RECognition: Elizabeth Leal, Instructional Classes
Recreation's monthly series to highlight and celebrate our staff
By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director
Life as a UC San Diego student can be stressful — we probably don’t have to tell you that. Studying, projects, papers, midterms, and finals. Add in trying to make time to work out, maybe dabble in an Intramural Sport, and have a social life.
It can be, well, a lot.
So when Elizabeth Leal welcomes her students into her art classes, she relishes providing an opportunity to slow down, enjoy the process, and disconnect.
“The majority of my students are studying hard sciences and need a place to unwind and paint something at the end of the day,” says Elizabeth, a third-year in Eleanor Roosevelt College who joined REC as an Art Class Instructor in June of 2023. “I love getting to know them all and being able to have my classroom be a place of relaxation for them.”
Offered through Recreation’s Instructional Class program, Elizabeth teaches four different art classes — open to all levels of artists, with a main focus on beginners — including watercolor, still life, and landscapes. Two of her classes utilize multiple mediums, also including graphite, pen, and colored pencil.
“My favorite part about working in REC is getting to teach something I am passionate about in a welcoming, low-pressure environment where students from all backgrounds come together to develop new skills and explore their creative side,” Elizabeth says. “My most memorable experiences have been watching students go from saying ‘I can't paint at all’ during the first week to creating artwork they are genuinely proud of by the end of the quarter.”
An art history and international business double-major, Elizabeth plans to pursue a career in the art business, such as working with auction houses, galleries, and museum management. She’s been making art since she was little, but that ignited into a true passion in high school and has carried her through her time at UC San Diego. Teaching art in REC allows her to put her own spin on things.
“I enjoy art in all mediums – but I dislike feeling forced or pressured to make it perfect or finishing by a deadline,” she says. “Art is meant to be enjoyed, not rushed. I wanted to share this passion for art with others who feel the same way.”
Linh-An Ho, Assistant Director for Rec Classes and Youth Programs, says Elizabeth explains art techniques in a way that encourages participants to let their creativity shine while learning solid fundamentals.
“With lo-fi beats accompanying her lessons, she consistently creates a warm environment that gives our participants the perfect opportunity to decompress from their busy lives,” she says.
Another way Elizabeth decompresses — other than making sure she gets her full 9 hours of sleep every night — is by hitting the gym to lift. While it doesn’t have much in common with art on the surface, Elizabeth says weightlifting provides her with a similar outlet she can be passionate about.
“Both art and any physical training serve as ways of growing as a person, where progress is personal and not defined by others,” she says. “There is no strict timeline or single ‘right’ way to improve — you simply focus on consistency, enjoy the process, and take pride in how far you've come.”
