Art that’s meant to move you

Brian is a proud California native, residing just outside of Long Beach. He is a participant of Able ARTS Work’s Adult Day Center program where he experiments in multimedia art forms including digital media and 2D artwork. He especially enjoys collaging, overlaying images on top of one another and sealing everything with Mod Podge. His love for nature is unmistakable as he often features mountain landscapes in his artwork.

To learn more about Brian’s work you can read his 2021 interview in the Grunion Gazette where he discusses Able ARTS Work and virtual learning, hear him narrate Able ARTS Work’s performance of Santa’s Slippers and tune into the three radio programs he has helped create on KLBP 99.1.

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work Since 2016

Amanda is an artist based out of Long Beach, CA. When she is collaging, Amanda uses scissors for her cut outs, but she also likes to rip magazine articles to create texture in the paper. Although Amanda is primarily a collage artist, she also works with markers, and is currently exploring ceramics. Amanda takes inspiration from her surroundings, and her favorite Disney movies (i.e. Lion King- favorite character is Simba).

Animals are the primary subject of her artwork, and seeks them out in magazines. The faces of individuals in magazines are also a common subject matter. In the short time that Amanda has been with AAW, she has shown in multiple Able ARTS Work exhibits including the Yamaha Cares exhibition in 2022, CORE 2022.

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work Since 2021

Milkias is a mixed-media artist based in Santa Monica. He attends Able ARTS Work’s (AAW) Mobile Arts Program where he participates in art and music sessions. During his sessions, Milkias is able to develop new art concepts which he can then have fun exploring outside of the sessions. When creating visual art, Milkias works with various mediums including paint, colored pencils, crayons, markers and is currently expanding into ceramics. Additionally, Milkias enjoys collaborating on digital and audio media and has recently begun creating zines and attending AAW workshops. His creativity knows no limits! Milkias’ recent work includes a guest spot on the Art Beat Radio Podcast, a feature in the Able ARTS Work Yamaha Upcycle Guitar Show NS and a feature in CORE 2022.

His recent projects include a commissioned piece and artwork submission to gallery exhibitions. His recently featured piece, “Milkias the Dolphin in the Ocean” was submitted for the Yamaha Show in 2022. When creating the concept, he was inspired by animals, creatures and plants in the ocean including dolphins, sea coral, seaweed, octopus and whales. His favorite part of his drum is the ocean water. Animals are a common subject of Milkias artwork, “I am passionate about drawing animals and creating art including various habitats. My favorite animal is a lion and they live in the wild” shares Milkias.

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work Since 2020

PJ is a resident artist at the Cultural Education Center for the Arts, a program of Able ARTS Work located in Hawthorne. PJ loves music, dance and mixed media art. His signature style creates whirlwinds of energy that radiate off the canvas. His subject matters vary in theme and complexity from the elements, processing emotions related to tragedy, to purely visual expressions of rhythm and gesture inspired by his favorite music. He enjoys experimenting with contemporary art mediums including spray paint, airbrush and collage. In 2018, PJ celebrated his first solo show at Long Beach City Hall where he was recognized by the City Council for being an influential member of the arts community.

He has participated in several exhibitions with Able ARTS Work including Make Your Mark and Yamaha Cares Upcycled Guitar Exhibit in 2021. He is currently challenging his artmaking skills with larger and more complicated works. PJ, also known as DJ-PJ, is an avid music fan creating playlists of hip-hop, rock and Latin pop tunes for both family parties and professional engagements. His musical tastes reflect the vibrant cultural landscape of his native California while speaking to his passion for human connection and irresistible grooves.

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work Since 2015

Tran is a resident artist at Able ARTS Work’s (AAW) affiliate studio Achieving Results Together (ART) Center. Tran enjoys meeting new people and working on projects with her friends. She considers herself a contemporary artist with a distinctive personal style that reflects her love and joy of landscapes, tropical birds and flowers. Tran also stays up to date with the latest fashions and describes herself as a fashionista. She enjoys combining both art and fashion within her work. This assemblage can also be viewed within her collages and zines. Tran is a passion-driven individual who enjoys life and applies what makes her happy to her art. Her artistic style is vibrant and harmonious in color with bold compositions. Although Tran enjoys working with a variety of mixed mediums, she is most fond of watercolor and ceramics. Her keen sense of intricate detail and the mindfulness of technicality within a subject matter is what makes her artwork personal and unique.

