Liliana Perez, Trenton

Cuban-born Liliana Perez is as an accomplished artist who first caught the creative bug at the age of 6. Since then, she's had solo exhibitions across Chicago and New York, racked up a slew of awards, taught extensively, and adorned schools with her murals. She's even worked as a scenic artist at Steppenwolf, the Lyric Opera, and other top-tier theaters.

But Liliana knows that not everyone boasts that same extensive artistic background, and she knows that some people feel intimidated to pick up a paintbrush or pencil. That's why she offers relaxed BYOB painting lessons for small groups. During these sessions, she works to bring out the natural creativity in her students, who pick up technical skills while learning to trust their own artistic voices.