Never Too Young for Art

Posted by Brian on Sep 9, 2011 in Blog | 1 comment

New art lessons for tots help teach valuable skills and art history while bringing out your kid’s creative side.

article by Kim Swain, photo by Kevin O’Riley

originally appeared in 417 Magazine on 9/6/2011

regarding Noah’s Art of Springfield, MO

Picasso once said, “All children are artists,” and Springfield’s Noah’s Art center is encouraging 417-land children to prove him right. By offering classes and curriculum designed for three different age groups, Dan and Erika Bojanowski, along with friends Jared and Luisa Cooper, have raised the bar in kid creativity.

“Springfield doesn’t have any place where kids can go and explore art,” says Jared Cooper, a former OTC cartooning instructor. “What they get in school or at home is pretty limited. Most don’t have all the supplies that we have in a controlled environment.”
A franchised concept that was developed 11 years ago by Dan Bojanowski’s brother in North Carolina, Noah’s Art has taken off like wildfire here. All classes begin with a brief art history lesson on an artist, a technique or a story relating to the theme of the day. After completing up to three projects during the hour-long class, there is a structured “free time” at the 20-foot-long easel where multiple children can have some fun creating and exploring with color and texture.

“All projects are designed so that all children can succeed and feel good about their work,” says Bojanowski, who has an MBA from Evangel. “There is a different topic each week, and we use mixed media in all of our classes except the clay class. It’s just clay.”

Brook Roberts’s 7-year-old son, Lane, attended the summer camp classes. “He loves it,” says Roberts. “We homeschool, and he enjoys drawing, so it’s a good activity for him.” And Lane agrees. “I learn how to draw things,” he says. “I never knew how to draw a horse head!”

The classroom has an open concept where parents can see their children from the lobby, where many of the students’ projects are on display. The room has paint-splattered concrete floors with both large and small picnic tables where masterpieces are created. Noah’s Art even offers a one-time, free, no-strings-attached trial class before enrolling.

The two families, who have 11 children between them, teach all the classes and do their own prep work and clean-up. The ladies teach Mommy & Me classes for the 2-year-olds, and the men teach the afternoon and after-school classes. They also offer themed birthday parties (a recent one featured Justin Bieber–inspired artwork and karaoke), play dates (where parents and children can create together) and parent’s night out.

The 411
Noah’s Art
Where: 2742 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield
Class Information: Eight-week classes are offered for 2-year-olds, 3- to 4-year-olds and 5- to 10-year olds. Call for pricing.
More Info: Call 417-889-2779 or visit noahs-art.com.