Students will walk away from class each week with some fun animal facts as well as a better understand of art. Students will learn about types of arts and even an artist some weeks. They will have a better understanding of breaking down an animal into shapes making it easier to draw.

Art is an important part of the educational process. It allows students to explore their creativity, take risks, and express themselves without fear of judgment. It is a safe place to fail and try again. Art is a vital tool for helping students find their own voices and develop as individuals.

Studio CIA (Niki McNeil) provides Creativity, Imagination and Art Classes for School Aged Kids. We have a passion for keeping kids creative, happy and healthy through the arts. In my drawing, painting, and art classes you we focus on creating art, not recreating my art.  Kids thrive in this type of environment as all other school subjects and much of life is about doing things in just such a way, leaving little opportunity for self-connection or self-expression. At Studio CIA Kids embrace their inner artist through imaginative exploration.

As an artist and teacher to kids I practice something called “non-violent communication” NVC is a style of communication that inspires compassion for oneself and other people. As artists, we are often our own worst critics, judging ourselves harshly and feeling like our art isn’t good enough to share. NVC helps us to remember that everyone has value and worth, including ourselves!

This style of communication helps silence our inner critic as well as giving us a better ability to be empathetic and encouraging to others. I strive to use NVC when giving students feedback as it helps students gain confidence while also hitting home that art is about the process just as much as it is about the product. This means I avoid feedback such as right or wrong, good or bad and focus more on how the student feels about their art, and then offering suggestions to see what resonates with them. This gives students a sense of pride and confidence in following their gut to create a piece they are proud of. 

My classroom is a safe, nurturing, and welcoming environment for ALL students. I want students to feel safe opening up through their art and never fear judgment or criticism. Students are encouraged but never forced, no mater if it’s sharing their work, introducing themselves, or keeping their screens on. I believe each student will blossom in their own time and my classroom gives them space and time to do so at their own rate. I strive to cultivate a community of kindness for ALL my students!

Art brings together generations. It connects me to my students and to nameless others with whom I share a same life experience. It connects my students with their schoolmates, teachers and developing selves. Art makes us all younger and inclusive. It helps us to honor our differences and find our common humanity.

Hope to create with your student soon!

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In my mind art is never work, but enjoyment, self-care and relaxation. That said, I do not assign homework in this class, though as all artists work at varying speeds, some students may need to finish up their project outside of class time.
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I do not give written grades, but I do give feedback when asked by the students in class. I stay positive while also offering constructive advice on how they could take their project to the next level. I will never tell a student they must do something a certain way, if they want a purple giraffe drawing, that is their creative vision and what they will get. But they will get feedback on the construction of their drawing, their composition of the piece and overall elements of art. My feedback is never negative, I have worked with too many young students over the years who have felt torn down or rejected by previous art teachers to the point they did not want to take another art class. Students will leave my class feeling empowered.
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