Prestonwood Christian Academy's award-winning visual art department is a dynamic and active part of the Fine Arts at PCA. Students achieve success and recognition each year at local, state and national levels, and the Upper School Art Department has won the TAPPS State Art title numerous times. PCA's incredible art faculty is a talented group of artists and teachers with a passion for sharing their skill set and love for visual art with their students, all while modeling a Christ-like lifestyle and attitude toward their students.
Shea Reeves, Clay
SILVER MEDAL WINNER, Scholastic Art Competition
Alex Bishop, Clay
GOLD KEY WINNER, Scholastic Art Competition
Sami Sulzer, Water Color
GOLD SEAL WINNER, State VASE Competition
Davis Works, Clay
GOLD KEY WINNER, Scholastic Art Competition
Emily Pope, Water Color and Ink Pens
Janice Park, Colored Pencil
State VASE Entry
Kennedy Taylor, Clay
GOLD KEY WINNER, State VASE Competition
Students in PreK-3 through First Grade explore a variety of different media and are encouraged to explore their creativity freely. Basic skills and art vocabulary are used to begin building a foundation for further study. Second through Fourth Grade students increase their technical skills and begin a more in-depth study of art and design principles, such as color theory and form. Drawing from observation, a variety of painting media and collage are emphasized. Lower School art students participate annually in the ACSI Art Festival as well as the Lower School "Art Explosion."
In Fifth and Sixth Grade, students are introduced to even more art techniques and tools and have a larger focus on 3D sculptural works. Moving into Seventh and Eighth Grade, students learn basic color theory and compositional elements as well as the building blocks to any successful work of art. An emphasis in critical analysis is stressed along with peer critique as the students progress through the semester. The students learn value, spacing, and form while being introduced to a wide array of new materials and media. The Middle School art department also competes in ACSI every year as well as participating in various events throughout the year in which artwork is displayed for the student body and parents.
As students transition into Upper School, greater rigor is implemented into the curriculum. Art students are met with a variety of class options ranging from traditional art forms such as sculpture, drawing, and painting to more contemporary art forms such as advanced Photoshop and digital art. Research papers are introduced into the curriculum as students learn how to decipher a work’s meaning and intent by the subject matter and elements of art used within the work. PCA’s upper level art students compete each year in ACSI, VASE, Scholastic and Congressional art festivals, gaining valuable experience and national exposure as well as excellent scholarship opportunities.
Carolina Balma has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Woman’s University with a concentration in Art Education. She spent her first ten years teaching in Plano and McKinney, Texas and joined the PCA Fine Arts team in 2015. Carolina’s love for art started from her childhood when drawing and coloring were more than just a pastime, it was already a passion. “I used to spend hours coloring and imagining my pictures coming to life. I would look at professional art and just dream of one day being able to create something so beautiful as the pieces I would see in books and magazines.” She has learned over the years that art is not just for the natural born gifted child. She believes art requires more than just imagination or talent; it requires practicing skills, patience and passion. Mrs. Balma’s favorite thing about being an art teacher is getting to teach the foundational elements and principles of art. She loves watching what each student will create with the skills they learn. She cherishes seeing student growth in the appreciation of art and art making. She believes that God is the ultimate creator and divine artist, and He created everything with a purpose, with beauty and majesty. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing, watercolor and ceramics.
Shelby Ruiz is a Christian artist and teacher who creates artwork with the goal of showing others the articulate wonders of creation and the Biblical lessons to be learned from them. She is passionate about teaching young artists how to forge and refine skills with which to create their own artworks that express the message of the Gospel to an audience.
Mrs. Ruiz joined the PCA Fine Arts team in 2021 and has experience teaching all levels. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and fishing with her husband Kyle. Her favorite verse is Matthew 6:26-27, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”
Amanda Woodard holds a bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Houston Baptist University and has several years of teaching experience in both public and private Christian education, including at Second Baptist School in Houston and The Classical School of Dallas. She has taught and developed curriculum for a wide range of courses, including Introduction to Art, 2D Design, Drawing & Painting, 3D Design, Sculpture & Ceramics, and Honors Art. While most of her teaching has been at the upper school level, she has taught students of all ages and is excited to be returning to middle school.
