Give them roots and wings

Elkan and Elias attended many NAFA classes during their pre-school and early-primary school years. During those years, we were a dual-income family, and my mother was helping to care for the children. The children had to be sent away during the school holidays for the sake of my mother’s sanity, and in any case, we could afford it.

There were many more,
but some have been discarded,
or were hidden too deep inside the storeroom…
Too bad I wasn’t blogging during those years,
otherwise I would have more photos.

Samuel did not have the privilege of that, because I stopped working when he was 3+ years old, and since I was a SAHM, it was MY job to develop him WHOLISTICALLY, including doing Art and Craft. But the real reason was that we could no longer spare the cash. 😛

Therefore, when the opportunity came for Samuel to attend an Art program, I jumped at it.

What made it even better was that it was an Art-cum-Drama program. It was perfect for Samuel. I was looking for a speech and drama program for him which was both easy enough, yet interesting, and having a program which combined BOTH Art and Drama was the perfect solution because Samuel enjoyed Art very much.

The program is called “DramARTise!” by My Art Studio. It combined the following elements in the 3-days (3 hours per day) program:-

Art

a) Recycled Art and Plaster bandage techniques

Samuel decided to make a long telescope
instead of also making a pirate hook.
I was quite impressed that he managed to paint a skull
for his pirate’s hat…
And he put an “S” on the other side,
which obviously means “Samuel”.

b) Gesso Painting

“This is my nose, this is my mouth…”
“This is the sun…”
He was really proud of his product…
the sullen expression was not a true reflection of his excitement!

c) Coffee and Tea Painting

“This is the pirate’s island..
This is the pirate’s ship… this is the bad guy…”

Drama

a) Book/Poem Reading

b) Drama (The children acted their part as pirates – first to demonstrate their talents so they could be part of the pirate crew, then to assist the Captain in sailing across the ocean, and lastly to find the treasure).

“Me! Me! I want to be a pirate!”

c) Literacy

Yes, he spelled many words wrongly
But I loved what he wrote!
(Moms are so easy to please…)

Finally, the children come back with a nice little portfolio on what they did for the three days, and a little pirate craft!

Good job Samuel!
You earned your treasures!

I thought it was wonderful that so much was covered in the 3 days, and I was impressed with how everything was so smoothly integrated.

DramARTise! is a unique program which My Art Studio is doing for the first time. They are considering doing it as a term-time program as well, and I really hope they do because Samuel had so much fun. He wanted to go back there again!

“I want to go back there…
It was so fun…”

Whatever it is, after having tried out the Holiday program, I am certainly keen to send Samuel for the Art lessons which My Art Studio conducts during the school term.

This is because My Art Studio does not only help the children produce good quality products (all its teachers are art-trained, and they teach such impressive art techniques!), but it aims to develop the children wholistically through its Learning Palette.

(Image supplied by My Art Studio)

Each lesson could cover a few aspects of the Learning Palette for example Logical Reasoning, Sensory Experience and Coordination. Another lesson could cover Nature Appreciation & environment care and Sensory Experience and Coordination.

Here are some things which the children can be expected to create and bring home, according to the various aspects:-

(All images above supplied by My Art Studio)

Over time, a child would be exposed to all of the 8 mediums, and be developed in all of the 8 ways.

They also produce art work according to culture and artist styles!

(All images above supplied by My Art Studio)

That sounded really good to me! I always enjoyed art, but I have given up trying to be an artist. But hey, I have kids! Don’t all parents try to live out their unfulfilled dreams through their children? Heh heh.. I shall get some of these impressive looking art pieces in my home through Samuel!

Good News!

There are still limited places remaining for DramARTise! at both Burghley Drive and Old Firestation, for the 18 Dec 2013 classes for 5-8 years old. They also have lessons on weekday afternoons and Saturdays, so if you are interested, you may contact:-

MyArtStudio

Website:  www.myartstudio.sg
Email: info@myartstudio.sg

MyArtStudio@Burghley

45, Burghley Dr, #01-13, Burghley Lifestyle Hub, Singapore 559022 (Serangoon Gardens Estate)
Operating hours : 10am – 6:30pm

PHONE: +65 6737 3760

MyArtStudio@Old FireStation

276, Upper Bukit Timah Road, #01-17, Singapore 588214 (Old Fire Station in Bukit Timah)
Operating hours : 10am – 9pm

PHONE: +65 6466 5622

(The “DramARTise!” program which Samuel attended was sponsored by My Art Studio. No other monetary compensation was received).