Unleash Creativity and Control with Paint

A Santa Monica College (SMC) student drips paint onto a canvas as a therapeutic activity in the Paint Pouring Wellness event organized by Santa Monica College (SMC) Foster Student Support on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Student Equity Center, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. (Fai Fong | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) student Malise Allen drips paint onto a canvas at the Paint Pouring Wellness event organized by SMC Foster Student Support on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Student Equity Center, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. (Fai Fong | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) student David Mateo drips paint onto a canvas at the Paint Pouring Wellness event organized by SMC Foster Student Support on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Student Equity Center, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. (Fai Fong | The Corsair)

T-shirts that say “May is Foster Youth Awareness Month” are given at the Paint Pouring Wellness event organized by Santa Monica College (SMC) Foster Student Support on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Student Equity Center, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. (Fai Fong | The Corsair)

Santa Monica College (SMC) student Ciana Mendez drips paint onto a canvas at the Paint Pouring Wellness event organized by SMC Foster Student Support on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Student Equity Center, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. (Fai Fong | The Corsair)

Finished paintings wait to dry, created by Santa Monica College (SMC) students to at the Paint Pouring Wellness event organized by SMC Foster Student Support on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Student Equity Center, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, Calif. (Fai Fong | The Corsair)

Celebrating Foster Youth Awareness Month, the Foster Youth Service Support Programs at Santa Monica College (SMC) invited students to create art by pouring paint onto a canvas on May 17, 2025, at the SMC Student Equity Center.     

Julyssa Guevara, a therapist from Nextup, led the workshop. Nextup is a program that supports current and former foster youth at SMC. Guevara said, “Art has been known to help folks with wellness. It allows us to be mindful, because a lot of students, as well as ourselves, as staff … are always running around … We don’t stop to take care of ‘us’. We don’t stop to play. This allows for the creativity to tap into building community.”

Additionally, Guevara works with students from the DREAMS, Pico Partnership and Rising Scholars programs.    

Guevara also talked about the process of pouring paint to create artwork as an experience for the student to navigate the sense of losing control. She said, “We can’t control how the paint will pour over the canvas.”  

Foster Support Programs Project Manager Raul Enciso shared that May is Foster Youth Awareness Month, and his program planned additional activities throughout May. On May 27, they will host a Foster Youth Resource Fair outside the library walkway, where attendees can enjoy free tacos. On May 29, the program will screen a movie made by a former foster youth. Check for the upcoming time and details.