BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS GUIDE (CT)
  • Home
  • About
    • FAQ
    • In The News
    • Volunteer Team
    • Contact
    • Thank You
  • Browse Directory
    • Directory by City/Town
    • Directory by Category
  • Blog
    • Blog Archive
  • List a Business
  • Resources
  • Events
  • Home
  • About
    • FAQ
    • In The News
    • Volunteer Team
    • Contact
    • Thank You
  • Browse Directory
    • Directory by City/Town
    • Directory by Category
  • Blog
    • Blog Archive
  • List a Business
  • Resources
  • Events
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

1/20/2021 0 Comments

The Art Child:  Unlocking the Kid In You

Picture
By Lajeune Hollis
Let’s face it, there is a kid in each and every one of us. The Art Child, a travel- based and online program for kids of all ages, recognizes that. Its mission, according to founder Ms. Alicia Brown, a certified therapeutic art life coach, is “to offer programs to let kids be kids, show their emotions along with helping them control them.”
 
I wondered, how did this business start? According to Ms. Alicia, her business began as showcase of her art, and she was selling cards, canvases and more.

“I switched when I realized most of my work was targeted to kids and people who enjoyed abstract art,” she shared. At the time, she was in school studying child psychology with art therapy as her career. She got her certification in Therapeutic Art Life Coaching, which combined her love of working with children and her passion for art.

And so, The Art Child was born.
Picture
Picture
In partnership with Sawyer, an online provider of children’s classes and activities with a mission “to inspire a love of learning through play and exploration,” The Art Child offers programs for children ages two and up, teens and adults. Ms. Alicia tailors each class to the individual person, or collectively for groups. Class fees are per person or by group, and can be made via Cashapp, Venmo, PayPal, Square or Apple Pay.

“It's important to me because there are so many children without creative outlets, and art programs seem to be the first things cut,” she shared. “We are trying to stop that, and showcase that art is extremely important for anyone. If we want well-rounded adults, we need to start with the kids. We need to find ways to give them a sense of self, and expression.”  
​
Residents of Connecticut can hire Ms. Alicia to come directly to their church, home, school or daycare to hold a therapeutic art class. All art supplies and snacks are provided at no extra cost. And, social distancing rules are in place during the pandemic to ensure all attending are safe.
 
One challenge she has faced is getting The Art Child name out there. “I have a select few promoters and have been working with local businesses to hold art events, but due to COVID-19, the turnouts are always small,” she shared. “Hopefully, going forward, we can change that.”
Picture
"If we want well-rounded adults, we need to start with the kids. We need to find ways to give them a sense of self, and expression.”  
Picture
Picture
Because of the pandemic, The Art Child is now also offering online children’s classes for free on Friday and Sunday evenings at 7:00pm. Children from anywhere across the United States can participate from the comfort of their homes.
 
Once participants sign up for a free class by The Art Child, they will have the option of having art supplies mailed to them, including paint brushes, canvases, construction paper, glitter and more, paying only for shipping. On the day of the one-hour online class, attendees are emailed Zoom login information, and on class night, Ms. Alicia first reads an illustrated story before teaching the actual activity. Children actively participate by following her step- by-step instructions and holding up their artwork as the night progresses. They give a final thumbs up once they finish their “masterpieces.”
 
In addition to classes, The Art Child also offers face painting at birthday parties, art activity boxes, art commissions, events (see availability on theartchildllc.org), pre-drawn canvases for DIY as well as pre-painted canvases. Ms. Alicia is also certified to work with kids on the spectrum, who are living with Autism, Asperger’s or with social disorders.
 
As for adults, Ms. Alicia helps them “turn off” their brains during their therapeutic art classes by focusing on the process as opposed to the outcome.   
Picture
Picture
Picture
As with anything worthwhile there is a cost. However, The Art Child holds fundraisers on a regular basis to defray business costs, especially for their free programs. Donations are accepted at any time at www.theartchildllc.org. 
 
What’s next for The Art Child?
 
