Welcome!

Happy Autumn Days!

We make generous choices in our Children's Art Studio to attend to children – in moments that are essential.

Rich with time... generous with heart!

Do you recall Thoreau’s writings that to affect the quality of the day, that – that is the highest of arts! We concur.

As our fall term commences – our afternoons will continue to follow protocols to reduce risk, and intuition and wisdom – more over, so our emotional antennae, to try to see into the heart of whatever we are faced with... is also a priority.

Art, if it has any strength – we believe – provides the highest form of hope! Richard Serra, a respected artist taught us this value. We pass the thought to you.

I wish to thank my summer interns: Kendall Sommer, Kenyon College junior year student, and Nora Bradley, Hanover High junior year student artist. Their considerable interest in children, the arts, and holding kindly my philosophy of education was very fulfilling for our art family and for me.

– Miss Lani

Art After School Classes

Now Accepting Enrollment ~ Registration for SPRING 2024 Classes

To register or for questions, text (preferred) or call Miss Lani’s cell: 774-563-3069 or email the Children's Art Studio shastinaart@gmail.com

Click here to download a PDF of the 2024 classes.

Art After School with Miss Lani
Tuesdays: 3:00-5:15
Wednesdays: 2:00-5:00
Thursdays: 3:15-5:30
Friday: 3:15-5:30

$45.00 per class

Preschool Morning Art with Miss Lani
Fridays: 9:30-11:30

$50.00 per class

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Our Fall class series has been such a success that we are extending our studies and explorations into the 2024 Winter series. We will take a break after Thanksgiving and then begin again after Easter break.

 

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Tuesdays: Ages 5, 6, 7 year olds • 3:00-5:15pm

You Are Famous for a Day!

We shall sip milk and cookies, chocolate chip, of course, and we shall paint! Yes, we are watchers, we are looking closely at several great masters, artists, who are sharing their “life works” with us! They will inspire our “brush strokes,” our drawings, and our process of identifying their “gifts of art” to us.

We shall enjoy our space and freedom, in our art studio, to explore color and paint through projects inspired by famous modern painters: Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Camille Pissarro, Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt, Leonardo de Vinci, and Franz Marc. Come—gaze, draw, paint!

Matisse—his cut outs are like puzzles, art making—brightly pieced together. His friend Pablo Picasso taught us that art is imperfect—a line drawn is imperfect—we are humans and art is organic. Picasso always cared for people whether his townspeople, farmers, or children and families embracing love. Empathy is reflected in his paintings! His brush strokes are like echoes... sending back fairness to his community.

Monet—his summer meadows in Normandy, yellow irises in bloom, and his calm reflecting water lilies as sunlight, and clouds danced, shimmered in lake waters... It is a reminder of our gardens, rivers, ponds in Norwich and Hanover. Garden Club members lovingly care for the seeds they plant, that grace our towns’ gardens here. So plentiful, color chords abound... There is a pride for our earth, our natural world... Indeed, as Monet emulated....

Marc—it is the spirit of the animal that he taught us to love! The swiftness ... keen moments of the horse is “truly blue,” he believed! Henceforth, his Blue Horse painting symbolizes the imaginative interface of the animal and artist child. As we focus on our youth, during this class, we shall learn their “perceptions,” and what they “sense” about animals’ behaviors and spirit!

These great masters—these artists are lovely to study. Henceforth, Cassatt’s determination to become an artist is a motivating factor for all of us. At the start of a very young age her passion for art making was clear! She is like a mirror image for all children, whose efforts to develop their artistic literacy is pronounced and real! She challenges children to learn well. Art and being smart go together!

Da Vinci was headed to a judicial/lawyerly schooling ... but he begged his father to allow him his choice of study—art and drawing. He was determined to set his own path! Drawing changed his life! His father finally approved of his decision and the collaboration resulted in some of the finest works of art ever conceived.

