Vaishali believes flowers tell stories and that each bouquet and arrangement is a symphony of color, texture, and scent that captures life’s most meaningful moments. Her floral journey began with the fragrance of jasmine and blossomed into a lifelong passion that led her to train in Paris with world-renowned designer Catherine Muller.

Inspired by the artistry of European floral design, Vaishali founded You, Me & a Bouquet to help others discover the joy of floral creation. Her workshops invite you to slow down, connect, and craft arrangements that reflect your own story, one bloom at a time.

Laura Castaños is a multidisciplinary traditional media artist and instructor working primarily in oil paint, soft pastels, charcoal, and ink. She also has a deep appreciation for traditional crafts, including fiber arts, weaving, and bookbinding. Her creative practice is driven by energy, curiosity, and an enthusiasm for welcoming more people to participate in the arts.

She holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, with a focus on landscape painting and 20th-century Western art history. Laura lives and paints from her studio in her beloved hometown of Mundelein, Illinois, where she shares life with two of the cleverest cats in Lake County and her math- and physics-savvy partner.

Jayda Delatorre, a Round Lake native and Pomona College English graduate, joined the Adler Center with a mission: to create space for writers to connect, create, and break through blocks. Just weeks into her role, she launched The Writer’s Salon, a workshop series that quickly became a creative spark for local writers.

Jayda writes short stories and flash fiction, drawing inspiration from authors like José Saramago and Salvador Plasencia. She’s passionate about storytelling that moves people—and believes in the power of writing to inspire change.

Amanda holds a degree in Fine Art and English from Montana State University Billings and brings a wonderful blend of creativity, curiosity, and outdoor enthusiasm to our youth art program.

With a strong background in leading children’s summer camps, Amanda discovered her passion for combining artistic expression with outdoor exploration. Her own artwork is deeply inspired by nature, and she loves sharing that inspiration with her students.

An avid backpacker, camper, and wilderness explorer, Amanda brings that same spirit of adventure into her teaching. She helps kids connect with the natural world through hands-on art projects that spark curiosity, imagination, and a lasting appreciation for creativity in the outdoors.

A teacher by trade and an artist at heart, I help artists grasp classical art foundations while embracing contemporary methods. I also maintain a studio practice at The Palette and Chisel Academy of Art, focusing on drawing and painting from life.

I want my work to be both accessible and resonant, using the human form as a universal language of connection and expression. Reflecting on the relationship between my teaching and studio practice, I often say, “one hand washes the other.”

I am an alumnus of The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Art Department, earned a B.A. in Studio Art from Beloit College, and completed an M.A. in Secondary Education at St. Xavier University.

www.instagram.com/chris.seidel.art/