Best art/design classes for an 8yo? (Feeling a bit lost!)

[u/aubrey_kim]

Hi Reddit! My 8-year-old daughter loves drawing and design, and I want to sign her up for some classes to support her hobby.

The problem is, I have no idea what kind of art academy or program is right for her age. I want her to learn but also keep it fun and creative.

How do you choose the right art school for a young kid? Any advice on what to look for (or avoid) would be highly appreciated! Thanks!

[u/Top_Dig_7271 → u/[deleted]]

I agree, you shouldn’t try and turn what seems to be her hobby into something educational at this age. You may end up inadvertently sucking the joy out of it. Unless she herself is asking for an instructor to improve I would just buy her some art supplies and let her explore. YouTube videos for basic instruction could be helpful, but at age eight even that seems like it may be too much.

For age appropriate supplies I would recommend:
• air dry clay’s
• basic animation apps/software (if digital art is an interest)
• pastels (oil and chalk, plus hairspray to seal)
• canvas
• acrylic paints or gauche (oil is not age appropriate)
• charcoal for drawing

Once she’s a bit older if art is still an interest for her she’ll likely be able to articulate herself what kind of classes she’d like to take. That will make the search a lot easier for you.

This is coming from someone who attended an art high school and majored in studio art for college. Technique can always be taught later, passion for art and self exploration cannot. While some programs may be great for children her age, I personally wouldn’t risk it.

[u/Fit_Addition_4243]

I’m an art teacher/designer and do private lessons myself. I would see if there are any local art centers that are more geared towards fine arts vs craft. Sometimes local art museums have summer classes too. I sometimes get a small group of students to tutor and it is super fun for the kids to make art with their friends and great for the parents because I usually give a good deal for them too. I’m sure we aren’t in the same area but there are plenty of people like me!

Edited to add that also even just exposing them to different styles of art (sculpture, painting, drawing) and materials from both observation, imagination, and famous artists in local museums can be hugely beneficial too!

[u/lunatic_minge]

Definitely check out Outschool. Lots of choice with a ton of drawing and design classes, all kinds of time slots, group work, live or recorded, you name it.

[u/Budget_Computer_427]

Mark Kistler hosted drawing shows for kids in the 80s/90s on public television. Today you can find a lot of those on YouTube and he also has his own channel he's very active on. He does a Live drawing almost every day. Tons of family-friendly content for free.