Learning Art, Life Through Mentorship

"I've always wanted to do splatter paint on a canvass," said 16-year-old Aspen.

Aspen, though, doesn't think she is an artist.

"I don't consider myself an artist," she said. "I can draw here and there."

'Mom' is the title she is proud of the most.

"She just had the biggest smile ever and I had to capture it on picture," said Lopez as she showed us a picture of her two-year-old daughter, Natalia.  

Natalia, Aspen, and a mentor from Washoe County Human Services Mentorship program helped paint a canvass that will be auctioned off Wednesday night. The money will go toward the program. 

"We partnered six youths with six artists to where the artist would mentor the youth to create master pieces," said Grant Denton, Campo Reno Community Leader. 

Campo Reno is hosting the Color By Numbers event.  

"They nailed it, dude," said Denton, referring to the art. "They nailed it. Yeah."

The mentorship program partners youths with community members. That mentor supports the kids and becomes a role model that the kids can trust. 

"I think that helping people to become better versions of themselves is paying rent for your time on Earth," said Denton, quoting Mohammad Ali.  

Aspen's mentor has already helped her in more ways than learning how to paint.

"They told me that I was an amazing mom and an amazing kid," she said.

Aspen has faced a lot of criticism for being a teen mom. However, her mentor is teaching her to be just as beautiful of a person in real life as the work of art they painted.

"It made me cry because it was really sweet," said Aspen. "Nobody really compliments me that much like that."

The Color By Numbers event is Wednesday at Campo Reno, 50 N. Sierra Street Reno. Washoe County is also looking for qualified mentors, if you were unable to attend Wednesday's event.