists are connected by history, visual elements, and principles of design. However, it is who we are and how we visually interpret the environment that creates our individual identities as artists. Growing up in rural Mississippi was challenging.  Traditions such as storytelling, family, and faith had a tremendous affect in shaping my work. These traditions and experiences shaped my values. I see it as a refreshing force in a world that can sometimes be cold, static and impersonal. My philosophy is a balance between intellect and superstition, science and magic, New York and Mississippi. Currently, I am involved with a more sculptural approach to the vessel and recently have returned to a mixed media form of painting and drawing.

The Enjoyment of the Arts
With an undergraduate degree in graphic design and photography from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in art education from the University of Florida, Caryn has dedicated the past 17 years to inspiring students as an art teacher. For the last 7 years, she has specialized in teaching digital photography, focusing on the dynamic tools of Photoshop and Illustrator. Caryn’s career has been predominantly in high schools, with valuable experiences in middle schools as well.

Before Caryn’s journey in education, she began her career as a freelance newspaper photographer and artist, with works proudly featured in various shows and publications. Caryn’s passion for the arts extends beyond the classroom, as she is currently immersing herself in jewelry classes at Crealdé, always eager to explore and learn new artistic disciplines.

Caryn’s teaching philosophy centers on providing a comprehensive and enjoyable learning experience. She encourages students to incorporate their interests into their work, employing an individual needs-based approach to make learning photography, Photoshop, and Illustrator engaging and motivating. Caryn’s goal is to instill a sense of curiosity, ownership, and love for the arts in her students, welcoming learners of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels.