Weekend Kids Only

KATCOMPANY

Actually the kids-only activities are during the week, not on the weekends.  It's an after school activity and/or early evening session for children age 6 to 12, particularly during the "gift giving" holiday season.  Children like making things and giving them as gifts to adults in the family.  They take pride in items that they create with their own hands. The things they make at school are fine, but the "KIDS ONLY" classes teach the young people to see things a bit differently. We nurture the idea that you should use your own imagination and not someone elses. We teach that apples can be purple and the sun can be green and that flowers don't have to all look alike in the same picture, if that's what the budding artist thinks.  Emphasis is placed on using what they see in their mind as well as what they see in real life 3D.  We are of the "step outside the box" philosophy. Many times a child is stifled by negative imput from adults telling them how something should be, instead of encouraging them to think for themselves and create what seems right for the child.  Most children will paint red apples and yellow suns and flowers with symetry...but for those few who prefer to paint to a different tune..........well, that is certainly accepted and encouraged too! They will learn to use their own imagination.  It will make them understand that what they can think, they can create and if someone does things a litte diffrently than other people, it's not wrong, it's just different, that's all.  This gives them tools to try different effects with wonderful results.    They learn to paint using real canvas with good paints and brushes. They are given direction and hints and gentle assistance...and nothing they "make" is wrong.

Classes will include, but are not limited to, Oil Painting on Canvas, Woodworking & Painting, Wreath Making, Holiday Statues, Candles, Doll Making (primitive rag dolls, bring an old shirt) Pencil & Charcoal Sketches, Self Portraits, Line Drawings, Embroidery, Jewelry Crafting, Clay Creations, Blue Denim Art (bring a pair of old blue jeans) Rock Painting, Flower pot decorating (bring a clay pot with saucer) Plus we make things from nature (pinecones, sticks, vines, rocks, moss, flowers) We take nature/adventure walks to collect these things and to discover....well, just to discover.

Older Children and teens are invited to certain musical jam sessions, bonfires (singing and storytelling), poetry readings (and writings) and to watch some of the artists and crafters at work as well.