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Art for Kids: Painting Classes for Children
Paintings by children from Green Forest Art StudioClick thumbnail to view full-size
Painting is fun for children
You all probably remember dipping brushes in paint growing up and painting on paper, wood, canvas or poster board. You also probably remember how absolutely fun it was!
I think all people have an ingrained love for the art of dipping a paint brush in a beautiful color. Kids are certainly no different and when offered new colors, kids will act like you have given them a piece of candy. Beautiful, vibrant and dazzling colors make our hearts sing!
Painting classes for children and adults are not only fun, but are also great ways to learn new ways of thinking, doing and creating.
The importance of painting for kids
Besides being fun and making them happy, what is the importance of art for kids?
From the New Yorks Center for Art Education:
- Your children learn to think creatively. They learn to have an open mind through art.
- Your kid learns to observe and describe, analyze and interpret life and their surroundings.
- Your kid learns to express feelings, with or without words.
- Children practice problem-solving skills, critical-thinking skills, dance, music, theater and art-making skills, language and art vocabulary through creative pursuits.
- Kids discover that there is more than one right answer and that their can be multiple points of view about something.
- That "playing" can be "learning".
- Your kid learns to work with other kids and with adults, fostering "team-spirit" and "good-sportsmanship" (all art is "good")
- Arts introduce children to cultures from around the world.
- Your kid can blossom and excel in the arts. Even with physical, emotional or learning challenges, a child can still experience success in the arts.
- Art builds confidence. Because there is not just one right way to make art, every child can feel pride in his or her original artistic creations.
- Arts build community. Schools with a variety of differences can celebrate the arts as one community.
Additionally, kids in art, drawing and painting classes learn Art History. This enhances childrens enjoyment of art in everyday experiences. Kids learn to develop a historical understanding of great artists, works, movements, and art from different cultures. A good art program teaches children the vocabulary of art, different elements of art and principles of art design.
The Golden Gate Bridge done in a kids painting class
Another San Francisco scene inspired painting by a child
Poll on your childrens art education
Do your children paint and do art?
Green Forest Art Studio in Union City
Green Forest Art Studio offers painting classes, drawing classes, watercolor, clay, tye-dye, wood crafts, wool projects, acrylic, oil, soft pastels...
Painting classes for kids in the San Francisco East Bay
In the San Francisco East Bay where I live, there are studios that offer private lessons during the year and some even offer art camp during the summer. A good example of a well rounded art program is offered at Green Forest Art Studio in Union City, but they are also opening a new location in nearby Fremont, California, which will offer children's art classes and adult art classes as well.
The owner and art director, Emma Peng, has a fine arts degree in teaching and has been professionaly instructing young students for over 10 years. As an artist herself, she has a strong desire to see children be able to express themselves creatively through art.
Green Forest Art Studio is a good example of what to look for when selecting painting classes for your children. Not only do they offer private lessons but also group lessons. During the summer, Green Forest has "art camp", which is a day program for children that exposes children to all types of mediums - painting, acrylics, watercolor, soft pastel, oil, clay, oil pastel, tie-dye, chalk, wood crafts, craft projects and classes learning how to make items out of wool (starting with the basics - actually designing and adding wool fibers together to make pouches, clothing, hats, etc)
Children at Green Forest Art Studio learn how to paint in acrylic, a great medium for kids to use because it dries faster then oil paint and the colors are easy to blend, brilliant and best of all - they are non-toxic. Kids actually paint on real canvas which is stretched over wood, just like professional artists do. They start by putting on a background wash which seals the canvas and gives the young artist a foundation to start building their layout with either pastel or charcoal.
It's really important to remember that children of all ages can paint and that they should be encouraged to start at an early age. Learning how to draw is important for children who are going to learn how to paint.
As Ms. Peng puts it, "One must first learn to see before one can learn to draw or paint. Students need to be taught how to directly observe objects in their surroundings and the techniques required to accurately render qualities such as form, color, lighting, shadow, reflection, texture, proportion, and perspective."
As soon as a child has the ability to hold a paintbrush and understand how to draw and where to put the paint - well they are ready to be artists!
I have seen children as young as 2 creating art and some talented 4-5 year old children that can do some amazing things with paint! Painting classes for children are highly recommended because they will have a lot of fun with the paint and it's always amazing to see how they interpret a photo or the scene they are seeing.
What to look for in a good art school/studio for your child?
- Teachers have the patience to let children freely express themselves
- Children are exposed to different mediums
- Classes are size appropriate (6-8 students to 1 teacher is a good ratio)
- Age appropriate instruction (more advanced students should be taught more advanced techniques)
- Teachers have a genuine passion for art and for teaching (sit and observe your child's art teacher - are your kids having fun and feeling relaxed in their surroundings?)
Exposing your children to art a young age and encouraging their creativity is one of the best things you can do for your childrens education. Not only do they have fun at it but it is teaching them life lessons that extend far beyond the classroom.
(Dorsi Diaz is a freelance writer/publisher, artist and art educator in the San Francisco Bay Area)
Painting and Art Classes in the East Bay
- EastBay Kids Art Classes, Kids Art Lessons, Summer Arts Camp, Art BirthdayParties by Green Forest Ar
Welcome to Green Forest Art Studio, where our mission is to help children explore art, developing a fun gift that will stay with them forever. We provide art instruction in a relaxing setting, allowing students to develop self confidence that will h