We give young minds every advantage to create the most amazing art. BAAS is the place for art lovers, ages 9-15, who absolutely love art. If you want to learn how to draw and paint really well, we are here for you in a positive, challenging and fun environment. Come and join us to learn the basics, improve your skills, capture your imagination and build an outstanding portfolio.

The youngest campers we've had in our camps are 9 years old. If you think your child maybe too young, the answer lies in ability to focus. If they love art and drawing and painting for up to and over 3 hours then they most likely have the focus and are ready for our classes, camps and clubs.

My style is about encouraging students to have a voice in art by learning a traditional realism approach that has been customized for younger audiences. Teaching 5^th - 8^th grades brings a wide spectrum of skill and abilities and of course that comes with all different personalities in students. By 9 years of age children want to draw better but don't know how, and by 5^th grade there is someone in school who is “the best drawer”. My art lessons change all of that. I teach a method I've improved for years that allows my students, all of my students, to create amazing artwork and have fun. Once the method is understood and the basics have been covered, every single one of them can draw and there is no “best drawer in the class” anymore. Instead, my students begin to see they each have a different style, approach and mindset about what art is: Each of them is unique, talented and very capable.

We will teach your child to draw and paint. Most work is done in a multimedia drawing book that will stay with them for years to come. Longer term projects are often done on canvas. The take home is a lot of really cool art our students are proud of. Really, though, the take home is confidence and a strong foundation of focus, hard work and critical thinking.

I love art and I love teaching art. My students inspire me as much as I try to inspire them. I remember taking art classes as kid and being frustrated because it felt like so much was being left out. At an early age, I became self taught in my perseverance for trying to learn how to create art. I picked up books and learned what I could and that worked pretty well but it wasn't until college and later that I learned in depth why all the materials existed and how and when to use them and many techniques that the old masters knew. I teach my students a method of consistently creating art they are proud of. Their confidence goes up and their love of art increases ten-fold. I enjoy being a source of answers for young minds looking to create amazing art, by their own standards. I strive to deliver highly relevant content in an engaging manner and demystify art to my students. The results speak for themselves.

For younger artists, art is a magical language where worlds are created. It is as much a tool of communication about the world around them as much as it is about expression and reflection. My job in all of this is to build confidence and make sure that the young artists have the skills and information to create whatever they want.

We teach our students how to create thoughtful art.
As we get older art becomes about making statements. Some are pleasant to look at and some are raw and try to convey a point or message being less about aesthetics and more about concept and intention. But at a young age art is likely to be something that makes them smile and gives them an entrance into their imagination. Creating thoughtful art takes courage and follow through and ultimately is something that the young artists are proud of. If you have taken a 9 year old to a museum of modern art they will see a lot of art that leaves them saying, “What is this? I could make that!” And that's a shame because so much about what art is, or at least is frequently talked about has been in the forefront for over a century and it needs to be updated: Modern art is now a part of our history, an important part, but history nonetheless. Contemporary art, today's art, covers a huge gamut of different styles and mediums. A particular piece of art isn't something that everyone likes but there should be an implied skill behind it. I often say to my classes, “You wouldn't pick up a welding torch and just pretend you know what you're doing. So the same with art, learn the basics and then learn how to make it your own.” There are rules and materials and dedication before one could ever become considered a master artist. We hold a high bar for art because once a student learns the fundamentals we teach, what they create isn't an entirely unconscious process anymore. Creating thoughtful art becomes a tool for communication and exploration of the world around us.  Art is another language we can learn to be able to help us through life.