Our Team

Teacher and textile surface design artist Mary Hay, developed artmania in 2002. Mary is a practicing visual artist, a mother of two, and North Vancouver resident. She believes that daily contact with art keeps life fresh and interesting. She delights in watching her students grow, learn to express themselves, tell stories, and engage with the world through their developing creative skills. Mary earned her BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design / Fashion Institute of Technology NY, Ontario College of Art and Sheridan College. She has taught with the Vancouver and West Vancouver School Board, and has run a professional fabric design studio and an arts-oriented day care. By expanding artmania to incorporate classes for all ages, Mary hopes to share her passion for art with everyone and anyone, as well as create a studio filled with inspiration for people to come and experience everyday.

Serene Porter is an experienced art facilitator who is passionate about art, nature, teaching and healing.

Creative and empathetic, she weaves her First Nations cultural healing and great sense of humor into her teaching of art, creativity and leadership to a wide audience, from preschool children to elders.

Serene holds a BFA from York University, as well as a Graphic Design & Illustration Diploma (Mohawk University), and an Art Therapy Diploma (VATI). She has experience in teaching drawing, painting, photography, mixed media collage-making, and 3D art forms, as well as creating arts-based curricula for self-care and healing.

You can also catch Serene working as a Fine Arts Instructor at the Burnaby Art Gallery. A little-known fact about Serene is that she played ice hockey for York University. 

We love having Serene as part of our artmania team!

Serene’s personal art-making practice focuses on beautiful water-colour and encaustic art. Check out examples of Serene’s latest artwork at www.behance.net/sereneporter.

 

As an artist, writer and parenting educator, Domenica is an amazing asset to our artmania team.

Domenica is incredibly creative and kind, and has strong team leading skills. Working with artmania is helping her see her mission of encouraging art, supporting the senses, and leading with the concepts of positive discipline come to life. She is incredibly artistic with her focus primarily in acrylics, but she continues her art career in many different mediums.

To learn more about Domenica visit her websites:

domenicamastromatteo.com

sensationalchildren.ca