Art Adventures

Our Goal:   We believe that learning to think creatively is necessary to children's development.  Our program is designed to reach all intelligences, to go beyond school curriculums and to give individualized attention.  After all, the creative process is a fun and fulfilling experience and one that we encourage to last a lifetime!  Although semester enrollment is offered, our curriculum will span the entire year while keeping current with art in NYC and around the world.

While exploring contemporary, modern and multicultural art, children overcome obstacles, master triumphs and revel in the excitement over newfound ways to use their mediums of choice.  Each class has a built-in opportunity to work as a group as well as individually, to work vertically and horizontally, to use left and right brain, fine and gross motor skills, to have wet and dry mediums- generally addressing the diversity of children's needs each day.  Many of our students have been with us for over 5 years in a row, without repeating a project!  Special attention is placed on designing the curriculum so that lessons serve as building blocks to the next and new process.  Once they have built an "art vocabulary" from a previous year, they begin using it to make masterpieces the next! 

Visiting artists are also invited throughout the year to share their unique perspectives.  Museum visits are included in all classes.

For children 3-5 years:  A diverse and unique class!  Curriculum is designed to explore processes of diverse artists and cultures, stimulate creativity, promote critical thinking and to experience a wide variety of art materials suited to children's interests and abilities.  In order to instill trust and confidence, we encourage decision making, as well as trial and error, allowing children the freedom to explore at their own pace.  Because each group’s social development is also important, children are encouraged to practice inter-personal skills hand-in-hand with learning an art vocabulary.  Drawing journals are kept to reinforce topics and to record development throughout the year.  At least 2 museum visits (with hands-on projects) are included per year.

For children 6-11 years:  In addition to the above, we challenge our students with new projects, introduce a wider vocabulary of art, more advanced techniques such as color theory, brushwork, drawing skills, animation, photography, more advanced materials (metal, wood, wire, fabric, sculpting tools, pinhole cameras, papermaking...) and a step by step understanding of larger scale projects, appropriate to their levels and ages.  

Wednesday Museum Adventures classes:  Come with your child to NYC museums!  The Met, MOMA, Guggenheim, Whitney, galleries and more… Multiple tours (with hands-on projects) throughout the semester, focusing on contemporary, modern and multicultural art. Alternate weeks are at All Souls Church to work on the museum-inspired projects (sorry- the All Souls classes are for children only!) 

NEW! Adult Drawing 101: Using the Monart method, come discover the secret to drawing! Demystified and inspiring, drawing is not exclusive to those born to be “artists.”  Everyone can draw if given the proper insight! Call to schedule your private or group evening class.

Pollock in the park, Rauschenberg collages, Wayne Thiebaud, Claes Oldenburg pop art, Nevelson and Giacometti sculptures, traditional Calder mobiles/stabiles, Lichtenstein patterns, African masks, cloths and mud painting, Egyptian art, Indian sand rituals and yarn art, Japanese fish prints, Chinese calligraphy, Contemporary artists, photography, self-portraits, line, shape and color studies, storytelling, world arts and more...

 
Children love our hands-on projects!

Media include unique materials:  clay, wood, metal, sand, foam, paper-maché, wire, cloth, plastic, hand-made paper, found objects, photo developing, paint and more...  What don't we use? 

Languages are an important part of learning about the world.   We offer Art and French classes where art is the focus, and French is introduced throughout the processes.  Claire has a degree in French, has lived in France and travels there often.  Please indicate if you would like this to be a part of your curriculum.

Rendezvous  (Language, Lunch and Art)

For children Ages 3 - 5 years:  With an emphasis on social development, this fun lunch group will engage in directed conversation practicing turn-taking, hand raising and speaking out in a group.  Our food, stories and art projects provide a point of departure for language and vocabulary during a picnic-style lunch.  You must indicate if you would prefer French to be introduced during conversation.  Children bring their packed lunch.  1 hour and 20 minutes.

Music and Art Combination Classes 

For Late 2's - mid 3's:  1 hour and 10 minutes

For Late 3's - 4's:  1 hour and 25 minutes