All of these artists offer us extraordinary clues—let us look closely and capture our famous artist’s life work, each day this week, while we are together here. Each student will be “famous for a day” as you experience these famous masters—these artists’ life work are magnificent.

FALL SCHEDULE

September 12, 19, 26
October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
November 7, 14, 21

SPRING SCHEDULE

April 22, 29
May 7, 14, 21, 28
June 4, 11, 18, 25

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Wednesdays: Ages 6, 7, 8, 9 • 2:00-5:00pm

The HeART Beat of the Wild—Don’t Fence Me In!

Animal persons are individual beings. Animals have their own personalities and dignity. We have a respected approach to these creatures, with whom we share the Earth. A look at their gaze… do we see a part of ourselves? We cannot ascend at the expense of wildlife around us… For our Wednesday’s class we will continue the examination of animals. We shall, this term, examine these questions:

  • Do animals make friends?
  • Are reproductive levels boosted by their behavior keeping “tight” company?
  • How do they ward off predators?
  • Are they groupies or solitary?

Examples:

How do baboons create friendships?

Do horses act socially? Is it true they use their teeth to groom each other?

On to elephants—in our study of diverse animal persons—what does your imagery reveal? Their brain’s cerebral cortex is much like ours! These are interesting facts!!

Sooo... we shall explore, as we compare our drawings and paintings! We are great thinkers and artists, both! We wish that our paintings are not all that is left of these vulnerable and endangered “persons.”

Another question to ask, as well, is: At what point does our wonder no longer warrant another being wounded? Psyched—on my sixth year honoring animals and art. We’ve stepped it up several octaves!!

FALL SCHEDULE

September 13, 20, 27
October 4, 11, 18, 25
November 1, 8, 15, 22

SPRING SCHEDULE

April 23, 30
May 8, 15, 23, 29
June 5, 12, 19, 26

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Thursdays: Ages 8, 9, 10,11 • 3:15-5:30 pm

A Bird’s Eye View of Art—Let’s Dive, Soar, Dig, Dig!

We shall focus on the significance, the meaning of birds in art! Birds appear in expressions of human culture, folk lore, myth, literature, visual arts, music, and legends.

We shall utilize case histories of a few species—looking at the roles and meanings of birds in art, ranging in time from the historic cave drawings, to first nation people’s spiritual values—to current, and modern advertising design. Painting in miniature—“smalls,” with acrylics, nails hammered and woven into wood, or embossed copper, will be all experimented with and completed in form.

Today, we might say, we shall work with an abstract expressionistic style—each student will create a one-of-a-kind treasure every day!

Furthermore, we shall look closely at bird houses—bird nests! The kingdom of these species is resourceful. A deep, hard look at bird’s nests reveals an art form, endlessly interesting! “Tiny tailors” surprised us with their construction skills, design, and art making.

Sharon Beale, a photographer, recently held an exhibit at the fine National Academy of Science Museum in Washington DC and her show of 19th–20th century bird nests, all from science and art collections will be viewed by us.

Remember, when I opened our studio? That year at Christmas 2019 forty-two birds were sketched and painted by our young studio, year-round artists! We were invited by the Norwich Inn to create an installation of birds, all original, for the Inn’s holiday, indoor tree. We have been invited every year since. Furthermore, shall we create nests for the sweet pieces—the sturdy, tender birds that catch our eyes—and fulfill our heARTs! Yes! You guessed it—each child will sketch their nest! We are ready—Yep!—We are! This entire term will be focused on many creatures that also fly! Maybe some imaginary dragons, too!

FALL SCHEDULE

September 14, 21, 28
October 5, 12, 19, 26
November 2, 9, 16

SPRING SCHEDULE

April 25
May 2, 9, 16, 24, 30
June 6, 13, 20, 27

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Friday Mornings: Ages 3, 4, 5 • 9:30-11:30 am

Cutting Edge Collage—for Young Pre-school Artists!

