by Kelley Gardiner
Paint covers the walls in drips and splotches. Children wearing aprons mix up new colors with gentle guidance from a teacher. Kids are transforming cardboard tubes into fantastical creatures, representations of people and objects are being rendered in every possible medium. Welcome to the Portland Child Art Studio.
Since 2012, this art studio inside the NW Children’s Theater and School has been providing a safe place for kids to get messy and express themselves. “Our studio provides a space for children to joyfully express their creative and artistic selves, “building a foundation for a life long relationship with art,” says Devon Mitchell, Co-founder and Executive Director. “PCAS teachers introduce kids to new materials and techniques, but what the kids make here comes entirely from their own imaginations. And nothing is more magical and surprising than a child’s imagination.”
The Portland Child Art Studio supports children in their journey of creating art. Learning through trial and error, getting messy, thinking in new ways, getting frustrated, and problem solving are all part of the process. Here, young artists aren’t coaxed or boxed in. They’re free to explore, provided they’re respectful of the materials, themselves, and each other.
Classes, workshops, and open studio times are offered for children ages three and up. Classes are offered quarterly, with 10-week or 4-week sessions for parents who wish or need to make a shorter commitment. Class sizes are small, capped at about ten children. You won’t see specific projects or mediums in most of the class descriptions. Instead, you’ll see “Art Class 3-5 Years” or “Girls’ Art Club 10+” as the descriptors. This reflects the studio’s focus on letting children make discoveries themselves, rather than encouraging a certain style or outcome.
Drop-ins are sometimes available for classes on a case-by-case basis as well, if there’s room. Call or email ahead of time to check in. The first drop-in class fee is $10, an accessible starting point for parents unsure if their child will make good use of the class time. Each drop-in thereafter is $25 per class.
Workshops bring a more specific focus to the artist’s final product. Currently, kids ages five and older can learn about handmaking clay and glazing techniques at “Mud Maker Mondays” facilitated by a local ceramic artist. Parents can even get in on the action, with the option to “stay and play” for half the price of their little ones. Bond with your child as you learn along with them, show them that it’s okay to make mistakes, and teach by example rather than telling. Watch for occasional daylong workshops and events on days that Portland Public Schools are out.
During open studio times, children ages two and up can create while accompanied by a parent or caregiver. It’s just $10 for unlimited supplies, excluding any firing fees for clay. Children have access to all the materials of the studio, but are encouraged to use only as much as they need to explore their artistic visions. Once there, parents are encouraged to relax and “watch their child’s process of making art rather than being focused on their finished product.” Bring a snack and clothes that can get messy, and then try to stay calm when paint and glue get everywhere! A discounted suggested donation of $5 is available for families who receive public assistance. Just bring your Oregon Trail Card or other proof of eligibility.
Would your young Picasso like to get their friends together for an arty party? Birthday parties are available for booking on Saturdays and Sundays. Birthday boys and girls ages three and up can enjoy an “artsy birthday of pure creativity, joy, and mess” with instructor-led activities based on whatever your child desires. Throwing paint-soaked cotton balls at the wall? Yes! For younger children, an instructor can facilitate an activity that keeps short attention spans interested, like storytelling and “play-based drawing.” Older kids usually choose to work on a certain project. It’s up to you and your kids, to create whatever their heart desires. Birthday parties can also include professional photography packages.
Portland Child Art Studio is a nonprofit organization. Donations support their programming, as well as scholarships for low-income children. In-kind donations of household materials, recyclable materials, and art items are accepted and very much appreciated. What else are you going to do with those ribbons you’re never going to use? Tin cans, paper towel rolls, sponges, buttons, and corks can all become art in the hands, and in the vision, of a child. For more information, visit portlandchildart.org.
Kelley Gardiner is a Portland native, a freelance writer and blogger, and the mother of one sweet toddler. To see what she’s up to, visit kelleygardiner.com.
