portfolio
Erna van Dyk is a passionate and energetic art teacher who loves sharing her heart and creativity with others. Whether making a joyful mess in mixed media, embracing the flow of watercolor, or sculpting with clay, she believes in the magic of the creative process. Her classes—often fully sold out—are a space for artists of all levels to explore, experiment, and grow. With her fun and encouraging approach, Erna inspires students to be bold, try new techniques, and most importantly, enjoy the journey of making art.
Currently teaching weekly classes online and in person.
Watercolor, Mixed Media Art Journals and Ceramics.
Sherman Library & Gardens - Corona Del Mar
Potocki Center of the Arts - Mission Viejo
Bowers Museum - Santa Ana
Aliso Viejo Ranch - Aliso Viejo
Belmont Senior Village - Aliso Viejo
Dragonfly Shops & Gardens - Orange
Hebrew Academy - Huntington Beach
Watercolor Painting
Watercolor Painting Classes—available on Zoom or in person! These easy, step-by-step '2 hour' sessions are perfect for groups of as little as 4 to 80+ people. Whether online or face-to-face, you'll learn fun watercolor techniques in a relaxed and creative atmosphere. Perfect for all levels.
Materials used:
Strathmore Visual Watercolor Journal
ShinHan Watercolor Paints
Robert Simmons Brushes
Sharpie Pen
Mixed Media Journals
Media Art Journal Classes, available on Zoom or in person! These fun, step-by-step sessions guide you through creative techniques using watercolor, acrylics, stamping, collage, and more. Each 2-hour class is designed for all skill levels.
Materials used:
Collage, acrylic paints, watercolor, embroidery, waxing, stencils, stamps, color pencils, gelli prints, water-soluble pastels, marbling, bleeding tissue paper and more.
Ceramics - Handbuilding
In-person ceramic handbuilding classes exploring the art of clay! Learn fundamental techniques like pinch pots, coils, and slabs while creating unique, handcrafted pieces. Finish your work with glazing for a beautiful, professional touch. Perfect for all skill levels.
Materials used:
Aardvark Clay's Bone White ; Fired Shrinkage is 10.5% and Water Absorption is 3.3% when fired to cone 5.
Class Environment
Erna’s art classes offer a fun and creative environment where students can explore their creativity with ease. Her patient teaching methods and calm atmosphere make it simple to follow along, ensuring that every artist—no matter their skill level—feels encouraged and inspired.
Acrylic Paint
Erna van Dyk creates vibrant acrylic paintings on wood and canvas, bringing her unique artistic vision to life. Specializing in commissions, she captures emotion and beauty through bold colors and expressive brushstrokes, crafting personalized pieces that resonate with her clients.
Materials used:
Various Canvases, Wood, Rocks, Fabric etc
DecoArt Acrylics Paints
FolkArt Acrylics Paints
Liquitex Acrylic Paints
Amsterdam Acrylic Paints
Pen Sketches
Erna van Dyk’s pen sketches bring creativity to life with simple yet expressive lines. Easily swapping a brush for a pen, she captures moments in her journal, blending spontaneity with detail. Perfect for on-the-go artistry, her sketches add charm and character to everyday pages.
Materials used:
Etcher Sketchbook
Micron Pens
KingArt Pens
Color Pencil Sketches
Erna van Dyk’s color pencil sketches bring depth and vibrancy to her journal pages. By swapping a brush for pencils and white paper for colored backgrounds, she creates rich, layered artwork with ease—perfect for capturing ideas and adding dimension to everyday sketches.
Materials used:
Strathmore Toned Mixed Media Paper
Prismacolor Pencils
Laser Cutting / Engraving
Erna van Dyk transforms her digital drawings on the iPad into intricate laser-cut designs. Bringing creativity to life, she cuts various materials like wood and acrylic, turning sketches into unique art pieces, custom decor, and creative craft projects.
Materials used:
XTool PS2
Birch Plywood
Gouache Paint / Metal Embossing / Gelli Printing / Sculpey / Stencils
Erna van Dyk embraces a ‘no art materials left behind’ approach, exploring metal embossing, gelli printing, and Sculpey clay in her mixed media classes. She also designs her own stencil line, using them weekly to inspire creativity.
Materials used:
Strathmore Visual Watercolor Journal
Arteza Gouache
Robert Simmons Brushes
Metal Sheets
EmbossingTools
Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate
DecoArt Acrylics Paints
Various Canvas Fabric
DecoArt Acrylics Paints
FolkArt Acrylics Paints
Stencils created with my designs. Look at them here
Art Retreats
Erna van Dyk’s art retreats are a weeklong creative adventure, filled with inspiration, exploration, and hands-on art making in a supportive and fun environment.
Art Exploration Art Retreat 2022
Isla Mujeres Mexico
Brushes & Beyond Art Retreat Oct 2024
Twentynine Palms CA
Upcoming
Brushes & Beyond Art Retreat May 2025
Twentynine Palms CA
Upcoming
Brushes & Beyond Art Retreat Oct 2025
Twentynine Palms CA
Solo Art Exhibition 2018
For her solo exhibition, Erna van Dyk celebrated turning 40 by painting 40 women, honoring their stories and strength through expressive portraiture. Read more here
Pinners Conference Arizona 2019
Erna van Dyk was invited to the Pinners Conference, where she showcased her watercolor kits and stencils. Her make-and-take sessions and demos were widely attended, making for a vibrant and busy booth!
Collaborative Projects: Coloring Book & Elephant Postcards
Along with a few fellow artists, Erna van Dyk created a coloring book, with the front and back cover designed by her. They also created elephant postcards to benefit a nonprofit in Namibia.
Commissions
Let Erna bring your vision to life with a custom commission art piece, perfect for your home, as a gift, or even as a wedding invitation. Have an open wall? Erna can paint on it!
In the Media
From Passion to Profession: Erna van Dyk shares her journey into the art world, from childhood creativity to building a thriving art business. In this interview, she discusses her love for watercolor, mixed media, and teaching, as well as the challenges and joys of turning her passion into a career.
Read article here:
AI created a podcast version if you prefer to listen:
Embrace the healing, restorative power of art. Let’s spend the day laughing and discovering together while we are miles apart!
No prior painting experience necessary – all you need is an open mind.