This is a fun and creative class and highlights the idea of “changing” or “altering images...” yes it is our focus!

We shall collect varied papers, linen fabrics, copper sheeting, pictures from journals and magazines, ribbons, repurposed art work, printed images from recycled story books! Our young artists will develop, create NEW thoughts and ideas—unusual uses of these gathered found objects! Images will be formulated from their own conceptualizations. Examples—1) a self-portrait—delightful and realistic in breadth! 2) a symbol resembling Miss Joy’s kindness in the MCS front office, for she is the receptionist “extraordinaire” 3) a painting of “sound/rhythm” from us will be drummed up for the UV Music Center in Lebanon, a neighborly gift of art/contributing our happy energies! 4) An art wand similar to Miss Lani’s Harry Potter wand, will be carved by each young artist—installed with silk ribbons, tiny copper hearts, and small, painted shapes that represent love and caring! It will be even more beautiful than we imagine!

This is an ambitious term for us! I think it will be right lively, as well. Most fall days we will be working outside, under our red umbrella. Dress for a “mess”—ha—as we will be using IKKY glue, wallpaper wheat paste, plaster, thin wires, and hammers and brass nails too!

Yikes... It is an ART ATTACK! Cutting edge cool... FUN… for growing hands.

FALL SCHEDULE

September 15, 22, 29
October 6, 13, 20, 27
November 3, 10, 17

SPRING SCHEDULE

April 26
May 3, 10, 17, 25, 31
June 7, 14, 21, 28

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Friday Afternoons: Ages 9, 10, 11, 12 year olds • 3:00-5:15 pm

Wolf Kahn—A Pairing of Vermont Artists and Friends

Wolf Kahn’s influence, his works with acrylics focus on color and design! Inspirations from Wolf Kahn, a fine Vermont artist, who lived in Brattleboro, are close at hand. This is sure to be a stimulating and passionate intersection of art making.

We will engage in an adventure—how to work with a range of values through extensive color blending in order to create contrast and areas of emphasis! Have you ever wondered how artists can fragment space... through an inviting and in-depth experimentation with color chords? We shall learn how artists maintain the integrity of their work. The French artists we have studied in our studio, use white and the linen canvas backgrounds as space. Through an inviting analysis we will also come to understand “how to” enhance our imagery, our compositions while creating a well-integrated painting with brush strokes or “scraping” as Wolf Kahn said he did in his later years! Scraping rather than painting was his choice at that time.

Kahn’s works are brilliant! Whatever he called it or whatever we call it, brilliant is what it is. Yes, we will embrace Kahn, the late Brattleboro Vermont artist’s works—his vast landscapes. We will view and absorb his beauty of choosing color chords. We will have the opportunity to work graphically, “painterly,” while improving each young artist’s technique, using acrylics, in this fall term.

Kahn’s installations on walls—floor to ceiling paintings—at Brattleboro’s MOMA, just an hour car trip away, is a must see!

We love his art! His values—he, too, taught in a studio in his community. I say, he is a beloved American artist; he is! Miss Lani's students have painted shoulder to shoulder with Ray Ellis and Alan Whiting … and wish that Wolf Kahn could have joined us in Norwich, too.

Each student will create a huge canvas and paint with a full heART every day that we are together. Kahn’s art friends will inspire us in remembrance of him!

FALL SCHEDULE

September 15, 22, 24
October 4, 13, 20, 27
November 3, 10, 17

SPRING SCHEDULE

April 26
May 3, 10, 17, 25, 31
June 7, 14, 21, 28

 

LANI CARNEY, VISUAL ARTS EDUCATOR
CHILDREN'S ART STUDIO AT THE 1820 HOUSE
326 Main Street Norwich, VT 05055
(next door - Carpenter & Main)
To register or for questions, text (preferred) or call Miss Lani’s cell: 774-563-3069 or email the Children's Art Studio shastinaart@gmail.com

Magic Summer Arts 2024

Now Accepting Enrollment ~ Registration for SUMMER 2024 Classes

To register or for questions, text (preferred) or call Miss Lani’s cell: 774-563-3069 or email the Children's Art Studio shastinaart@gmail.com

Click here to download a PDF of the Magic Summer Arts 2024 courses.

