Early Masters

Early Masters is a phenomenal way to teach and it’s incredible what the kids create. Our house is decorated with over 20 our daughter’s works that our friends can’t believe were created by an eight year old. Our daughter loves taking the classes because «it lets her mind be free». Each session is 2.5 to 3 hours. During the first part, the kids learn about an artist. During the second part, they create their own painting/​cutout/​print based on one of the artist’s masterpieces. The classes aren’t cheap, but Shelly and her long-​time assistant are both there for every class of no more than ten students. Camps are a series of sessions strung together focused on an artist or theme. We’ve recommended the program to several friends (with both sons and daughters) and they’ve all been thrilled.

My 10 year old daughter has been going to Shelley’s Early Masters class for several years, and it has literally transformed her. It has awakened a passion for art and art history we never knew existed. She calls the studio «her happy place.» She begs us to take her to museums on our vacations and proudly tells us all she learned about various artists. Shelley’s knowledge of art history is impressive, and her enthusiasm is infectious. For my daughter, having high quality art supplies (as opposed to crummy school stuff) was transformative as well. The classes are small, and there is lots of individual attention. A highlight for our family was having both our kids exhibit their work at the SAM downtown. My son and daughter took her Gauguin class, and had their paintings displayed there. We had a terrific visit to the exhibit, where the kids gushed about their knowledge of the artist and his work to us, then showed us their own work. These classes are worth every single penny. Shelley truly has a rare school and we eagerly await the new class postings so we can sign up! Hilary M.

We enrolled my 7 year old son in Ms. Shelly’s Van Gogh and Monet class this past summer and were thrilled to see how much he loved them! He came home every day with a huge smile on his face and couldn’t wait to share what he had learned. After his last session of the summer he actually cried because he was so disappointed it was over. I wish other teachers could instill this sort of passion for learning! We continue to sign him up for additional after school sessions and are amazed at the positive impact on his painting skills and more importantly, his confidence. Ms. Shelly’s enthusiasm and passion are contagious. My son asks regularly, «When’s my next art class?» So we just keep signing him up for more. I highly recommend this for any child.

My 10 year old has been going to Early Masters Summer camps for 3 years now, and loves it. Shelley brings a joyful, passionate and deeply educated sensibility to her teaching; the kids eat the information up! Each camp is focused on an artist (e.g., Van Gogh) or a group of artists (Impressionists, Pop); the kids learn about the artists’ lives, what was going on culturally that they were responding to, why they were creating art in the styles/​techniques they were using, how it was received at the time, etc. And, they make several amazing paintings in the style of that artist. My daughter finds this incredibly satisfying, and I can see how this kind of art education has influenced her drawing and painting on a day to day basis. I love it that my child is having such a fun experience of learning about art history, and at the same time is exploring so many approaches to representation and abstraction.

Early Masters is a breath of fresh air when schools are now limited and budgeted on the time and money they have to spend to teach children about art. Early Masters not only gives kids the hands on experience to create their own works of art but educates them on the great artists that came before them, why they were important, what made them masters, and the quirks of their lives. There are other art schools in the Seattle area but Early Masters remains different than the rest by not reverting to the same tired lesson plans and standardized tips and tricks on HOW to paint, draw, and create. Artistic freedom reins here.

This school is an exquisite combination of ambition and liveliness. The kids encounter art from all eras by making it themselves. And they do it with that wonderful enthusiasm and sense of fun and engagement that only the best of instructors can elicit.