Garden of Design School of Art, established on March 7, 1998, was founded on the belief that art education is a necessary part of a child's development in creativity. Most school systems have slowly taken the arts out of their curriculum or the teachers can't spend as much time as they would like to teach to the students for the maximum time they need to nurture the students properly. Ultimately, the student's imagination, sense of problem solving, and critical thinking cannot be fully developed in this kind of environment. Only a sampling can be taught in this small amount of time. Given more time to develop and learn all the principles and elements of design, students are allowed to reach within themselves to express what's inside of them so they can share their own unique contributions to their families, friends and schools. Art also provides new approaches to learning when taught co-operatively with math, science, social studies, and other subjects.
This art school is divided into several groups. The first starts with ages 5 to about 8 years old. In this group, the children focus on the elements and principles of design through color. They sample many mediums in fun projects that will prepare them for the more detailed studies when they reach the age and level to move on to the next level.
The second group includes ages: about 8 through highschool. Each student explores different mediums including: oil pastel, tempera paints, color pencil,and tissue paper, besides the studies in graphite. Principles and Elements of Design are taught through age appropriate studies and projects. Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 8 students.
Year round classes located 25 miles east of St. Louis Missouri
(days and times will vary according to enrollment)
- Tuesdays: 5:00 pm-6:30 pm
- Wednesdays: 4:30 pm-6:00 pm
- Thursdays: 5:00 pm-6:30 pm
- Saturdays: 10:00am-11:30am
- Home school classes available. Please contact me for more information.
- Class sizes: Maximum of 8 per class to allow for individual attention.
Make-up classes: As long as there are openings in a classroom, missed classes may be made up by inquiring and setting up a class date.
Supply List: For the 5-8 year old group there is no supply list, I supply materials needed. Best place to get your supplies would be Dick Blick Art Materials online or in Clayton, Missouri, or Hobby Lobby in Fairview Heights.
Sketchpad: Canson side spiral 11"x14"
Design Pencils: HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B Erasers: Large Kneaded eraser by Design, and a TUFF STUFF retractable eraser.
I also teach art for a home school organization in St. Clair County. The St. Clair County Christian Homeschool Educaters. Twice a year they have a "Master's Lyceum" where homeschoolers come together for fine tuning in their education program. There I teach four classes a day once a week for ten weeks.
My private course starts when you start, everyone works at their own level and speed so that the best of each individual student will come through.
Music is played for atmosphere to take you away to all those favorite places you've always wanted to visit! Artists such as: David and Diane Arkenstone, Enya, Loreena McKennet, Otmar Liebert, Celtic music of various artists, as well as Native American music, and much more.
Most school systems have slowly taken the arts out of their curriculum or the teachers can't spend as much time as they would like to teach to the students for the maximum time they need to nurture the students properly. Ultimately, the student's imagination, sense of problem solving, and critical thinking cannot be fully developed in this kind of environment. Only a sampling can be taught in this small amount of time. Given more time to develop and learn all the principles and elements of design, students are allowed to reach within themselves to express what's inside 
of them so they can share their own unique contributions to their families, friends and schools. Art also provides new approaches to learning when taught co-operatively with math, science, social studies, and other subjects. This is why I have chosen to teach art out of my own studio rather than the school system. This way I can continue to provide what the students are needing more of, so that they can incorporate what they have learned in art and meld with the other subjects in school.
If the student chooses art as a future career or hobby, they will be able to create what's in them from going through the studies, to put it on paper or canvas with whatever medium they decide to choose. This is quality education as well as fun! Once high school level students choose to go on with art as continuing education, time will be made to help the student develop a portfolio.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE STUDENT GALLERY
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Since the age of 5 years old, I can still clearly remember sitting at the dining room table for hours drawing mostly flowers and fish with crayon or colored pencil. My love for drawing is a constant love in my life, drawing whenever I can. Today, I continue to draw and paint, now I teach art education to children, I always seek to take more classes to learn more to keep striving to improve.
Along with my teachings of drawing and painting, I can wander out into the backyard where there are small gardens to support all the elements that go into my artwork as well as my teachings. Colors, combinations of colors, textures, values, perspective, shape, and form are just some of the elements that are taught in my school. It's all around us, we just need to take the time to stop and look at what's out there for us to take in, learn from and enjoy.
This is where most knowledge about art originates; where a person begins to imagine, study, learn, and create; from nature. Art in its purest form.
I also like to photograph in the garden and anywhere my eye catches a good composition, close up and far away. A small sampling of pictures are in my gallery here on my art website. It's become another form of art from which to learn. I try to use different mediums to find the ones I like to work with the best.
I am willing to try most things, art is always a learning experience.
