About Us

Art Explorers is an art-enrichment program designed to enhance visual art skills and build each child’s self confidence. Throughout the year, students learn the fundamentals of art through drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and mixed media, while using artist quality media. Projects never repeat – each session is new and different! We provide engaging curriculum that develops skills and techniques, stretches the imagination, and explores art history, as well as, the art work of our very own local artists! Each and every project is “kid-tested” to ensure that all projects are fun and successful! With Art Explorers, students have a safe and secure environment where they can experiment, problem solve, build skills, and produce fantastic art creations.

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Parents new to our program often ask if a teacher drew their child’s picture or if it was traced. We explain that every piece of work that children do is the ORIGINAL art of that child and that we never “touch” a child’s work. We teach students art techniques, the language of art, and to “see” how images are constructed. We guide our budding artists to think creatively, teach them to slow down and focus, and to complete their work to the best of their ability. This approach is how we build success and self-confidence in every student.

Only for Kids? While the majority of our programs are for children, we do provide art programs for adults as well. Click HERE.

Locally owned our team has over 25+ years of art education, advanced degrees, teaching experience, curriculum development, running afterschool programs/camps, and working with 3-year olds to adults.  We know how to teach art and to encourage students to stretch out of their comfort zone to the depths of their creativity!

FAQs:

How do I VIEW the classes and camps offered AND How do I know if classes or camps are full?
Click on the Register button at the top or bottom of the page. This takes you into our ACTIVE Registration system. Now you can filter by age, by location, or by program to see what we offer. The words “wait list” will be displayed if a session is full. Otherwise it is available for you to register.

How do I REGISTER for Art Explorers programs?
Click on the Register button at the top or bottom of the page. This takes you into our ACTIVE Registration system. Filter by age, by location, or by program and select your option. Enter both your information and your child’s information to set up your account and pay for your selection. You can use this account to register for additional programs this school year as well! You will always receive an email confirmation when you register for any of our classes or camps. Be sure to keep the confirmation as it will have our Tax ID number.

Do you combine age groups?
We prefer to separate the grades K and 1-6 into two classes so that all of the students are challenged at the appropriate level. Depending on enrollment we may have one class with all of the students. Because our student to teacher ratio is low; we are able to guarantee that our younger and beginner students get extra attention and our older and advanced students are given additional challenges.

Does my child need to bring anything?
No, Art Explorers provides all artist-quality supplies. You may wish to purchase a t-shirt or an apron, but that is optional.

Can my child go directly to the Art Explorers class when school is dismissed?
Yes, there will always be an Art Explorers instructor at the class location to supervise the students.

After art class, do I need to pick up my child from the Art Explorers classroom?
In order to ensure the safety of your child, we request that all parents picking up from class come directly to the Art Explorers classroom and sign them out. If you indicate “After school care” or “Walk Home” during the registration process, the Art Explorers instructor will follow those instructions. If you would like to give permission for your child’s instructor to release your child to meet you at the front of the school, please make a request in writing by mail, or email.

I want to enroll my child, but did not get a flyer. What do I do?
All classes for the entire school year are listed on this website. Please click on the “Register” button at the top or bottom of the page to view our programs. If you have further questions, you can always call 805-570-1988

What ages/grades do you accept?
We teach art to students K-8 in our after-school programs (held either on the school campus or at our art studio). We also provide private classes for children, teens or adults at our art studio.

Can you pick my child up at his/her classroom?
We pick up our Kindergarten students from their classrooms. For all other ages, children will come to the Art Explorers classroom. We have a roster of all children enrolled so that we can ensure students arrive before the class starts. If you are worried about your child finding the classroom, instruct them to go to the front office and they will help direct him/her to the class.

Is every class or session different?
Yes, Art Explorers projects will never repeat.

What kind of projects will my child do?
Art Explorers is a FUN, fine arts-enrichment program designed to build visual art skills. We explore the many facets of art through drawing, painting, sculpture, print-making, collage, and mixed media. We use artist quality media including Prisma Illustration Makers, Charcoal, Oil and Soft pastels, Polymer Clay, ArtStix, Colored Pencil, Scratch-Art, AquaStik, Paint and Watercolor on a variety of surfaces such as archival or exotic paper, canvas, metal foil, tile, wood, and many recycled objects.

How does your program inspire creativity?
In each and every class, we do fun mental exercises to boost our creative thinking skills. We brainstorm how students can add or change their drawings or projects, ensuring that they learn to take risks and think “outside the box.”  Some of our projects are completely open-ended, so that students illustrate their own ideas.

Is there a theme for each session?
No, for our after school classes! Within each session, students explore a variety of mediums and do inspiring projects that include animals, still life objects, landscapes,  portraits, architecture, and anime.
Yes, for our Summer Camps! We will offer new camp themes and previously popular camp themes every year!

How many children do you accept in your class?
We limit our classes to 18 students, to ensure every child receives enough encouragement and attention.

Who are your teachers?
Art Explorers teachers are a combination of teaching artists and current or future teachers. All of our instructors go through comprehensive training on the Art Explorers teaching process. In addition, all of our instructors are fingerprinted and cleared through the CA Department of Justice.

What is your cancellation policy?
For After School Classes, a tuition credit can be made to your Art Explorerss account that you can use at any time and does not expire. Only in exceptional cases, such as moving out of SB County, are tuition refunds made. Those refunds may also incur a cancellation fee of $25.

For Summer Camps, full refunds will be given until April 1st. A 75% refund will be given between April 2nd and May 15th. All registration cancellations will incur a $35 fee to cover our administration and registration fees. No refunds will be made after May 16th. However, you can transfer your registration into any other open camps without any additional charges. For Gift Making Camp in December, there are no refunds or credits as these spaces are very limited.

Do you refund for days my child misses due to illness or other appointments/activities?
No, we do not. However, you are welcome to take your child to a different school location that week of class. Please check with us in advance so we know to expect your child.

Help! I need your Tax ID number!
No problem! It is: 77-035-8004. You can also find it listed on your email confirmation for any classes or camps registration.

Our Staff!

Get ready for your child’s creativity to shine. At Art Explorers, we ensure that every single artist and educator on our team is passionate about bringing art into our community. (We require that each instructor receive full background checks and certifications.) We are excited to have such great talent in our program. Each of our teachers brings a set of unique experiences that will enrich our children, teens, and adult classes.