Orange County’s Bold New Art Wave Puts Paint, Resin and Color in Motion

Ashley Ryan
15 minutes ago
7 min read

From fluid art and resin pouring to balloon bursts of color, local studios are redefining how Orange County experiences and creates art.

*Artwork created at the studio by Shot of Art instructors. Photo by Ashley Ryan, Culture OC*

When you sign up for an art class, you expect the usual setup: a blank canvas, some brushes, an array of paints in a rainbow of hues and step-by-step guidance to learn the proper technique. But some of Orange County’s most thrilling classes flip the script, inviting art lovers into a world that embraces experimentation and expression – where imagination overflows in immersive, hands-on sessions that change the way you experience creation.

These unique approaches help you uncover your artistic rhythm with interactive mediums ranging from fluid, spin and resin art to balloon-popping bursts of color, whether applied to traditional canvas, a wooden board or something else entirely, result in more than a finished piece. They transform the act of creating into a performance and invite seasoned and amateur artists to put color in motion, redefining what it means to make something beautiful.

Shot of Art

One of the places to best immerse yourself in these experiential art forms is the Shot of Art studio in Irvine. Although owner Brian Quaife just launched the business in May, it has already become a hit among local families, enticing them to explore art together through a curated lineup of offerings.

“Irvine has no shortage of art studios, but we saw a huge opportunity for something different – art experiences that are immersive, approachable and designed for people who may not think of themselves as artistic,” he said. “Shot of Art removes the pressure and replaces it with fun, movement and creativity, allowing anyone to tap into that feeling of making something they’re genuinely proud of.”

While each of the classes is unique, they share a common thread in that they break the rules of traditional art. “Shooting & Spinning, for example, takes paint application far outside the norm by combining a spinning canvas with the chaotic excitement of target shooting,” Quaife said. “It’s unexpected, high-energy and instantly removes any fear of doing it wrong.”

Shooting & Spinning continues to be the most popular option at the studio, says art instructor Stephani Garcia, who leads these and other sessions at Shot of Art. Participants first choose their colors, then use syringes to fill balloons with a mixture of paint and water that helps it flow more seamlessly onto the canvas. After tying and shaking the balloons, they are hung on chains above a spinning table and guests pop them by shooting airsoft guns. The paint lands on the canvas as it spins, creating sharp, fanned-out designs.

Other experiences at the bold, colorful studio include splatter painting, where guests can splash paint not only on their canvas but the walls and floors of the room as well, and fluid art, either on canvas or using paint pouring techniques to decorate ceramic bear statues, Labubu-inspired Trendy Little Monsters or seasonal pieces like holiday ornaments or Halloween figurines. Shot of Art also has a neon room used for so-called therapy sessions, where groups use water guns to shoot each other with paint.

“Our brand as a whole is constantly innovating, creating new experiences that resonate with clients and inspire people of all ages,” Quaife said. “Our hope is that everyone feels comfortable, relaxes and reconnects with their inner child and inner artist – the part of themselves that creates freely without worrying about the outcome.”

According to Garcia, it’s the unpredictability of the sessions that intrigues visitors and keeps them coming back. “Everybody chooses their own colors, but the outcome of that painting or even the figures is very unpredictable. We can’t say what it’s going to look like and it fascinates people.”

Art instructor Stephani Garcia demonstrates how to make a fluid art painting. PHOTO 1-2: Layering colors is key for creating for a fluid art. PHOTO 3: Movement is key when creating fluid art. PHOTO 4: The finished piece. Photos by Ashley Ryan, Culture OC

Since the focus is more on the act of creating than special talent or a keen eye, it triggers something within that reveals just how therapeutic and freeing these sessions are. “From the moment guests walk in, the experience feels different,” Quaife said. “One of my favorite things to witness is how kids light up when they realize that making a mess isn’t just allowed here, it’s a crucial part of the fun and the artistic process. And, honestly, it’s not just kids. You see adults reconnect with their inner child, too. That freedom to let go, experiment and fully engage is exactly what drew me to these mediums in the first place.”

