Little Masters at Work!

Since 1997, Masterworks Children’s Art Studio has been introducing the youth of Marin County to the magic of the creative process.  Located at 305B Montecito Drive in Old Corte Madera Square near Piccolo Pavilion, Masterworks shares the 100 year old carriage house with the store, .  

Lisa Jones, a lifetime student of the art masters, founded MASTERWORKS Art Studio, “…to encourage children and their parents to explore the universal experience of communicating ideas through visual media.” 

I attended a Saturday art class called Fashion Belt: Mixed Media. When I entered the studio 10 children, between the ages of 6 and 10 years old, were focused on creating their hand painted belts.  Their designs were colorful and diverse.  The long art table was filled with plates of paint, brushes, foam pieces, glue, scissors and metal buckles.  Each child made 2 belts, one using a metal buckle and one with a handmade foam buckle.  They were able to actually wear their completed belts.

When I asked, Jake, 9, why he came to this class, he told me, “I’ve loved art my whole life basically…and I’ve never taken a class…and when I was about 6 I started watching Project Runway because I liked fashion even then…and then my mom got me into it and I could never stop watching it.”  He enjoyed showing me his two belts.  One was bright yellow with bursts of red and orange, and the other was black and white with gold letters.  

Alexis, 7, and her friend Corinne, 6, were eager to talk with me.  Alexis told me, “My mom signed me up and I thought it would be fun…I always wanted to come back.  This is my second time here.  The first time we made Henri Matisse pictures.”  She showed me her belt that had pictures of cat faces, because she said, “I like cats and animals and designs like that.”  Corinne told me, “I came to this class because my friend Alexis invited me.”  These two friends were enjoying a day of art together. 

Gia, 7, came with her friend, Stella, 7.  Both girls really love art and Gia told me, “I really like art…I’ve been liking art since I was 3 or 4…so my mom told me when I was 5 that there was an art class…and I decided to go because I loved art, so I went and I had fun.  All the things (classes) Lisa has done are really fun, so I go every time when she has one…” 

As Isabel, 10, was creating her belt she told me, “My mom signed me up and I really like fashion…this is my second time…I did an art class on Matisse…”  Her belt was black with colorful swirls. 

Six of the ten children had taken classes at Masterworks before.  They were happy to be back and having fun at this Saturday art workshop.   Each child was excited to take home two belts and enjoyed posing for a picture holding their completed projects.

It is always such a pleasure watching kids do what they love.  When they focus on a creative project they enjoy, they connect with their passion and uniqueness.  It was so much fun watching these 10 little masters at work!

Until next Wednesday, remember, it’s all “for the love of kids…” 

In joy, Marilyn 

Masterworks Children’s Art Studio has ongoing classes during the week, Saturday workshops and Art Parties.  You are welcome to visit their website:  Masterworks Children’s Art Studio

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