At the age of two, the young artist is still developing their motor skills and hand-eye coordination. No structured drawing is introduced to them at this level. Toddlers need materials and activities through which they can express their ideas and feelings. Art can bridge verbal and nonverbal communication at this age, and helps language development. Young children become creative not by what they produce but by what they attept and explore. This does not mean "crafts" or any predetermined, structured activity which is restrictive. IT IS THE PROCESS-NOT THE PRODUCT!!! Children age two are ready to explore and discover!

Simple "open-ended" art activities are what they experience, such as painting with a salad spinner, egg beaters, Jell-O or anything else we think of, working with clay and different clay tools, Printmaking with anything and everything - from natural materials to things found around the house. Perhaps, color mixing with squirt bottles, and various collage activities. In one session, your child will be exposed to a minimum of 40 activities! We never repeat an activity in a year.   If there is an opportunity to follow the art history project presented in older classes on a basic level we will over these as well.

5 to 7 open ended activities are introduced to the young artists in their studio time. These activities are set up around the studio for the child to create and discover as they wish. The instructor and an assistant greet the child each class time and they then put on their art shirt. We then introduce the projects to the child. They can then explore that media until they are ready to move on. Artwork is left at the studio to dry and sent home the following week.

Classes are 45 min. to 1 hour in length at end of class we encourage the children to put away their shirt and clean their hands. We sit on the "rug" hand out a sticker or stamp, any artwork going home along with a few m&m's from our candy painting which is a reaward for good listeners. This positive reinforcement is only offered if the little one cas simply follow the teachers instructions when it is time to stop and wash hands, put away shirts and come to the rug to say goodbye. They receive a weekly handout sheet as they leave.

Preschool
KVMS classes & 3-5 year-old weekend workshops

(Minimum 4 students - Maximum 10) See class schedule for dates and times offered
Class length 45 minutes to an hour
Unfortunately, drawing and visual art as a form of human expression is often considered child's play. The importance of art in any curriculum is greatly ignored. Neural patterns are forming in the brain between the ages of 0 to 8. The development of these neural pathways in brain only occurs if the child is exposed to the arts. If not - this brain development is lost forever. Key thinking skills in visual perception, visual-spatial organization and attention to detail is taught by drawing exercises in the Art Start Studio. These drawing exercises are based on the monart system. As a result, the child's perceptual, and analytical skills are developed, as well as critical thinking and problem solving skills. School that incorporate drawing and visual arts into their regular curriculum are reporting a 20% increase in reading, writing, math and language skills!! In the past, many believed drawing curricula were for students age 12 and older. By introducing the visual art at a later age, many long term developmental benefits are lost to the child. At age 3 the young artist is truly ready to be introduced to these drawing and shape observation exercises. (Geraldine Schwartz, Ph.D. Founder and President, Vancouver Learning Center)

 The instructor and one assistant  greet the children and invite them to put on their art shirts and join us on the art rug. We then ask for a sharing of any beautiful or unusual piece of nature, if anyone has found anything and brought it to class. We discuss and place the item on the nature table. This sharing encourages the young artists to observe the world around them. We then participate in a relaxation exercise, getting our hands, brains and eyes ready to draw. We then use our sketchbooks to participate in a shape combination and observation exercise. We put these away and discuss our main art project for the week. These main projects focus on a different med along wtih a master artist or multicultural art form every week. Once the main prject is completed, the child is asked to help put away the materials and wash their hands. If there is time, they may work on another activity in the studio or look at any of th eart books for kids in the studio until class is over. At the end of class we encourage the children to put away their shirt and clean their hands. We then hand out a sticker, and any artwork going home along with a few m&m's from our candy painting which is a reward for good listeners. This positive reinforcement is only offered if the little ones can simply follow the teachers instructions when it is time to stop and wash hands, put away shirts and come to the rug to say goodbyes. They are escorted back to the classroom. If parents are coming to pick them up then we wait for the parents to come to the door and walk them out. We also provide them with a weekly handout sheet of each class' content.

Children age 6- 9 and 10 and Up
6-9 AND 10-18
(Minimum 4 students - Maximum 10)
2 hour once a month workshops - see class schedules for dates and times offered

The importance of art education applies to older artists as well as younger. It teaches children respect and appreciation of diversity and other cultures and different ways of thinking. Not only is a child's self esteem enhanced through the visual arts, children who participate in the arts repeatedly score better on SATs and academic performance tests. (Illinois Arts Council)

The students in the 6-9 and 10-18 year classes experience the same curriculum, however each class is presented according to the develpment and skill of each individual in that respective class.  Each student  is given the individual attetion and instruction they need. We provide this in a non-competitve, and nonjudgemental studio environment. We do not critique the children's art. However, we do provide guidance in a positive manner. We don't allow comparisons of each others work. However, they may look at one another's work to learn to appreciate each other's differences - but only to offer positive comments.

All supplies are provided in class. In each class we present a new idea or technique. These works may or may not be finished during class time. However, most times there is enought time to finish in class. If they wish they can finish them at home using the materials we used in class and supported by the handouts explaining our class. We will focus on a master artist or multicultural art form with every project.

In addition to class time, we also encourage the students to participate in various area art exhibits and studio filed trips. Parents are asked to joing us!

High School Art Exhibit Prep Class

This class is by appointment only and is for intermediate to advance skill level high school age students.  This class prepares a piece of artwork for entry into the area wide High School student exhibit held at Kankakee Community College each year.

ADULT AND FAMILY WORKSHOPS
(Minimum 4 students - Maximum - see class schedule for times offered)
Art is for everyone! Artists of all ages can learn a love of art in a studio setting, where everyone can create at his or her own level. All can obtain a better understanding of human experiences, past and present through visual art projects. Learn to express yourself, and think creatively and independently. This knowledge can benefit everyone in all walks of life!

In these workshops one particular media, technique, or theme is presented in a two hour class. All art supplies are provided at each workshop.

WHAT ABOUT CLASS SIZE?

Minimum class size for classes are 4 and maximum for most classes are 10 students - with the exception of workshop class size for workships vary depending on the location of the workship. Contact Art Start Studio for information regarding workshop class information.