Art is about so much more than drawing, painting, or making something “pretty.” It’s about building creative thinkers, confident kids, and a lifelong love of art making.

We spend a lot of time watching how kids light up (or shut down) depending on how the people they care about respond to their creations. And over time, we’ve learned a few tricks that help keep the conversation—and the creativity—flowing.

If you’ve ever peeked into a kids’ art class and seen rows of nearly identical penguins, pumpkins, or parrots, you’ve likely encountered step-by-step art. You might wonder: Is this good for kids? Are they learning anything? Shouldn’t art be more creative? Let’s talk it out!

We believe kids deserve the real thing when it comes to art. That’s why we use professional-grade watercolors, thick cotton rag paper, natural air-dry clay, richly pigmented acrylics, gesso, and other high-quality materials in all our classes and camps. You won’t find flimsy construction paper or dried-out markers here—we treat kids like real artists, because they are real artists.