KidzArt/Art Innovators was ranked in the top 10 percent of all franchises nationwide and named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise® by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs.
KidzArt/Art Innovators honors military veterans by waiving the franchise fee for qualified service members. Our Veteran’s program also offers a protected territory, a Web page, a $500 online class registration system, $1000 off all start up marketing services, complete business and art training and on-going franchise support.
“KidzArt/Art Innovators is proud of this Military Friendly designation and of the fact that we allow veterans to use their background and training to launch a new civilian career with us,” according to KidzArt CEO Sue Bartman.
A growing number of military veterans have become franchise owners by taking advantage of the special incentives offered by KidzArt.
“One in four returning service members indicate interest in owning their own business,” said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs. “Franchises are a perfect fit for service members, who bring unparalleled operational skill sets and work ethic but are often unclear how to start a business. Being selected as a Military Friendly Franchise® places KidzArt/Art Innovators in an elite group and is testimony to their commitment to supporting military veterans interested in franchise opportunities.”
The 2013 Military Friendly Franchises® list was compiled via a data-driven survey overseen by an advisory board of industry experts. The survey results list were independently tested by Ernst & Young based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media.
Marina gets paint on her face, pen on her arms and glue on her clothes. She is seen here at her drafting table, creating a watercolor curriculum for KidzArt. As one of KidzArt’s curriculum developer, she’s developed many of the art projects students do each day including the ”Lion Under the Moon” and “The Perfect Wave” projects below.
Marina is at home in ocean waves, spending her free time surfing or puttering in one of her gardens. She has also assisted in KidzArt art camps since she was 13 years old, helping her mom and founder of KidzArt, Chris Cruikshank. She lives with her husband on the north shore of Maui. She has a degree in Ecological Agriculture and along with writing a memoir, she is co-owner of Pauwela Produce and Waikinalani Farm, providing organic tropical fruit and vegetables to restaurants in Maui.
We’ve all been influenced and have had our lives enriched by a teacher. Teachers care about their work and the students they teach and put a considerable number of hours (in and outside of class) into their jobs. They play an important role in the daily lives of children and try to ensure that each one receives a quality education.
We admire teachers’ boundless energy, patience, innovation and passion for their profession. We appreciate how a great teacher can change a student’s life and impact them far beyond the classroom.
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, when we take the time to recognize and thank all of the dedicated teachers who are preparing our youth for the future. Take time to thank the teachers you know and find a way to show your appreciation for all that they do.
KidzArt is proud of and thankful for all of our teachers who make our classes a fun, unique and exciting experience for students of all ages.
Google Art Project’s Education link offer tools and resources for teachers and students. One tool is a Google Art Project You Tube channel that offers lots of educational videos including profiles of artists and museums. Many teachers are using Art Project as a virtual field trip allowing students to “walk” the hallways of famous museums, explore their rooms and zoom in on artwork. Some of the museums on Art Project have lesson plans that accompany their artwork. Whether it’s an art history, drawing or a design class, Art Project is an obvious resource. Incorporating visual arts into any classroom can be made fun with this tool.
Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' on Google Art Project
Here’s a brief video introduction to Google Art Project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKPeN3ZNCOE&feature=player_embedded
Sources: Wikipedia, NY Times
Zolie Prior of Kidzart serves families in Creve Coeur, Ladue and West County St. Louis Missouri.
How many years have you been in business as a KidzArt franchisee?
I am just celebrating my first year with KidzArt. I can’t believe how much has happened in the past year!
How many schools do you serve?
We currently serve one of the largest school districts in St. Louis. It has been a great starting point, but we want to continue to grow as much as possible.
What is your franchise’s philosophy? Keys to success?
Our philosophy is pretty simple. We want to nurture creativity by giving kids a safe environment to do just that. Growing up, I took so many art classes where the art had to be done a certain way. I will never forget being in college and spending hours on this still life we were doing. My instructor ended up giving me a bad grade because it didn’t meet her standards. This really opened my eyes and has allowed me to be open with other people’s creativity. I believe the strengths and key to the success of this franchise is to be an open listener. I always take information that both parents and kids tell me and I use that to create a better product.
Do you have any advice and tips on how to foster children’s creativity and artistic nature?
I often run into adults who claim that they can’t draw. What people don’t realize is that they are taught to believe that as children. They didn’t have a person in their lives to encourage their creativity side, hence leading them to believe they aren’t talented. When children are in the process of creating art I tell them how proud I am of them. If a child says that they don’t like their drawing, I asked them to pull out at least two parts of the piece they do like or I will point out aspects that I like. Kids crave reassurance and I want to be able to provide that for them. What the kids may not realize is that during their art making process, they invested their emotions into it. It could be anything that they are currently going through in their lives. Therefore, I try to ask the kids to tell me the story of their art. Even though we all might be working on the same piece, each one will have a different story.