In the summer of 2023, Amanda moved from Houston to Dallas to study at Dallas Theological Seminary to deepen her understanding of Scripture and become better equipped for ministry. Her teaching emphasizes the healing and transformative power of Christ, and she strives to create a classroom environment that reflects His love while nurturing both artistic skill and a personal relationship with Jesus. Amanda is passionate about using creative arts as a form of worship, self-expression, and community building. Her love for the arts extends beyond visual arts to include music, dance, theatre, and literature.
Outside the classroom, Amanda enjoys Bible studies, worship music, art, dance, spending time in nature, traveling, walking her sweet rescue dog, and hosting creative events that integrate art and faith. She is a member of City Church International and serves at a local anti-human trafficking ministry where she helps survivors find hope and healing in Jesus. She values mentoring students, fostering Christ-centered community, and helping others discover how their unique gifts can glorify God.
Tiffany Newsome graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education and holds an All-Level Teaching Certification in Texas.
For the last 17 years, she proudly served as the art teacher on a Title I campus in Plano. She was a part of the Plano ISD Fine Arts Team awarded a District of Distinction in Fine Arts recognized by TAEA for leadership in growing and advocating for young creatives.
Tiffany was selected among her colleagues as Teacher of The Year for her passion for her students and guiding them in developing their artistic voice. She feels art is the unspoken holistic integrator of all subjects and is essential in academia in the growth and development of our future generation.
As a teenager, Tiffany was awarded the “I’m Third Award” while a Kamper at Kanakuk camps. She holds true to the “I’m Third” lifestyle of God first, others second, and I’m third. She still carries her card with her today.
Teaching allows her the opportunity to serve the Lord by serving others while exploring and stretching the creative gifts God has bestowed on her. When she’s not in the studio you can find her digging and designing in the dirt alongside her Mom because like Monet said, “I must have flowers always and always.”
VASE - 21 regional medals, 6 students advanced to State VASE
Jr. VASE 36 regional medals, 7 students won platinum medals
ACSI - 6 superior ratings with the highest score received among middle school students
2017 - 18
National K12 Ceramic Exhibition
Scholastic Art and Writing Regional competition - 2 gold keys
Scholastic Art and Writing National competition
ACSI - 15 medals in K-12
VASE - 2 state gold medals
Jr. Vase - 5 regional medals & 1 platinum medal
2016 - 17
National K12 Ceramic Exhibition
Scholastic Art and Writing Regional competition
Scholastic Art and Writing National competition
ACSI
VASE
Jr. Vase
2015 - 16
National K12 Ceramic Exhibition - 4 works selected for exhibit
Scholastic Art and Writing Regional competition - 5 gold keys, 8 silver keys, 13 honorable mentions
Scholastic Art and Writing National competition - 1 national gold key
ACSI - Best of Show, 20 medals in K-12
VASE - 13 state gold medals,1 gold seal
Jr VASE - 5 silver medals
2014 - 15
National K12 Ceramics Exhibition - 3 works selected for entry
Scholastic Art and Writing Regional - 1 gold key, 6 silver keys, 5 honorable mentions
ACSI - Best of Show, 19 medals K-12
VASE - 6 state gold medals, 2 gold seals
2013 - 14
TAPPS 5A State Art Champions - First Place
TAPPS 5A-1 District - Second Place
ACSI - Regional Winner
ACSI - District Best in Show
Congressional Award Winner
2012 - 13
TAPPS 5A State Art Champions - Second Place
TAPPS 5A-1 District - Second Place
ACSI - 11 medals K-12
2011 - 12
TAPPS 5A State Art Champions - First Place
2010 - 11
TAPPS 5A State Art Champions - First Place
ACSI - District Best in Show
ACSI - National Best in Show
2009 - 10
TAPPS 5A State Art Champions - First Place
2008 - 09
TAPPS 5A State Art Champions - First Place
2007 - 08
TAPPS 5A State Art Champions - Second Place
"PCA’s art program is amazing. We are so thankful to be a part of this program and can’t wait to see what God, the Master Artist, has planned for the future of the PCA art program."
PCA Parent
Sean Lee, Ink "Quarantine"
Sarah Sign, Mixed Media
Sami Sulzer, Water Color WINNER, Young American Talent Art Competition
