Shyness and Bloom is here to support the Home Learning Community, and I am really excited about it!
I have been teaching art classes in the studio for 3 years now, and I couldn't love any job more than this. I am a certified teacher with over 10 years of childcare experience working with children of all ages. I am also a children's author and illustrator, and continue to build my own skills as an artist. I have always valued creativity, and have devoted my career to inspiring children to share their voice, and to express their imagination and ideas through art.
Philosophy
What sets Shyness and Bloom apart from other studios is related to my teaching philosophy. I believe that children are intrinsically creative, fully capable, and deserve to have ownership over the whole artistic experience. My role in the studio is to set them up to bring their ideas to life. I guide them with bits of advice, help them manage multi-stepped projects, and aid them with tools if they need it. I offer my own ideas that they make take or leave, and share my expertise as a fellow artist, but their creativity and experimentation is always valued above all and they quickly come to understand that their ideas lead the classes.
Documentation
Parents greatly appreciate how much I document their children’s process through photos, transcriptions, and reflections. At the end of each term, we have a final art show which is a celebration of all the wonderful artwork, as well as a record of all the hard work and learning that brought the kids to where they ended up. The emphasis does not sit solely on the art itself, but on the photos and writing that document all the steps and wonderful moments along the way so the parents can feel involved in their creative process, and are able to engage with their kids about the whole experience.
Honouring the Learning
An amazing amount of learning happens here and documenting everything validates the experience in many ways. The kids are aware that their ideas are valued, that what they say is important, and that their discoveries are meaningful. I completely enjoy handing it over to them, watching their confidence emerge, listening to their imaginations fly, and assisting them in their creative productivity.
What to expect:
Class sizes are always small, with no more than 4-5 children at a time. This allows me to personalize the classes to the students, and do some on-the-spot tailoring to meet the needs of the learners (or the creative whims of the artists!)
We work in a huge variety of mediums, from water colours and acrylics, to textiles, paper mache, wood, recycled materials, natural materials, beads, and more.
Right away I aim to have the kids feel comfortable in the space, where they have the freedom to explore and collect materials and ideas from all the bins and shelves around them. As part of the design, all the materials and tools are fully visible and accessible so that the students have the independence they require to form ideas and bring their visions to life on their own terms. And they love what they create. I have found that what kids most enjoy making are things that they can interact with when they are finished, like stuffed animals, games, dollhouses, or marble tracks. They love the art that they can enter into with their imagination and develop with their playful minds.
At Shyness and Bloom, the kids are encouraged to fully embrace their childhood through art.
Can it get any better than that?
Regular program:
Students in the regular art program build skills in so many areas: creative thinking, fine motor control, colour theory, problem solving, self expression, collaboration, understanding properties of different materials, use of different tools, stamina, productivity, self confidence, flexibility, decision making, planning, describing, ...and more!
Here are some of the specialized programs that I have created for home-learners:
Art and Science
Students will do all sorts of cool experiments, get messy with art and make connections between their fantastical imaginary worlds, and the natural world we live in.
Art and Writing
Students of all ages and abilities can make the most wonderful books! Bookmaking is a great way for children to develop a love of reading and writing, and to grow in their self confidence.
Art and the Environment
Observing and caring for the environment can be very creative! Waking to the beach, planting in the garden, working with natural materials will be the inspiration of this class.
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I want to hear from you!
I am able to integrate other subjects into fun creative projects, and I would love to hear from you about what kinds of experiences you'd like to have for your kids, what learning outcomes you would like to see, or what goals or specific interests you and you kids may have. Any feedback would be great!
Come visit the studio!
We are located in Cadboro Bay, in Saanich**. If you would like to stop in to visit the studio to have a look at the space, email me and we can set up a time!
-Rachel