As summer brings warm weather and a chance for fields to grow, the Tarble Arts Center provides an opportunity for the growth of area youths.

The Tarble Arts Center has an art program designed for children, allowing them to take classes at Eastern in June.

The children’s art classes are divided into three groups: Inspired by Nature, ages 4 and 5; Folk Art, ages 6 through 8; and Painting Exploration of Style, ages 9 through 14, said Michael Watts, director of the Tarble Arts Center.

Each class has about 10 to 12 students per session, so each can receive enough individual attention making it is easier to learn, said Watts. Sometimes it also depends on the age level.

With themes of nature, Mexican, early American, and African influences, and Dali’s surrealism, the classes provide a wide spectrum of learning for the children.

Kit Morice, curator of education at Tarble, works with the various instructors to decide what themes each group will follow, as well as supervise the classes.

Classes are taught by qualified individuals with interests in art and education, said Watts. They do not have to be faculty members or Eastern students.

The instructors are currently Barb Gough and Natalie Brown. Brown is teaching two sections of the Folk Art class.

“I try to incorporate art works from the exhibits into my classroom,” said Brown.

The original art work that Brown bases her teachings on is an Amate painting that was purchased in Mexico around 1960, the artist is unknown but the work was donated by Edith Hedges. The artwork was shown to the students so they could replicate it in their own works.

“The children made their paper look like tree bark by crumpling it up and then washing it with black paint and water,” said Brown. “Then they use pencil and permanent marker to draw scenes, then paint them with acrylic paint to replicate the look of the original works,” said Brown.

Brown’s class consists of six, seven and eight-year-old students. The class meets from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, June 12 through June 28.

Students in the youngest age group attend class from 11 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Fridays, June 12 through June 30.

The oldest group, 9 through 14, will work on their painting skills and knowledge of styles from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 13 through June 29.

“We provide an enriched experience for children who are interested in art or for preschoolers who have had no formal instruction,” said Watts.

Christiana Guadiana contributed to this report.

Children participating in Natalie Brown’s “Folk Art” class work hard to recreate Amate paintings. These paintings feature scenes of every day life and favorite objects in the artists’ lives.

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