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!