SANTA ANA : Little Artists Show Some Major Art

Standing inside a Newport Beach art gallery, Brian Kwan, 9, pointed proudly at a colored pencil drawing framed in glass that he had drawn.

The drawing, which includes an American flag, cartoon character Bart Simpson and a pasted-on photo of himself surveying the scene, was one of Brian’s first ever to be displayed in a professional gallery.

“It feels real great because when I was small, I used to think my art would be on display, so I made my dream come true,” he said.

Brian is one of 150 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade artists from the Santa Ana Unified School District whose participation in the Special Studio program has given them a chance to gain wide exposure in galleries around the county.

As part of the program, more than 400 student paintings, drawings and collages are now on display in a temporary exhibit called “Major Art, Minor Artists.”

Helen Seigal, one of the program’s coordinators, said that the participants are chosen for their artistic potential. The children receive intensive training at weekly classes. The art projects include self-portraits, paintings and drawings as well as mixed-media creations incorporating photographs.

One student, 11-year-old Carla Martinez, was thrilled that her work was exhibited. “I’m very proud of it because I want to be an artist when I grow up,” she said.

Carla’s projects were a colorful chalk portrait of a seated woman and a portrait of a blue frog with black spots.

She said she would like people to view her work because “everybody would admire me and think I really did something.”

Another student, 11-year-old Tonya Hightower, has had her work exhibited in the past in the same program. Still, she said, she was happy to be given the chance to participate again this year.

Tonya, who aspires to be a pediatrician, said drawing and painting is always enjoyable and liberating.

“You can express yourself,” she said. “Use bright colors when you’re happy, dull colors when you’re sad and no one can say whether it’s right or wrong.”

Brian agreed.

“It’s about using your imagination, your brain, a pencil and your hands,” he said. “It’s fun.”

The free exhibit runs through July 22 at the Art Store Gallery, 4040 Campus Drive, Newport Beach.