What We Do

Painting Pandas classes are not merely “arts and crafts;” they consist of original themes that adhere to the exclusive Painting Pandas developed curriculum and encompass much more than art. Our courses include not only art projects, but also literacy/books, geography, ecology, anthropology, math, science, art history, and an introduction to living contemporary artists. Painting Pandas students walk away with not only unique and personal art creations, but confidence, curiosity, and life-long learning skills. We like to say we are not changing the world, but we are changing our kids so they CAN change the world.

“Painting pandas is like a one stop destination for kids who love art. Kids get to learn new things in each and every class.”

—Parent of Student

Why Art?

We believe art is fuel for exploring what is achievable and doable and creating art can encourage our youth to believe anything is possible. Art is a process not just a product, and research shows it can also be a tool for expressing emotions like joy and anger in a healthy way and that it creates opportunities for building confidence and social and emotional learning; all much-needed skills in today’s world and for today’s students.

Art has the power to transform, illuminate, educate, inspire, and motivate.

Why We Do It

We do it because we love art, children love art, and children are our future. We do it because funding for arts programs in schools is constantly being cut and art classes are often among the first to be dropped. We do it because children need a safe and supportive outlet to ignite their imaginations and creativity as well as a safe place to express their feelings and emotions. Art not only facilitates all of this, it is also instrumental in refining many other vital skills, including:

  • Hand-eye coordination

  • Fine motor skills

  • Language

  • Problem-solving

  • Self-esteem and self-confidence

  • Sequencing

  • Social communication and development

  • Spatial skills

  • Color and shapes

  • Math and Science

We also do it because art is FUN and who doesn’t want to have a little fun? Art can also be challenging, but so is life. Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticize, and use that visual information to make good decisions and choices using critical thinking skills developed by simply choosing a certain color, texture, or format. Not everyone is artistic, but a good art class will stir up patience, perseverance, the value of hard work, and not giving up. Focus also comes into play, which is a vital study and learning skill in all other educational areas.

By offering motivation and appreciation, Painting Pandas is also doing our part to help youth avoid feeling insecure and making wrong choices. Our classes are “chalk full” of caring habits that inspire students including encouragement, listening, support, trust, acceptance, respect, and negotiation…all while offering creativity and fun. These approaches have proven to be effective in helping students seek success and achieve their true potential.

Ultimately, we hope Painting Pandas inspires children to find joy and creativity through art while learning that drawing and making art form the foundations of almost everything that surrounds them – the homes they live in, the appliances they use, the transportation that takes them where they need to go, the shoes they wear, and the technology they use. Art can also bring beauty and joy to their world and introduce them to many historic places and art innovators they may otherwise never learn about. Through art, children can explore their ideas, solve problems, combat adversity, and better understand art as a tool for creative thinking, future employment opportunities, and successful life-long living.