A series of eight weeks: Each one week long, morning classes
with enrollment limited to 8 students.
Outdoors under an umbrella.
Monday-Friday, 9 am-12 pm. Ages 4 years to 12 years.

Weekly tuition $395.00 per student.

June 17-21: “Drip Drop Dazzle” — The Influence of Jackson Pollock

June 24-28: Bark for Art… Pooches and More

July 1-5: Big Cats… Precious and Few

July 8-12: Jane Goodall—The Watcher

July 15-19: Picasso’s Landscapes—Let us Paint Places

July 22-26: Art of Fishing

July 29-Aug 2: Our Brilliant Sky

Aug 5-9: Set Sail… The Art of a Sea Voyage as we Become the Crew of a Sailing Ship

Aug 12-16: Aaron Curry—Skate Board Artist Extraordinaire

Summer Morning Workshops

Four Fun Art Mornings!

Each workshop is $50.00 / student • 9 am-12 pm

Aug 19: Dragon World

Aug 20: Let us be a Horse Whisperer

Aug 26: Good Antennae: Butterflies — Forms of Beauty

Aug 27: Birds, Flowers, and Bees

 

Saturday Afternoon Art

Now Accepting Enrollment ~ Registration for SPRING 2024 Classes

To register or for questions, text (preferred) or call Miss Lani’s cell: 774-563-3069 or email the Children's Art Studio shastinaart@gmail.com

Click here to download a PDF of the 2024 worshops.

All Saturday Art Workshops are for children ages 4–11.

1:30 - 3:30pm • $50 per artist for each workshop.

 

May 4: Happy Day! The Day of the Horse
Let’s create a yearlong, monthly national holiday celebrating the horse as a living link to the heritage and history of our nation. The horse represents a common bond among all peoples who led the way in building our country. We shall do an assemblage using copper, oils, and acrylics to define a special composition depicting this heritage. Perhaps we will tuck in a sketch of one of the horses we enjoy riding, here, in our Upper Valley pastures. Our horse photographs, on our studio wall at our entrance, inspire us every day.

 

May 11: Spring Celebration of National Cookie Month
The aroma of home baked cookies… and a tradition for art families and Miss Lani. The delicious scent — ah-h! Today we are going to celebrate America’s favorite treat with a “bake-off” contest: Still North, Hanover Inn, Umpleby’s, Norwich Inn, and Lou’s. After lots of tasting — we will select the young artists’ favorite confection: the chocolate chip cookie. We shall paint it on canvases, name it, and taste and eat some more! A fun day, for certain.

May 18: Let’s Create a Puppy
Doll Making in the French way… delicate and sweet style at play. Learn how to make a playful doll from scratch, using soft fabrics to create the shape, forming the head, body, and animal painted faces will be the creative work of thin brush strokes. It is really a keepsake. This offering incorporates the beauty of stitching, creating and painting on fabric with watercolor. The color chords are youthful, playful and beautiful for certain! Several seamstress artists will join us to ease our work with sewing needles and threads.

 

May 25:  We Remember Lassie

Films have been a favorite for families seeking relaxing time together — we are enriched by the programs at the HOP, film directors, actors, staging and set designers — but moreover our very own talented performers… like you

Remembering springtime: A childhood film favorite of many parents and grandparents is We Remember Lassie. The long running series originally involved a boy, and his courageous and intelligent dog – Lassie. Some sixty years ago – Lassie rocked on, through perils and escapades. We shall review some of the series and with our bond of “creature connections,” enjoy sketching, painting, and relive these timeless adventures centering on boys and dogs… girls and their escapades are welcome too! We have a lovely collection of books about Lassie, here in our studio. Ryder’s pup, both are art alums, resembles this beautiful breed… we shall invite him!