“I want to reach all 50 states with art boxes, and I’ll be having an event with The Key Bookstore in Hartford, Connecticut on February 19 at 6:00pm,” she shared. “It's a story time and painting event for adults and children. I am also working on a coloring book for all ages.” 
 
Ms. Alicia is getting a jump start on her goal of reaching all 50 states by offering a special Valentine’s Day activity box. She hopes to “spread the love” by offering this special activity for couples that include two canvases and brush sets, two heart notebooks, two pencils, two slimes, two bottles of bubbles, six paints, glitter and a rose quartz from Hippie Love. She explains that the rose quartz, when held, will helps people to relax their minds and will then activate the love inside of them, allowing their hearts to tell them what to paint. Visit www.theartchildllc.org to order one of these special boxes.
 
Sounds like a good plan.
 
The Art Child is in Bloomfield, Connecticut, with in-person services available throughout Connecticut and online services available nationwide. Find The Art Child on Facebook, Instagram or learn more at theartchildllc.org.
Picture
Picture

BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT.COM DIRECTORY:

BROWSE BY CITY/TOWN
BROWSE BY CATEGORY

Picture

AUTHOR

Lajeune Hollis is a Connecticut resident, media sales professional, local news junkie, daughter, sister, proud aunt and colon cancer survivor. She has spent the past 30+ years in the media industry and has written, produced and hosted mini-biographies (bio-line) for a gospel video show called Lifeline Gospel Videos on a Bridgeport, CT public access television station; written African American book reviews for a monthly urban newspaper, The Inner City Newspaper, in New Haven, CT; co-hosted an on-air book review (the L & L Book Review) on an urban contemporary radio station (WNHC AM 1340); hosted an African American monthly book club at Barnes and Noble bookstore in North Haven, CT; worked as a community radio announcer (Lovers Corner with Lajeune) at a New Haven area radio station (WYBC 94.3 FM); worked as a local ad sales manager for Umoja Newspaper in Bridgeport, CT; worked in radio advertising sales and management for a total of four Connecticut radio stations (WNHC AM 1340, WEBE 108FM, WICC 600 AM, and WYBC 94.3FM) and is currently working in local ad sales (television, digital, online, content marketing and social media) for News 8, a New Haven, CT based ABC TV affiliate.
Picture

PHOTOGRAPHER

Kristen McNevins is a photographic artist based in Connecticut. She received a BFA from The University of Connecticut and an MFA in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Her work has been featured in exhibitions throughout the United States, print publications and online magazines. She currently works as an art educator in Connecticut. ​

Archives

January 2021
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020

Categories

All Accessories Alexandra Frisbie Allison Reynolds Allyship Angel Thompson Anti-Racism Apparel Arianna Velez Art Assistance Aviation Awareness Bakery Beauty Black History Black Owned Business Black-owned Business Black Owned Businesses Black-owned Businesses Books Bookstore Boutique Brenda De Los Santos Cakes Candy Cassandra McKenna Catering CBD Classes Clothing Community Connecticut Consultants Contest Corey Lynn Tucker Corporate Responsibility Cosmetics CTSBDC Damon Carter Disability Diversity Dr. Cicero East Hartford Education Encouragement Experience Farmington Finance Finances Financial Food Foodies Food Truck Gary Pope Giveaway Giving Back Hartford Health Homecare Inclusion IT Jaclyn Wilson Kerry Kincy Kristen McNevins Lajuene Hollis Mental Health Meriden Middletown Natasha Samuels New Britain Newington New London Norwich Op Ed Op-ed Patrina Dixon Pets Race Racism Resource Restaurants Retail Rode Bataille Sarah Thompson Seafood Self-care Seshu Badnirath Shopping Simsbury Skin Care Small Business Social Responsibility Sweet Treats Technology Terrence Irving Torrington Training Vernon Wellness West Hartford Winsted Women Young Yvette Young

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed


    ABOUT  -  CONTACT  -  DIRECTORY BY CATEGORY  -  ​DIRECTORY BY TOWN  -  SUBMIT A BUSINESS