Why We Teach Art Differently

When parents first visit Orange Easel, they're often drawn in by the artwork hanging on the walls.
And we get it. The finished projects are beautiful.
But here's a little secret...

The artwork isn't actually the most important thing we create.

Our goal isn't simply to send home a painting, sculpture, or drawing at the end of class.
Our goal is to help children grow as artists.

More Than a Craft

There's nothing wrong with making a fun seasonal craft.
Kids love creating things, and so do we.
But our classes are designed around something much bigger than following directions to recreate an example.
Instead, we teach artists how to observe, experiment, solve problems, and make creative decisions.
Those are skills they'll use long after the paint has dried.

The Process Matters

Sometimes a project doesn't go as planned:

• Paint mixes into an unexpected color.
• A sculpture falls apart and has to be rebuilt.
• A drawing doesn't quite look right the first time.

Believe it or not, those moments are some of the most valuable parts of class.
That's where artists learn persistence. That's where they learn to adapt. That's where real creative growth happens. 
We don't rush in to "fix" every mistake because learning how to work through challenges is part of becoming an artist.
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​We Teach Choice

One of the questions we're asked most often is:
"What are they going to make"
And we can answer honestly: "We don't really know!"
In many of our classes, artists make choices throughout the creative process.
They choose subjects, colors, patterns, compositions, decorative details, etc.
Sometimes two artists begin with the exact same lesson and finish with completely different artwork!
Because every artist brings different ideas, experiences, and personalities into the studio and their artwork should reflect that.
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We Teach Skills, Too

Creative freedom doesn't mean there's no instruction.
In our drawing classes, artists build skills through carefully planned lessons that grow more challenging over time.
They learn observation, proportion, perspective, shading, composition, and technique.
In our multimedia classes, artists explore a wide variety of materials while learning new artistic concepts each month.
No matter which class they're in, every class time has a purpose.
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​Growing Artists, Not Just Artwork

At the end of class, your child will almost always leave with something they're proud to carry through the door. What we hope they're taking home is much bigger than the project itself.
We hope they're leaving with a little more confidence than they had when they arrived.

• A willingness to try something new.
• The patience to keep working through challenges.
• The excitement of discovering what they're capable of creating.

Because while the artwork may end up hanging on the refrigerator, the skills they build can last a lifetime.