School Visits

  When was the last time your kids had a children's book artist draw with them in your classroom?\

My programs align with the frameworks curriculum so that you know you are getting things that will help you reach the goals set for your kids.  I would love to give you specialized help in this very important area of art and creativity.  It has the potential to spill over into other education areas! 

My format for programs and workshops

I am extremely interactive with kids.  When I draw with kids, I purposely try to pack as many fun activities of drawing into that time as I can.  I have seen best results in my audiences when they are kept busy with creative activities that they can do successfully and with great enjoyment.  My activities are geared to build inspiration and encouragement.  I always start by drawing a large quick picture for the kids while music is playing.  Then I appeal to their creative side by helping them be imaginative and get them caught up into wanting to express their ideas.  I show alot of fun pictures I have painted over the years and talk about them to get their creativity going.  

As an ice breaker to get the kids drawing and creating things they didn't even know they could, we play a round of my drawing card game, Pick and Draw.  Their creativity explodes as much chatter and laughter always come with this activity.  In five minutes they have created a one of a kind cartoon face that we name and give a personality to.  This enables the kids to write their own story about the character they just made.  Teachers love having this to do after my presentation and the kids are always ready to write.

Finally, because their confidence level is high, I have the kids follow me step by step in making a picture together from start to finish.  I leave places in that time to let them add things to the picture that comes from their own unique expression.  But we stay on task and make an end to the picture.  Doing this often shocks students (and teachers) that they can actually draw and didn't know it.  

When I leave, my goal is to have given them some drawing successes....knocked the cork off their inner creative bottle so more ideas can come out and helped them have a hightened enjoyment of drawing together.  These are tools that I believe will allow them to continue to foster their own unique expression of creativity no matter what form it takes....wood working; painting; sewing; interior decorating; designing; problem solving, etc

This is a very very fun time that your kids will greatly enjoy! 

Pricing (as of August, 2009)

1 one hour time....$200 honorarium plus roundtrip mileage (.55 a mile roundtrip from Siloam Springs, AR)

2 one hour sessions....$350 honorarium plus mileage (.55 a mile roundtrip from Siloam Springs, AR)

3 one hour sessions...$485 honorarium plus mileage (.55 a mile roundtrip from Siloam Springs, AR)

Full day ( 4 one hour sessions).....$600 honoraium plus mileage (.55 a mile roundtrip from Siloam Springs, AR).  If I have to drive over 4 hours to return to Siloam Springs, AR, overnight hotel accomadations would also need to be included in the price.

I have my books and games available for sale at that time!  This makes it more special for the kids and I am happy to sign the books as well.

For School visits: Any one hour session can be with a large group (100 kids as long as their is an electronic camera so they can easily see what I am doing...and hear me) or a more intimate group setting, such as in a classroom.  Really, I have worked with all different numbers of kids in various situations and environments.  I'm up for your challenge!

Supplies needed:

3 pieces of white copier paper per student

1 pencil with eraser per student

a book or something hard to put under their paper to draw on while they sit on the floor.

That's it!  (really!) 

If I present at your school/library, I offer to you three additional things:

1) Color poster with your institutions name and information on it to help advertise the event...create some anticipation.  

2) Tiny the dog and whimsical doodle bugs coloring pages that your students can color later on and enjoy copying from the things they learn in our time together. And you are free to continue to use them year round as you like.

3) I sign and give away the large speed drawing I make at the end of my time with the kids.  It usually has a personalized message exclusive for your program on it. 

These I send by email to you before I come.

My drawing game, Pick and Draw that I use in my sessions to bring out their creativity is also for sale and is a great tool for educators of all kinds to continue to use with your kids. In every game there are 60.000 different cartoon face combinations to be explored!  You can go to www.pickanddraw.com if you want to play a hand or buy it.  It's only $10.  It's a super way (tool) to reinforce the things learned and the kids will look forward to playing it with you over and over.  And it is designed so that you don't have to be an artist to use it in class.

Visit my contact me page if you want to email or call.  I'd love to hear from you and explore how I can help you meet your education goals with your kids in a fun way.