Process Art Classes
Art for those little ones
Ages 3-6
What is process art? It's one of the best ways to introduce little makers to making art. Through process art, the intention is to explore, discover, play, and follow curiosities. Visit our blog to read about what happens in a Mini Makers class. Scroll to the bottom to read frequently asked questions.
August
Ages 3 - 6
For questions please email us:
Owner: Rachel Berlin - [email protected]
Instructor: Heather Corbin - [email protected]
Owner: Rachel Berlin - [email protected]
Instructor: Heather Corbin - [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is process art?
Process art emphasizes the journey of creation, valuing experimentation and play above the final product. The focus lies in exploring materials, techniques, and the creative process itself.
Why is process art important for young kids?
Process art is developmentally appropriate for preschoolers and kindergarteners, who are still developing fine motor skills and self-awareness. At this stage, children enjoy experimenting with art media and found objects, fostering curiosity and creativity. Before formal guided art instruction can begin, kids should have experiences playing and exploring with art materials.
Is process art just for young children?
No! Process art is important for all artists, including professional adults. Process art projects encourage personal growth, stress relief, creativity, and self-expression. Process art helps big kids and adults rediscover the joy of play, allowing them to explore new techniques, ideas, and emotions through artistic expression.
Will my child come home with a piece of art?
The answer is maybe. I hope everyone comes to class with the knowledge that the value lies in the experience. Sometimes through the process of learning, the artwork may get destroyed. And other times, there is an amazing product in the end that makes everyone gush. I always hope there is a piece of art for kids to take home. It's just not really the point.
I see the value of process art, but why should I sign my child up for a process art class instead of just doing it at home?
I hope that every child is already doing art projects at home. As a parent myself, there are a few reasons there is added value to doing process art classes in the studio.
1) It is a dedicated space to make a mess. As much as I understand the developmental value of kids making messy art, I feel so much better about messes when they are nowhere near my furniture or walls. When my kids make messes in the studio, I am able to relax. In my own home, I rarely pull out glitter. But in the studio, it is a favorite material I almost always pull out to play with. Oops, you dripped paint? No worries.
2) Each class is expertly set-up and ready for you. There is no need for you to spend hours scrolling Pintrest for ideas or time prepping for a project. I use my years of experience working with children to develop art projects that are inviting to kids.
3) At the art studio, we have a wide array of materials to pull from and experiment with. It gives you and your child an opportunity to try out some materials that you might not have thought to use before.
4) When the creating is complete, the mess is taken care of for you. It is a great feeling to say, "Wow, that was fun! Let's go home."
Classes say they are for 3-6 year olds. Can I sign-up my two-year old?
I leave this choice up to parents. I have had several two-year olds in class who were highly engaged and the class was appropriate for them. Generally, these children have been on the older end of two. To determine if the class would be appropriate for your two-year old, ask yourself these two questions - Does my child have an interest in exploring art materials (Some two-year olds would rather run around and that's okay)? Can an activity hold my child's attention for 10-15 minutes? If the answer is yes, sign-up your child! I'm sure they will have a blast.
Process art emphasizes the journey of creation, valuing experimentation and play above the final product. The focus lies in exploring materials, techniques, and the creative process itself.
Why is process art important for young kids?
Process art is developmentally appropriate for preschoolers and kindergarteners, who are still developing fine motor skills and self-awareness. At this stage, children enjoy experimenting with art media and found objects, fostering curiosity and creativity. Before formal guided art instruction can begin, kids should have experiences playing and exploring with art materials.
Is process art just for young children?
No! Process art is important for all artists, including professional adults. Process art projects encourage personal growth, stress relief, creativity, and self-expression. Process art helps big kids and adults rediscover the joy of play, allowing them to explore new techniques, ideas, and emotions through artistic expression.
Will my child come home with a piece of art?
The answer is maybe. I hope everyone comes to class with the knowledge that the value lies in the experience. Sometimes through the process of learning, the artwork may get destroyed. And other times, there is an amazing product in the end that makes everyone gush. I always hope there is a piece of art for kids to take home. It's just not really the point.
I see the value of process art, but why should I sign my child up for a process art class instead of just doing it at home?
I hope that every child is already doing art projects at home. As a parent myself, there are a few reasons there is added value to doing process art classes in the studio.
1) It is a dedicated space to make a mess. As much as I understand the developmental value of kids making messy art, I feel so much better about messes when they are nowhere near my furniture or walls. When my kids make messes in the studio, I am able to relax. In my own home, I rarely pull out glitter. But in the studio, it is a favorite material I almost always pull out to play with. Oops, you dripped paint? No worries.
2) Each class is expertly set-up and ready for you. There is no need for you to spend hours scrolling Pintrest for ideas or time prepping for a project. I use my years of experience working with children to develop art projects that are inviting to kids.
3) At the art studio, we have a wide array of materials to pull from and experiment with. It gives you and your child an opportunity to try out some materials that you might not have thought to use before.
4) When the creating is complete, the mess is taken care of for you. It is a great feeling to say, "Wow, that was fun! Let's go home."
Classes say they are for 3-6 year olds. Can I sign-up my two-year old?
I leave this choice up to parents. I have had several two-year olds in class who were highly engaged and the class was appropriate for them. Generally, these children have been on the older end of two. To determine if the class would be appropriate for your two-year old, ask yourself these two questions - Does my child have an interest in exploring art materials (Some two-year olds would rather run around and that's okay)? Can an activity hold my child's attention for 10-15 minutes? If the answer is yes, sign-up your child! I'm sure they will have a blast.
Meet The Instructor
Heather is passionate about creating space for the natural learning experiences in childhood. Heather earned her Master's Degree in Child Development at The Erikson Institute and enjoys helping young children learn and grow through play. She also studied Graphic Design at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. You may have seen her in the Erie community, teaching outdoor "Tinkergarten" classes. Heather is enthusiastic about process art, a playful and natural way to introduce little makers to making art.