rowena federico finn
filipina futurism - fiber mixed media art
WORKSHOPS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
NEW! Virginia Commission for the Arts Teaching Artist
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A Commitment to Arts Education
The VCA Teaching Artist Roster features 57 skilled educators available for booking by nonprofit organizations, schools, and local or tribal governments across Virginia. Teaching Artists are selected and awarded inclusion to the Roster based on their artistic expertise and their instructional experience in diverse learning environments.
About Arts in Practice Grants
Arts in Practice Grants support dynamic artist-led residencies and workshops by providing funding to organizations collaborating with artists from the VCA Teaching Artist Roster. This program is designed to reimburse organizations for residency or workshop fees and can support a wide range of learning activities for participants of all ages, as well as professional development opportunities for educators.
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Eligible applicants can apply twice per year for funding, requesting up to $2,000, with requests subject to the individual allocation for each Teaching Artist. A 15% cash match is required from the applicant. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and must be submitted at least two weeks before the residency start date.​
To explore the full list of Teaching Artists, visit the VCA Teaching Artist Roster, here.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Watercolor Demonstration
Chesapeake Bay Watercolorists - Monthly Meeting
TowneBank
137 Mt Pleasant Rd, Chesapeake, VA 23322
Saturday, April 5, 1:00–2:30 PM​
Etching on Shells: Mastering the Dremel Technique
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art
2200 Parks Ave., Virginia Beach, VA
1 session: Sunday, April 6, 12:00–3:00 PM
Adults (16+), all skill levels welcome
In this workshop, students will learn the art of etching onto capiz shells using a dremel rotary tool. Under Rowena's guidance, participants will explore the process of carving intricate designs, experimenting with texture and detail while gaining hands-on experience with the tool. The class will focus on the technical aspects of working with rotary tools, offering a chance to develop precision and control while creating unique, detailed shell pieces.
By the end of the session, students will have crafted their own etched shell artwork, with an understanding of how to manipulate the dremel for various effects.​
Members $55; Nonmembers $70
Click here to register.
Color workshop. Photo courtesy of Virginia MOCA.
Workshop Series for Visual Artists: Building Your Art Career
Oceanfront Library
700 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA
3 sessions: Saturdays, June 7, 14, & 21, 10:00am - 1:00pm
This is a free workshop but participants must register. Registration link and workshop details coming soon.​
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A three-part series designed to help artists develop their professional presence, articulate their artistic identity, and navigate funding and exhibition opportunities.
Perspective Gallery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech APIDA+ Center.
Click here to view Rowena's workshop-related drawings and paintings.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Rowena moderating a discussion with fellow Filipino-American artists Ken Garcia Olaes and Roberto Jamora. Filipino American National Historical Society of Hampton Roads and Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, VA. Photo courtesy of Jasmine Finn
Rowena is a seasoned and engaging public speaker. She has appeared numerous times on television, including giving a live watercolor painting demonstration for the Chrysler Museum on WTKR Coast Live in 2021, and delivering several lectures as a visiting artist at Virginia Tech in 2024. She is a featured artist on PBS & WHRO's television show Curate 757, Season 9 (2025). In March 2025, she was a panelist at the Christopher Newport University Conference on Women & Gender discussing the unique challenges of being a mother and professional artist.
As an art educator and community activist for more than a decade, Rowena is not only well-versed in teaching how to draw and paint, but in discussing the importance of art in society and art education in schools and universities. She is a founding member of the Commonwealth Artists Coalition, whose mission is to champion the needs of Virginia’s artists by providing resources, advocacy, and opportunities for growth.
Click here for her CV and a list of past speaking engagements. Click here for booking.