How has KidzArt impacted your students?
One of my favorite things about doing KidzArt is making the kids laugh. I had a full class and while we were working, I was making the kids laugh. It was the best sound ever. After that class a parent approach me and said how impressed she was with the class and what a great time her child was having. For me, that solidified it, I knew I was doing the right thing with my life.
What exciting plans are coming up for KidzArt St. Louis?
I’m excited that this will be our first year doing summer camps. I am so excited to bring these camps to St. Louis. We are also trying something new called Kidz Night Out. It is a cross of a class and a workshop. Parents can drop off their children for two hours. And while we create amazing art with them, their parents can get whatever they need to done. Maybe even a massage!
Learn more by visiting KidzArt St. Louis at http://prior.kidzart.com/index.php
Apr
5
Visual journals are a great way to express emotions and content without words. Visual journals can include art such as collages, drawings, paintings, photos, stamps and various mixed media to create a unique book of self expression.
Kids begin expressing themselves visually by drawing or coloring long before they can share their feeling or thoughts with words. So it may be a very natural thing for them to keep visual art journals. Keeping a visual journal is about the process of being creative and expressive without mistakes or judgments.
Start with a hard cover blank book (here’s an inexpensive one online: http://www.barebooks.com/prestacatalog/65-product-65.html). To get inspired, begin by decorating the cover. Journal materials to have on hand might include paper, glue, stickers, markers, scissors, stamps, magazines and scrap material.
Encourage your children or students to journal something that makes them happy. Make suggestions to get them started but soon enough their journal will become a personal place for their own self-expression- hopes, dreams, activities and even fears.
Spring break is here or approaching for many. While the kids are excited for the week off from school, parents are often at loss for how to keep the kids off the couch and glued to the TV or computer.
It many areas it might not be warm enough to spend the week outdoors. So here are a few ways to occupy the kids for the moments when they’re stuck inside:
1) Ideas on Pinterest
Look through your Pinterest boards for crafts, activities or recipes that your kids can do. Pinterest is a great source of inspiration, ideas and new projects that they kids will love.
2) Game Time
We all have a closet full of board games that rarely get played. Have a neighborhood game day and see how many different games the kids can play.
3) Paint with New Cool Products
Want to paint but tired of messy watercolors? Try a kit that looks like the traditional watercolor set, but it’s semi-moist so needs less water. No mess either! They’re called Jack Richeson semi-moist watercolors.
Check out metallic Gel Sticks from Faber-Castell. They glide on the paper like butter and are easy for kids to use. Purchase a small metallic set and encourage your child to try these on black paper! And they’re non toxic and water soluble too in case your child decides to draw on the table.
4) Scavenger Hunt
Inside or outside, make a list of items that each child (or team of kids) must find. They can collect all the items or let them take photos of each item they scavenge. Lots of fun and can keep kids occupied for hours!
What other TV-free activities do you do over school break? Please share here!
Attending the National Art Educators Conference last week was a great chance to meet other art teachers, administrators and curriculum developers. Walking through the vendors exhibits, I felt like a kid in a candy store! There were tables set up with new art materials and mediums so that participants could have a hands-on experience. Plus, many of the vendors were generous with their samples. One medium that I was most fascinated with was presented by Tandy Leather. Leather is not something that most students experience in school, so I am excited and look forward to creating a col curriculum using leather together with other mediums.
Here’s a fun way to celebrate the season and help your preschoolers learn their letters!
1. Cut 26 egg shapes out of different colored construction paper.
2.One each egg, write a capital letter (A) on the top half and a lower case letter (a) on the bottom half for the entire alphabet.
3. Cut each egg in two pieces with a zigzag cut (as if the egg had just “hatched”). Make each of the 26 cuts different.
4. Mix up the egg pieces and let your preschoolers match the upper and lower case letters.
Once s/he matches an egg have her sound out the letter and give a word that begins with that sound.
Alternative: Instead of paper eggs, use colored plastic eggs!
Sources: mypreschoolplan.com, no principio era o ovo
The Scream by Edvard Munch (source: MOMA)
Munch actually made four versions of The Scream (pastel on board) between 1893 and 1910. I always wondered what he was thinking when he composed this image. Well, the artist painted these word onto the frame of one of the version:, which reads, in part:
“I was walking along the road with two Friends/The Sun was setting—the sky turned a bloody red/And I felt a whiff of Melancholy….My friends walked on—I remained behind/—Shivering with Anxiety—I felt the great Scream in Nature.”
The Scream along with a selection of prints by Munch are on view at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City until April 29, 2013.
by Chris Cruikshank