"Now you try it yourself," Borda says to Annie with an encouraging pat on her back.

Concentrating on the shape, Annie repositions her little fingers around the paintbrush and mimics the motions to the best of her abilities. Sure enough, like any 2-year-old whose hand-eye coordination is still maturing, Annie colors more outside than inside the lines.

"Good job, but we need to practice a little more," Borda says.

Borda may be giving Annie and her two older brothers, Joseph, 8, and Matthew, 6, lessons in art, but it's the kids who are teaching the 34-year-old former Saratogan about patience, an attribute she'll need for her newly established program called Art Adventure.

The program is open to children of all ages, but Borda, a victim of polio, says she hopes it will attract those with physical disabilities.

"Kids with disabilities have special talents as well. Some of them don't even realize it or don't get a chance to show it," Borda says. "I'm hoping that my program will encourage children to explore their talents. Maybe someone will discover that they are better at painting than other things like sports."

Within the program, students can choose from three types of classes: drawing, in which they will learn about shapes, proportion, tonalities and figure drawing; painting, which include acrylic, watercolor and oil pastel; and ceramics.

Sessions are one hour long and take place in her recently acquired Los Gatos apartment, which she converted into an art studio.

Teaching was not exactly what the Colombia native had in mind when she came to the U.S. in 1996 as an international exchange student.

A graduate of Jorge Tadeo Lozano, a well-known university in her country, Borda obtained a degree in graphic design. Prior to that, she worked closely with the art director of an advertising agency, designing graphics for shopping bags, gift boxes, business cards and display furniture.

In 1995, she became the director of Verde Vivo Foundation, exposing the adverse environmental impacts of rain forests by oil companies and narcotic groups. Increasing tension forced her to seek political asylum in the U.S.

After taking some English classes, she enrolled herself in De Anza College, where she honed her artistic skills.

She supported her way through school by becoming a full-time, live-in nanny for the Kennedy family in Saratoga. It was six years ago when she met Katie Kennedy and her then only child, and it wasn't until three years ago--after having worked with the kids on a more intimate level--that she became interested in teaching art.

With time on her hands and kids to entertain, Borda used art to keep them busy.

"It was more for fun in the beginning," Borda admits. "But I found myself teaching them about the different mediums and painting techniques. Then it became a fun and educational activity for them."

Borda says she enjoys working with kids because it gives her joy to see potential in their eyes.

"They're not afraid to explore or express themselves," Borda says.

Boldness is evident in both Joseph's and Matthew's paintings, some filled with bright colors and others with mysterious figures.

Joseph and Matthew say they like art because it has no limits.

"I don't have to worry if I make a mistake," Joseph says. "I can fix it or turn it into something else."

Katie says she likes Borda's style of teaching.

"She's patient with the kids. She also has a low-key approach. The kids are learning without feeling like they are in a structured learning environment. They get enough of this at school," Katie says.

For more information about Art Adventure, contact Liliana Borda at lgborda@aol.com.