Thanks to Kim Howell, students in Ocean Beach are not only young at heart but young at art.
Which, not coincidentally, is the title of Howell’s nonprofit business – Young At Art Children’s Creative Center, which she runs out of her home at 1821 Cable St.
At her studio, Howell and her art teachers help children experience the joy of creativity and increased self-esteem by transforming day-to-day challenges with paints, brushes and clay.
“I have a pottery wheel and a kiln area and a classroom that has a big ‘fantasy’ mural wall, and that changes all the time, from one theme to another, from jungle to ocean to outer space, as kids color it,” said Howell.
Howell, who started her business about seven years ago, talked about its origin.
“I’m a professional artist and raised four kids, and we had a lot of art around us, and I was doing mural painting,” she said. “And it was always children who would stop and stare and tell me, ‘I wish I had a place to paint; they won’t let me have it at my house.'”
That made Howell realize that “Kids need a place to go and that there are much better alternatives than video games.”
Of art, and why she specializes in teaching it to children, Howell said, “It changes your life – inspires you, helps you get creative and solve problems.”
Young at Art students are used to multitasking.
“We do a lot of different kinds of mediums,” said Howell, noting that during any given art class, some students will be shaping clay on the pottery wheel while others are sculpting and even more are painting a canvas with pastels or watercolors.
“We try to give them the opportunity to try lots of mediums and help them hone their skills,” Howell said, adding, “They never want to leave – and they can’t wait to get back.”
Students at Young at Art range from 4 to 17 years of age. Howell said the age limit used to be 14 but that she ultimately made an exception for returning “alumni” who’ve wanted to intern as student art teachers in the summer.
“Young at Art has given me the opportunity to create stunning pieces of art and learn the importance of art in my life and so much more,” said student Elena Kazmier. “Kim Howell and the wonderful staff of Young at Art are admirable women that I look up to and love. “Four years ago, I walked in only expecting to learn how to hold a brush and create beautiful art. The women of Young at Art have helped me become a better person, friend and artist,” Kazmier said. Howell said her nonprofit business offers a scholarship program benefiting kids from needy families who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to attend her art school.
“We do fundraising and we give scholarship awards to kids,” she said.
adding Young At Art also does a lot of community events like painting murals such as those that appear on the outside of Ocean Beach’s international youth hostel on Newport Avenue. Want to help?
Young At Art will hold its annual fundraising event 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at Masonic Lodge at 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children.
For more information, visit youngatartsandiego.org.