Classes

Our Blended Approach: Process and Skill

Our weekly art classes take place in our well designed studio classroom and are carefully designed to be developmentally appropriate and  process focused. 

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Process-Focus for Discovery and Expression

We prioritize the process rather than the final product. This ensures children feel safe to take risks, experiment, and develop their own solutions. A process-focused approach encourages:

• Inquiry: Asking questions and testing theories.

• Experimentation: Using materials in novel ways without fear of failure.

• Deep Connection: Building confidence through independent exploration.

Guided Instruction for Technical Mastery (Instructional Focus)

While exploration is key, we recognize the value of acquiring skills. Instructional elements are woven into our curriculum to provide children with the "tools" needed to realize their imaginative visions:

• Introduction to Techniques: Structured classes teach fundamental skills in areas like drawing, painting, composition, and specific media handling (e.g., proper brush use, clay manipulation).

• Skill as Empowerment: We believe technical knowledge empowers children, giving them greater control over the materials and expanding the scope of their open-ended expression. Instruction is delivered in a way that is inspiring, not prescriptive.