My 5 year old (Vera) has been attending art classes at
Abrakadoodle for the past year and a half. I can't recommend Abrakadoodle enough. It is both structured and non-structured at the same time and is truly one of the
most creative art classes for kids that I have come across.
On Friday each week, Vera looks forward to learning about a different artist's work. Most classes begin with a discussion on a master or contemporary artist or an art genre and demonstration of art techniques. The kids are then free to form their own interpretations of the topic of the day, using a medium that is inspired by the artist or genre.
Vera has always been abstract in her thinking and I really appreciate
the fact that the classes at Abrakadoodle does not force upon any single
rigid definition of what constitutes art. The teachers involve children
in what is known as
Process Art. They help children to
explore, create
and develop thier own original ideas by
providing the kids with the inspiration, materials, guidance
and tools to be creative.
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Example of Process Art. When we think about art
instruction, we often think about the outcome
- "What a nice painting you created, Molly."
But what is really important is what Molly learned
as she created her art. What she learned in the
"process." That's Process Art - Art
that places the emphasis upon the learning taking
place |
What I also love about the class is the "Show and Tell" session at the end of each class where parents are invited to join the class to watch each young artist present their own work. As a shy girl, this was initially quite a struggle for Vera but she has learnt to speak up and not be afraid to talk about her own artwork.
At the end of the class, each artwork is beautifully placed in a frame for the child to take home. This makes it very easy to display at home or even give away to loved ones.
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Super Hero! |
Last June, I enrolled Vera in the
Kids on Canvas camp which is a fabulous class for kids who want to learn all about painting.
During the class, she was taught to use a variety of brushes to
mix and layer colors on canvas using
acrylic and created 6 beautiful pieces of art work in 3 days.
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Showing off her work with her classmates from the art camp | | |
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I would definitely recommend you check out Abrakadoodle if you are looking for a fun and creative art class for your child. The classes are reasonably priced and great for children of
many ages starting from as young as 2. Their
art camps held during school holidays are definitely worth considering if you already take your child to another art school and are looking for a fun activity for your child to be engaged in during the holidays.
For more information about
Abrakadoodle and their latest class schedule, do visit their
website.