Inside the Studio Experience
Developing Skill, Confidence, and Creative Thinking Through Studio Practice
Teaching Philosophy
Making art teaches more than artistic skill. It builds observation, problem-solving, focus, confidence, and perseverance through hands-on practice over time. At Art Kids Studio, students are encouraged to explore ideas and materials freely, without fear of mistakes or judgment. Through drawing, painting, sculpture, and other media, they develop technical skills, creative independence, and the confidence that comes from meaningful effort and accomplishment. I have been teaching studio art to children and adults since 1991. My goal is to support each student’s artistic and personal growth in a safe, stimulating, collaborative, and fun environment. The Art Kids Studio classes are designed to be progressive, so students can return again and again to discover new lessons, new challenges, and new ways to grow.
Objectives
Art Kids Studio builds individual self-expression, confidence and imagination of each student through engaging, process-based art experiences grounded in traditional studio training. Students explore a wide range of media including graphite, watercolor, ink, oil pastels, acrylics, clay and constructed forms, while developing foundational skills in portraiture, still life, realism, abstraction, color theory, fundamental composition skills, line, patterning and art vocabulary. Through guided exploration and creative play, students gain both technical ability and the confidence to express their own ideas.
Craftsmanship & Exploration
Art Kids are encouraged to experiment, investigate, and take creative risks, possibilities, concepts and media. Students experience a variety of technical skills through exploration of multi-media to achieve aesthetic goals. New approaches, methods and strategies are initiated through new lesson plans from session to session to encourage individualized diversity and growth.
Visual Analysis & Creative Thinking
Art Kids are introduced to visual analysis through both their own work and the work of others. They learn to observe and understand composition, color theory, and the elements and principles of design.
Students are trained to consider the decisions they make while creating and are encouraged to look for new solutions to improve their designs. By reflecting on their creative decisions and considering alternative solutions, students build confidence, strengthen problem-solving skills, and learn that there are often many valid answers to a creative challenge. Exceptional effort and growth are celebrated, fostering motivation, pride, and a joyful studio culture where learning and fun go hand in hand.
Interdisciplinary Learning
In the studio, Art Kids are encouraged to express their ideas through dialogue and projects that weave together history, science, and contemporary issues. By making connections across subjects and cultures, students deepen their understanding of both themselves and the world around them. Our lessons aim to highlight and honor diverse voices and perspectives, helping students appreciate the richness of our differences while recognizing the fundamental similarities that connect us all.
Active Creating & Participation
The studio is an active, hands-on environment where learning happens through doing. Students build mastery through practice, experimentation, and repetition, learning as much from mistakes as from successes.
Structured lesson plans, live demonstrations,, and step-by-step guidance support all levels of learners. Group instruction is balanced with individualized coaching to build confidence, encourage independence, and help each student complete their unique pieces of art.
Students engage in the full artistic process, from idea development and creation to reflection, critique, and exhibition.
Curriculum
Art Kids Studio offers a dynamic curriculum rooted in traditional studio practices including drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. In addition to core instruction,, students engage in special projects like creating comic books, graphic novels, and handmade books, experiences that spark imagination while introducing the fundamentals of figurative drawing and visual construction.
Through a thoughtful balance of observational practice and creative exploration, students build confidence working across a variety of media while strengthening both technical ability and imagination. Foundational classes emphasize observation, life drawing, and multimedia techniques, while core studio classes in drawing, painting, and sculpture support the development of each student's unique artistic voice.
As a practicing artist, I am continuously explore new materials, ideas, and directions in my own work and in the classroom. The curriculum evolves along side this process, with new lessons and classes emerging organically to reflect ongoing creative discovery.
Class Descriptions
Art Drawing - Imagination & Reality
Art Kids draw from their imagination and real life while learning to use line, shape, space, value, color texture, pattern, shape, form, organization and structure. Art Kids will explore a variety of media while building individual ability, conceptual creativity and process. Drawing lessons are designed to advance drawing skills, techniques and vocabulary.
Buildn' Art
Art Kids investigate methods of construction and form through basic elements of sculpture and 3 dimensional design. Art Kids will imagine and construct 3-D works of art by modeling and assembling paper, clay, wood, wire and other creative materials.
Mix It Up
Individual creativity, ability and technical skill will be developed while exploring water media techniques like wet in wet, dry brush, opaque vs transparent, glazing, blending and brushwork. art kids will produce a variety of paintings from their imagination and reality.
