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Everyday Art is an after-school art class for children in Kensington, California, offered as part of the
Kensington After School Enrichment Program (KASEP). Teacher Carolyn Holm is a collage and assemblage artist, and the author
of the book Everyday Art for Kids. She is the former Kensington Hilltop parent who started the popular annual Family
Art Night
at the school. (Why is her class called Everyday Art? Because, as Carolyn likes to say, when art is an everyday thing, creativity
becomes a habit!) To get information about registration in the Fall, Winter, or Spring sessions, please call the KASEP office at
510-525-0292. NOTE: Carolyn's class is for kids in grades two through six; first graders find this class to be a bit of a challenge,
and we want art to be fun, not frustrating!
In her classes all the kids work on the same project, but they work individually. Carolyn lets them work at their own level,
while encouraging them to expand their skills and problem-solve creatively, so every student comes away from her classes with
a glow of accomplishment and a growing confidence in his or her success in art. In fact, kids coming into the class with less
confidence in art are sometimes amazed by what they can do. And kids who already love art find the projects fun and challenging.
There are three versions of the Everyday Art classes, one for each session of the year, each with a different emphasis:
Everyday Art: Exploring Media gives students a chance to explore a broad range of media, including collage,
painting, and three demensional work. Projects for the class vary from session to session, but have included such activities as sponge
stamp printing and pattern exercises, block printing, paper mache bowls, collage and drawing combinations, and clay Day of the Dead
offrendas. Color theory is usually included and worked into many of the other projects. The piece shown below is an abstract
piece that combines painting, sponge stamp printing, and poetry.
Everyday Art: Exploring Painting & Drawing is for kids who like to draw, as well as kids who would like to
be better drawers. And good news - you don’t have to be a "good drawer" or “good at art” to become a better
drawer in this class. Carolyn works with the kids on their drawing skills, using an approach that gets immediate results for a big boost
in drawing self esteem. The students will go on to apply their drawing skills in creative projects using color theory, mixed media, and
abstract art. The black and white drawing of a shoe, shown below, was done in this class by a fourth grader. Below that is a color theory project by
a third grader, using a similar drawing of her own shoe.
Everyday Art: Exploring 3 D is all about sculpture, clay, constructions… all the projects are three dimensional,
working in clay, paper mache, foam core and more. Projects have included mobiles, paper mache bowls, foam core buildings and collaged
bottles. The piece shown below is a group of houses made with painted foam core.
Information for Parents of Students in Everyday Art
I'm so glad you have signed your child up to take my art class. I hope the following information will be helpful.
Pack a shirt or apron for your child if you are concerned about your child's clothes. I try to keep the mess to a
minimum, and we use washable paints and glues, but stuff happens.
About the age range: This class is for second graders through sixth graders. Some parents are concerned because the
class has a broad age range in it. However, I have found that the most exciting classes are the ones with a balanced mix of older and
younger kids. The younger kids are more creative, and inspire the older ones. The older kids are more skilled, and demonstrate for
the younger ones. It's a wonderful dynamic!
Bringing art home: During the session most of the artwork is accumulated and then taken home at the end of the
session. Flat artwork goes into each child's cardboard portfolio, where it gets less wear and tear than it would going home piece by piece
in their backpack. Also, many of the projects in this class build upon each other. Drawing projects are sometimes revisited later after a
color theory lesson. Three dimensional projects are usually held and then painted in a later class as a group after a color mixing lesson.
Occasionally, however, art will come home during the session, usually when it is related to a holiday.
Snack: Some of the students are hungry after school. You may pack a snack for your child to eat at the beginning
of class.
Treats: I motivate the kids to help with cleanup by rewarding them with one Oreo cookie at the close of class,
if they participate. (I stick to Oreos because some children have food allergies, usually relating to nuts, but so far no one has had a
problem with Oreos.) Please let me know if this will present a problem for your child by calling the KASEP office.
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