Tran has created an assortment of artwork and artisan goods that have been sold and displayed in exhibitions and gallery spaces. She has been featured in the Color Show: RED 2022, CORE 2021 and CORE 2022 at the AAW gallery. Her pieces from CORE 2021 have since been featured in the Long Beach Airport installation where thousands of guests view her work daily. Tran’s biggest accomplishment was viewing her collaborative work alongside her peer at the Bergamot Station Arts Center exhibition.

She was proud of the hard work and diligence it took to accomplish such a large project that was viewed and appreciated by many. Tran is energized by her family and works with confidence knowing that they love and support her. Tran aims to create images that represent the world through her eyes. She wants her audience to connect and be inspired by what she makes. In the future, Tran would like to continue building her art portfolio and work on more large-scale art projects. She also wants to work on more collaborative projects with her neighboring AAW programs, in addition to other local artists.

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work Since 2002

Amber is an active artist at Able ARTS Work, regularly attending their virtual classes and programs. She enjoys using various art mediums but her favorites are colored pencils and pastels. One of Amber’s biggest sources of inspiration comes from Disney and Pixar films. She’s very passionate about animation and often shares her love of Disney songs and princesses with those around her. Amber’s artwork has been featured in many Able ARTS Work exhibitions, most recently the CORE 2022 show at the EXPO Art Center, where she showcased a scenic painting of Long Beach. 

Amber is proud to be featured in Long Beach Transit’s Gallery and is eager to find more opportunities to share her artwork with the community. She wants to tell everyone who views her artwork, “I love you”!

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work Since 2006

Cristina is a local artist working in the Long Beach community. Her 15 years of involvement with Able ARTS Work illustrates her dedication to the organization, its art projects, local events and new artists. Christina’s creative process varies depending on the medium she is using. Her work includes a wide range of drawing, painting, installation and printmaking. She enjoys both fine art and illustrative art, has explored digital art over the past few years and is looking forward to exploring more opportunities to create digitally in the future. She is a well-rounded artist who thrives on supporting her local community and other emerging artists. She is an advocate for the environment and healthy living, which has a profound influence on her artwork. 

Cristina is motivated by those around her. Her competitive spirit has led her to accomplish many projects as a resident artist. Her most recent works are on display at the Able ARTS Work Gallery, she was a runner-up contestant for the Littleton Road Philanthropy logo competition and has been commissioned to work on an assortment of projects throughout the years. Today, Cristina is focused on developing her watercolor painting skills. In the past, she has worked on multiple projects that involve food and is looking for new ways to incorporate food into her exploration of watercolor materials. When asked about her medium interests Cristina responded, “watercolor painting makes me happy and lets me express myself in all the light colors”.

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work Since 2006

Tim is a studio artist, graphic designer and musician from Long Beach. He is currently a resident artist at Able ARTS Work’s ART Center Day program. He has a growing portfolio of colored pencil portraits, including historical and pop culture figures like David Bowie, Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln. He enjoys drawing his personal heroes in his signature style defined by abstract proportions and the fine details within his pieces. He independently conceptualizes and executes the design of his pieces utilizing a graphic and bold color palette. 

Tim is inherently artistic but his motivation to create stems from the connection art allows him to build with audiences and collaborators. Tim was recently featured in the George V. Deneff gallery and was commissioned to design a shoe for 2019 Bowie’s Piano Man: Part 2 fundraiser for Able ARTS Work. He was also selected to promote the CORE 2022 exhibit at Able ARTS Work gallery where he features three pieces. Tim hopes to continue exhibiting his artwork at Able ARTS Work and beyond!

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work

Carlos’ talent and passion for art has propelled his participation within the art community, especially during these last few years. Through his drawings and paintings, Carlos creates a visual reference to the rhythms of his interior life. Utilizing bold colors and strong linear brushwork, he expresses his abiding connection with the ocean and the fanciful creatures he imagines inhabiting it. His works achieve a tonal and geometric balance inspired by his unique insights into the natural world as well as art-historical movements such as Cubism and Pop Art. Carlos melds artistic influences from Modernist masters such as Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso with a developed eye for the patterns, angles and colors of his hometown Los Angeles’ streetscapes. 

His paintings are executed with careful precision in a slow, draftsman-like fashion, and his use of color and heavy lines mirrors his thoughtful, thorough nature. His accomplishments include a solo exhibition in September of 2020 at the Able ARTS Work Gallery in Long Beach, a spotlight in the Long Beach Post, a feature in CORE 2021 and CORE 2022, a feature in a virtual exhibit at the Light, Space & Time Gallery and several exhibitions at the Able ARTS Work Gallery. Additionally, Carlos was proud to receive his first commissioned work, an upcycled acoustic guitar, and sold every piece he created to stage a vacant apartment.

Resident Artist of Able ARTS Work Since 2012