Art for All Ages workshops are here to keep the kid at heart happy!
Created and hosted by myself ;)— LA based artist Shizuka—the workshops are set in a friendly, supportive environment where anyone of any age above 5, with or without previous art experience, can dive in, get comfortable, and have fun. Each session is specifically designed to assist the child inside us who wants to play, where the creation process is highly appreciated and experimentation is strongly encouraged.
I hope to inspire adults and children alike to intentionally use art-making as a way to develop one’s own voice, broaden perspectives, and foster healthy relationships with oneself and others. Art is for everyone, and creating is a natural expression of being human. So why aren’t we picking up brushes more often if they can make us feel so free?
Please feel free to shoot me a message via email, to
co-host events with your own vision or creative project, or to advise me on what you’d love to learn that I may
be able to guide you with.
Below is a calendar April-May 2024 Art for All Ages workshops happening in my Glassell Park studio.
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Elementary School Art for Adults
A four-week course held weekly on Wednesday nights or Saturday mornings.
Here is a new kind of “art class” for the grown-ups and teens who wish they could get back to their elementary school art class (supposing it was super fun and inspiring!). Or, for those itching to get their minds and hands off of serious adulting, and PLAY, CREATE, and just have a good time.
If this class were a dessert, it would be a Neapolitan banana sundae with some super tasty topping of your choice! :)))) I have taken my experience teaching art to elementary school kids and combined all of the popular, most engaging projects into a 4-week series of eclectic, satisfying fun which will nurture to each indivisual's creative expression.
From setting up a still life, drawing with charcoal and kneaded erasers, paper weaving and collage-making, painting and dying, to sculpting with foil and plaster cloth, you will get to experience a smorgasbord of art-making. I will provide you with the space and materials; you just have to show up to play!
Japanese Marbling Suminagashi
Learn the art of Suminagashi marbling, a mindful practice that dates back to the twelfth century in Japan. Sit, breathe, and float ink on water, creating beautiful patterns to be captured on paper.
All materials are provided. Water-based, nontoxic Japanese marbling is art for all ages to enjoy!* The best part is that there are really no skills involved. Everyone can enjoy both the process and the end result of the creation made simply by ink, wind, and water.
You’d have plenty to take home besides the experience, like prints on various textured and colored paper, greeting cards and envelopes, frame-worthy as they are, and what can also be used as book covers, gift papers, collage materials, and more. You can also add things like cork coasters or cotton scarves to create one-of-a-kind gifts. An informative guide sheet will be handed out to you at the end of class so that you may continue the experience and perhaps spread the joy with others you love.
Creating the ink pattern on water requires both focus and a willingness to let go of control. Each print merely captures the moment of a chance encounter between ink and water. Come with an open mind, an intention to slow down, and play!
*Recommended for age 8+ to take the class without adult supervision.
Sign up for two people at once for a discounted price—a yummy shared experience with your friend, a date, or a child!
Japanese Torn Paper Collage Chigiri-e
This is an adult-only class for those who want to chill and mingle with other like-minded friends on a Friday night. Instead of drinks and disco, come indulge in tea and a relaxing practice of chigiri-e, traditional Japanese paper collage. I will guide you through various ways of composing a piece using torn paper, in ways both traditional-Japanese and modern. There is an art to every step of the seemingly simple processes, from choosing the color, size, and shape of the paper to tear, along or against its grain, and arranging the pieces one by one to create spontaneous or calculated compositions. You will get to really slow down, feel and hear the paper ripping on the tips of your fingers, and discover new ways of seeing and creating a picture. An added bonus is making your own signature stamp to complete the artwork in Japanese style.
All materials will be provided. There will be tea and snacks. Feel free to bring your own to share!
Sign up for two people at once for a discounted price.
Paint and Sculpt Paper Koinobori
Koinobori is a carp kite that is flown on Children’s Day, May 5, in Japan. We will use this unique, emoji-established symbol as a basis for exploring the wide range of art techniques in drawing, painting, and (simple) sculpting! I will guide you on how to design a paper Koinobori with as much or as little guidance as you like, with an introduction to color theory, various painting techniques, and creating a paper pattern for 3D design.
All materials are provided, and kids above 5 are encouraged to attend with an adult. It would be lovely to fly a pair of Koi’s or a family of them!
Sign up for two people at once for a discounted price—a yummy shared experience with your friend, a date, or a child!
Contemporary Turkish Marbling Ebru
Come experience the captivating art of marbling, where you float vibrant inks on water and create one-of-a-kind patterns to be printed on various materials! We will be taking a contemporary approach to Turkish Ebru, an ancient art form that dates back to the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century.
Not only will you be able to make stunning, no-fail designs, but you will surely enjoy the process of creating your own color palette by mixing inks, formulating the paint specific to marbling, splattering layers of vibrant colors on water, manipulating the patterns using various tools, and mind-dancing between control and spontaneity that comes with working with water.
I will guide you through the whole process, from color theory to making your own unique print, encouraging experimentation and supportive interactions as you work alongside others. Create various patterns on different types of paper, as well as non-paper products of your choice: a set of five cork coasters, a mini vase, or a "dumpling bag". The papers and fabric products need to be treated with a mordant before applying ink, and they will be before class, so you don't have to! You can, however, bring your own bisque-fired ceramics, like unglazed terra cotta pots. The fun part of Turkish marbling is that you can marble on various materials: paper, fabric, wood, cork, ceramics, and leather.
Materials & process guide sheet will be given out at the end of class so you may continue the practice of marbling at your own pace. * Recommended for age 8+ to take the class without adult supervision.
Sign up for two people at once for a discounted price—a yummy shared experience with your friend, a date, or a child!
Private Classes / Events
Interested in the classes offered but want to learn better with one-to-one tuition? Want to bring together a group of friends or work colleagues, or can’t find a class that works with your schedule? Art for All Ages offers workshops that cater to both individuals and groups that ignite the creative spirit and develop their own artistic voice, for people of any age or artistic experience.
Select a workshop from the list above, or learn about designing a unique workshop or a lesson plan that helps you achieve your goals.