Shot of Art

Where: 14988 Sand Canyon Ave. #3, Irvine

Hours: 3-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; noon-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday; closed Tuesday (reservations required)

Cost: $49 per person and up

Contact: 949-978-7468; shotofart.com/city/irvine

Hello Pottery

It’s been two and a half years since this interactive studio opened in Irvine, but it added another Orange County location to its roster this fall. Initially focused strictly on pottery, hence the name, it has evolved with the trends, aiming to provide moments that “spark creativity and joy through hands-on art,” according to the brand’s website.

While guests can try hand building, wheel throwing and pottery bisque, mosaic art (including creating your own Turkish lamp) and cream glue projects featuring more than 100 different styles of charms, some of the most expressive pieces stem from the studio’s fluid art sessions.

“Our fluid art experience is one of our most popular interactive projects, loved by families, friend groups and corporate teams,” said a member of the Hello Pottery team in a provided statement. “We’re also currently upgrading this product. Our newest fluid bear designs now include decorative elements such as silk flowers and glitter accents to create even more unique artistic effects.”

Designed for all ages, these experiences allow guests to create their own one-of-a-kind masterpiece, ranging from standard small or medium bears to keychains, phone holders and unique, special edition figures. Hello Pottery offers the opportunity to swirl, layer or splatter the paint to create unparalleled patterns that have never been seen before. Simply choose your own colors, then experiment with your design to generate something extra cute that you are proud of.

Art and pop culture lovers will feel right at home here, with a retail section housing collectibles such as cards, pins, blind boxes and Japanese prize draws. Come to try something new and leave with more than what you’ve created.

Hello Pottery

Where: Irvine: 2700 Alton Parkway #223, Irvine; Brea: 1065 Brea Mall #1044F, Brea

Hours: Irvine: Noon-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday; Brea: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $28-$88 for fluid art

Contact: 949-608-0266; hellopottery.com

Surf Ghetto Resin

Resin art has surged in popularity in recent years, and for Surf Ghetto Resin founders Jaclyn Corrales and Shane Pavock, opening their south Orange County studio felt like the perfect evolution of their creative journey.

“We had been making our art in the garage for years,” Corrales said. “We started running out of space and the idea of a small studio was being discussed more and more. During one of the discussions, we realized a great way to share the art was to welcome people into our studio and introduce them to something that had been making us so happy for so long.”

Located in San Clemente’s Surf Ghetto district, an industrial area best known as a home for legendary surfboard shapers, The Pour House Studio pays homage to the region as well as to Pavock’s past using resin to repair surfboards. Aside from being a space where the two can create their own artwork, Surf Ghetto Resin offers workshops designed for all ages and experience levels.

“Usually, I ask what the goal is for each person,” Corrales said. “I start with a demonstration going over some safety and resin guidelines. Blending colors is a big part of the creative process and manipulating the resin with heat.” Each session is unique, offering complete freedom to create and all of the supplies you’ll need to do so.

PHOTO 1: Visitors can learn the basics of mixing resin and blending colors during resin art sessions at Surf Ghetto Resin’s The Pour House Studio. PHOTO 2: Every completed project looks unique, with visitors choosing their own colors and exploring their inner artists. Photos courtesy of Jaclyn Corrales

According to Corrales, there is always something new to learn when it comes to resin, but the first experience truly celebrates embracing the unknown. “Resin isn’t a traditional medium and has a mind of its own. We can never be sure what the outcome will be. The second workshop, people tend to feel more comfortable and let resin do its thing and create an even more beautiful piece the second time,” Corrales said. “Once I realized that resin does what resin wants and I can guide resin, not control it, everything changed. Letting go of the control and experimenting almost daily is the best part.”

You can explore a variety of resin classes, all designed to stir up your imagination. Whether you make practical items like serving trays, charcuterie boards or coasters for the coffee table or more artistic pieces such as a wood-framed canvas or turtle-shaped wall art, these workshops combine the joy of creating with the thrill of getting your hands dirty and observing color in motion.

“Most people leave feeling very proud of what they created,” Corrales said. “I love when people come and immediately give a disclaimer that they aren’t artistic because they make the prettiest board in the group. Some find out that resin might be something they want to explore more of.”