Think Like an Artist

Leonardo da Vinci believed nature was the greatest teacher: He studied the flight of birds to imagine flying machines and observed water to design canals. In this class, students will closely examine a natural object and sketch it from multiple angles. Then, using what they've learned, they’ll design an original invention inspired by that object’s form or function, just as da Vinci used nature to spark mechanical ideas.

Vincent van Gogh painted with emotion, energy, and bold colors that reflected his inner world. Students will use thick brushstrokes and dynamic color choices to create expressive artworks that capture a mood or memory to greatly enhance a scene. They'll explore how movement and texture can give art its soul.

Frida Kahlo used self-portraits to explore identity, emotion, and culture, filling her works with symbols and stories. In this class, children will create symbolic self-portraits using colors, animals, and objects that express their personality and experiences. The emphasis is on visual storytelling and emotional honesty.

Georgia O’Keeffe zoomed in on nature’s quiet details, such as petals, bones, and skies, and turned them into monumental visions. Students will select a small object and depict it on a large scale, paying close attention to shape, line, and shading. The goal is to train the eye to notice beauty in simplicity.

Michelangelo saw art as an act of uncovering: he believed beauty was already present, waiting to be revealed through focus and effort. In this class, students will explore how discipline, imagination, and deep observation shape an artist’s vision by sketching or sculpting a figure emerging from a block or shape. They'll reflect on how great works are often hidden beneath the surface, waiting for patient hands and eyes to bring them to life.

Claude Monet and the Impressionists broke with tradition by painting fleeting moments, changing light, and everyday scenes. These were radical ideas in a time when perfection and history painting were the norm. In this class, students will explore how seeing differently can be revolutionary, creating their own expressive landscape using color, texture, and emotion rather than detail. They'll learn that thinking like an artist sometimes means challenging what art is supposed to be.

Pablo Picasso challenged the idea that art should imitate life: he reassembled the world through Cubism. Students will deconstruct familiar objects and faces, then reimagine them through geometric shapes and layered perspectives. This class encourages flexible thinking and embracing creative risk.

Jackson Pollock turned the act of painting into a full-body experience, using motion, rhythm, and instinct to create his iconic drip paintings. In this class, students will explore the idea that art can be about process rather than precision, expressing emotion through movement, spontaneity, and unconventional tools. They'll discover that thinking like an artist can mean letting go of control to find something unexpected.