Educational Background/Training

• BFA, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, 1999
• Recipient of the National Art Education Association Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Conference Scholarship, New York, NY, 2020
• Recipient of the Southern Atelier Portrait Drawing Workshop Scholarship, Bradenton, FL 2020

For over a decade, Rowena has shared her passion for art with students of all ages, leading workshops and classes in partnership with the Chrysler Museum of Art, Virginia MOCA, and numerous other arts organizations throughout Hampton Roads. She currently teaches visual art at the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk and has presented professional development workshops for art educators in Norfolk Public Schools and Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

A multidisciplinary artist with expertise across a wide range of media, Rowena has a strong foundation in drawing, painting, and color theory. She is known for creating a welcoming, encouraging environment where students feel supported, regardless of experience level. Her clear, approachable instruction and enthusiasm for artmaking are both inspiring and contagious. By the end of her workshops, students not only leave with new techniques and practical skills, but also with renewed confidence, fresh ideas, and a deeper connection to their own creative practice.

About the Artist/Ensemble

Rowena Federico Finn (she/her/siya) is a Filipina-American artist, community organizer, and educator based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her work—and her teaching—are grounded in the belief that understanding and expressing identity is essential to both personal growth and cultural connection. Through a wide range of techniques, Rowena invites viewers and students alike to explore how who we are shapes how we see the world and how we choose to engage with it.

Born and raised in Virginia, Rowena uses materials such as capiz shells, piña fabric, and sinamay—major exports from the Philippines—as touchstones for connecting with her heritage and examining how it interweaves with her American upbringing. Her innovative use of capiz shells has created a new visual and cultural language—one that speaks to the experience of belonging partly to two worlds, yet fully to neither—bridging histories, reclaiming traditions, and opening space for new narratives. In her workshops, this approach empowers students to bring their own backgrounds, histories, and perspectives into their artmaking, helping them see their work not just as objects, but as expressions of lived experience.

Rowena is the recipient of the Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, the Virginia Beach Individual Artist Grant, and a creative residency at the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts. Her artwork is in the permanent collections of the Chrysler Museum of Art and the Sentara Brock Cancer Center in Norfolk, VA. She views public service as an essential part of her artistic practice, serving as president and co-founder of the Virginia Coalition of Visual Artists and as vice chair of the WHRO Community Advisory Board. She lives in Virginia Beach with her husband and three children.

Educational Program Description

AVAILABLE WORKSHOPS

DRAWING & PAINTING
Rowena has spent years teaching drawing, painting, and color theory to learners of all ages and abilities—including professional development for art educators—helping each participant grow in skill, confidence, and creative expression. Her customizable workshops can focus on drawing with graphite, charcoal, or colored pencil; painting with oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, or tempera; or exploring the principles of color theory. Students benefit from a supportive, step-by-step approach that meets them at their current skill level, offering clear instruction on everything from how to hold a pencil to how to select and care for materials.

Popular options like Practical Color Mixing give students the tools to understand color relationships, create personalized reference charts, and mix exactly the shade they need—skills that save time, reduce waste, and enhance artistic results. In Watercolor for Beginners, students learn essential techniques while overcoming common frustrations, leaving with several fun, achievable projects they can continue at home.

Whether in a single 2–3 hour session or a multi-day workshop, participants gain not only technical skills but also problem-solving abilities, creative confidence, and a deeper understanding of art-making—benefits they can apply to future projects in the classroom, studio, or personal practice.

HAND-EMBROIDERY
In this calming, hands-on workshop, students will explore the art of hand embroidery, learning a variety of beautiful and versatile stitches used in traditional and contemporary work. With its gentle rhythm and repetition, hand sewing has been shown to reduce stress, quiet the mind, and promote mindfulness—making the creative process as rewarding as the finished piece. Rowena will introduce the essential tools and techniques, demonstrate each stitch, and provide step-by-step guidance as students practice and build their skills. By the end of the session, each participant will complete a unique embroidered artwork tailored to the organization’s chosen theme or focus. This single-session workshop runs 2–3 hours and can be customized to suit a wide range of interests and experience levels.

SOFT MIXED MEDIA BEADED SCULPTURES
This beading and sewing workshop invites students to experiment with a variety of materials—beads, thread, yarn, sewing tools, and repurposed items—to design and create their own soft-form sculpture. In the interest of environmental stewardship, organizations are encouraged to collect clean materials that would otherwise be discarded or recycled, giving students the chance to transform everyday objects into meaningful works of art. Guided by Rowena, students will learn techniques in design, hand-sewing, and three-dimensional construction while developing problem-solving skills, patience, and attention to detail. A chosen theme—such as dolls, mythical or realistic animals, or plants—sparks imaginative thinking and personal expression. These in-depth, multi-day sessions (2–3 hours per day) provide the time and focus needed for students to explore new artistic techniques, expand their creativity, and create a finished piece that reflects their individual vision and effort.

Fees

Artist’s fees begin at $150 per hour. Materials may incur additional costs.

Audiences

• All Ages