I’m still here, still making art with kids.
These days I work with just four private students. Keeping things small gives me meaningful studio time with them and protects time for my own art practice, which feels especially important as we settle into 2026. We’ve also been doing a bit of fine tuning on the website, so take a look when you have a chance. Ameen Dhillon Art
In the studio I was ready for a fresh project. My current students include three 8 year olds and one senior, which keeps things interesting.
I was scrolling Pinterest and came across an avocado painting that felt like a perfect place to start. That’s usually how projects begin for me. I see something and turn it into a lesson. There are no formal plans here. I respond to each kid as we go.
I showed them the image briefly and then set up a real still life with a checked cloth and an actual avocado so we could look at light, shadows, and color.
The focus was on drawing from real life, observing value, and mixing tints and shades. And honestly, wow. These kids are eight. Each painting turned out completely different, which is exactly what I hope for.
Acrylic paint on 10"x10" canvas.
Still making art. Still loving it.
It's so inspiring to hear about your dedication to making art with kids, even as you balance your own creative pursuits. That avocado painting project sounds absolutely delightful, and the fact that each eight-year-old created something unique is truly a testament to your teaching style. Speaking of creative challenges, I've been spending my mornings playing a lot of Heardle lately. It's such a fun way to test your song recognition skills starting from just that first little snippet - brings back so many memories! Do you ever find yourself incorporating music into your art lessons, perhaps to set a mood or inspire certain colors?
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