When was the first time you picked up a pencil and felt like you could draw? I wass 33. Sure, I had drawn as a child, and even a time or two in high school. But there wasn’t anyone that showed technique or could explain highlights, shadow, and line to create a drawing I would qualify as art. Children begin to notice how their artwork looks around 8-10 years of age, as brain development begins to “compare” our work with those around us. We either summarize that we can or that we cannot draw. Children will either be introduced to a drawing class and gain confidence, or most times, feel as though they can’t draw, so they won’t. I did know that my work didn’t look “real” or exciting, but rather flat and uninteresting.  So, like many others, I didn’t think I could draw, and definitely didn’t consider myself an artist. That was then and oh how my thought process has changed. I believe that anyone has the ability to draw, it just takes the write teacher to help you along the way.

When I re-enrolled in college to begin my career as an art teacher, a requirement was to take a drawing class. Of course I was so nervous. I had to face the inner child that told me I didn’t know how to draw. What a life changing event this class was to have on my abilities, my outlook, and how I would teach others. In a room full of adult, this teacher could break down elements and design into the simplest forms, giving everyone (no matter what their skill level was) a place to dive in with excitement as nothing seemed too difficult to achieve. These skills would then be incorporated into our sketches and create a drawing you didn’t realize you were capable of. I was so moved and enlightened by her teaching method that I designed the philosophy of Studio 4 Art around it.

Her beauty was the ability to translate that their were no right or wrong ways of drawing, and making sure she celebrated each individual for where they were in their process, and always had something kind to say about each work and would question areas that may need a little more work with “hints and tips”. Teachers are everything in art making (and any subject). If you have someone that can connect with you, that you feel safe becoming vulnerable in the learning process, and that you can see a reward through new applications and personal ability, you are going to feel successful and keep practicing. That is what Studio 4 Art is about. Celebrating where each child is in their creative adventure, asking inquisitive questions along the way that don’t have a set answer, and scaffolding their learning by introducing a simple art technique or two that they feel more empowered by.

So, if you have a child that isn’t feeling competent or is shy about their art ability, send them our way. We are sure that we can assist and encourage a child to feel good about where their abilities currently are, and feel excited about what they can learn through more experimenting and knowledge about art techniques. Self confidence, self awareness, and learning to take leadership over their learning is a definite win in our art classes.