 

June 1: Dragons TAP!

Yes, that’s tap our imaginations… Stories, legends, its own silly-billy, sorta-crazy Saturday Art Workshop!

The dragon is a legendary creature that has appeared in legends of both eastern and western civilizations.

Serpentine – snake-like drawings – colorful, vibrant, long tails that thrash back and forth … overlapping teeth, eagle-like claws, double heads, breaths of smoke, bat-like wings and/or horns! Oh my…

We are going to develop an imaginary creative critter right here in the studio… a positive dragon with powers of wisdom and strength.

One of our favorite books about beasts of mythology, Dragon World by Tamara Macfarlane is our resource, and Alessandra Fusi’s illustrations are sure to scare us! Dinosaur bones may give us clues…

 

June 8: Henry Moore’s Sheep
We shall try to capture Henry Moore’s sculpture, love for drawing! From earliest times it was the activity he enjoyed most!

All sculptors were draughts men: Michelangelo, Bernini, Rodin… as examples.

Henry Moore felt if we drew more, we would start to look more intensely at our environment and at one another! Perhaps… greater awareness and understandings would be the result.

Moore spent time in England, 1972, and retreated to a small studio, overlooking a sheep farm! He thought at first they were “four-legged balls of wool” – but after observing the way they moved, and playfully attracted his attention as they peered into his windows… he realized the “animals were much more than he thought!” He considered them charming, curious, animal persons.

Let us draw a small babe being sheltered by his mom.

 

June 15: Whale Tails and Tales — Dolphins and Sea Lions too!

If we wrote a letter to our dear earth, we might say: Your deep oceans, Planet Earth, are ever moving! Can anyone completely know the mysteries of your oceans? Can anyone know all the creatures you have held within your azure seas? Some call you the blue planet – you are home to beings of water, land, and sky.

We shall read poems about you and the sea – e e cummings captures the excitement of exploring the beaches… spending time by the ocean sparks a love of history – a curiosity about the creatures that live beneath the waves!

Likewise, John Masefield’s poem Sea Fever call us to feel and paint the life of adventure – no matter what time of year…

Let us spend our Saturday with the tails and tales of whales, sea lions, and life beneath the ocean. Ready? Let’s dive in!

 

LANI CARNEY, VISUAL ARTS EDUCATOR
CHILDREN'S ART STUDIO AT THE 1820 HOUSE
326 Main Street Norwich, VT 05055
(next door - Carpenter & Main)
To register or for questions, text (preferred) or call Miss Lani’s cell: 774-563-3069 or email the Children's Art Studio shastinaart@gmail.com
Childrens Art Studio Norwich

Chappy is always in our hearts!

Childrens Art Studio Norwich

 Children's Art Studio

“Art is the highest form of HOPE. If it has any strength, at all, it will outlive the vagaries of history!”

– Richard Serra, Artist

 

 

“Art is in our hearts. Thank you, children, for participating in our families' management of well being!”

– Miss Lani

Childrens Art Studio Norwich

Lani Carney earned a B.A. in Sociology and a M.S. in Education from the University of Oregon, and a HERS Certificate from Wellesley College. She has taught many courses including Psychology of Adolescence, Child Development, and Psychology of Adjustment. Lani served as Consultant to Dartmouth Medical School and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center on minority student recruitment and diversity issues.

Lani's program focuses on the principles of The Jane Goodall Institute: Roots and Shoots Program which professes that young people, when informed and empowered, realize that their actions do make a difference and can indeed change the world.

It is My Hope

From commitment to a our Children's Art Studio and vibrant classes in 2023.

Our untiring emphasis on art education and our collaborative sensitivity to our artistic families...

That the Children's Art programming extends energies, resources and talents in ways that enliven our town of Norwich.

Thank you for including opportunities in the arts in your lives.

— Miss Lani