Kids Art Classes in El Cerrito
FREE introductory class
Mixed Media Class for ages 7-12 with drop-in option
Does you kid love to draw or paint? At Colorspace Arts, kids can learn Fine Art, Mixed Media, Comics and Animation. These related disciplines help them exercise imagination while developing artistic skills. Kids have fun learning with small groups of peers. Our curriculums are design and taught highly skilled educators and accomplished artists. We aim to provide high quality education, in a collaborative, fun, and safe environment.
We have installment payment plan, early drop off or late pick up options for after school classes, and a student art show at the end of each semester
Art by Dean Stuart
Kids Classes Fall 2026!
Mixed Media for Kids with Natalie Belton
Mixed Media Studio | Mon 4:00-6:00PM for ages 7-12
Mixed Media Studio afterschool program runs from September 14th thru December 14th. This class is perfect for students who love hands on experience making 2D as well as 3D art.
Every class, students learn about mixed media techniques as well as art history. Classes are organized by projects exploring various forms of mixed media: collage, assemblage, found object sculpture, shadow box and more.
Below are samples of the next 4 lessons.
With a background in anthropology, I bring historical and cultural context to each project. We will learn about texture, color, symbolism, and abstraction. We will see how artists combine things into art pieces that speak to identity, belonging, environmentalism and other topics that are important to us today. (Please keep in mind that this is a fun but messy class! Have your child wear clothing that you are ok with them getting glue and paint on.
All skill levels are welcome. I truly believe in the ability of each child to do art and learn about themselves. I am here to help them along the way.
Natalie is an artist and educator who grew up in Santa Cruz County. She has worked for over a decade as an art instructor for a variety of organizations including the Monterey Museum of Art, INPEACE Hawaii and California State Parks. She specializes in mixed media, cartooning and environmental art. She loves working with children and believes that hands-on learning is essential for creating fun and welcoming spaces.
Contact: Natbelton@gmail.com
Collage Creation (My Special Place) week #2 sept 21
Think about a favorite place such as a beach, your room, a roller rink or a park. What sort of visuals would you use to represent this place? What do you like to do at your favorite place?
​How will the images that you draw, photos that you select or other materials that you use help tell your tale?
Assemblage (Telling My Story) week #3 Sept 28
If you could represent yourself with a small collection of objects, what items would you choose? The materials that an artist selects can tell us a lot about themselves. Will your artwork be abstract or a mixed media portait?
Above artworks by students
Found Object Sculptures (Animal Figurines) week #4 and #5 Oct 5 and 19
Free Class on Oct 5
How do you think art can be used to help raise environmental awareness and protect what we care about? For this activity, we will be using refuse materials to create sculptures of​ animals. By creatively reusing items we can work together to help reduce waste and have fun while doing so!
Materials:
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Clean Empty Bottles, Containers & Cans
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- Cardboard Boxes & Toilet Paper Tubes
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- Scissors & X-acto Knives (Adult Supervision Required!)
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- Acrylic Paint, Brushes & Palette Knifes
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- Small Objects to Glue on for Details (Feathers, Googly Eyes, Tin Foil, Fabric)
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Instructions:
Day 1 - Building Your Animal (Oct. 5)
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Select a ‘body’ for your endangered animal. (Choose a container, can or bottle).
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Select five smaller recycled objects to create the legs and head of your animal.
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Hot glue gun the containers and objects to create the base of your animal’s body.
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Cut out any other small details out of cardboard. (ears, tail, snout, etc.)
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Finish attaching all details. Your animal should be ready to paint for the next class.
Day 2 - Painting & Detailing Your Animal (Oct. 19)
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Paint your animal a base coat color.
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After the base coat dries, paint in any extra details. (stripes, spots, scales, etc.)
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After all paint is dry, select some mixed media materials to enhance your work! (googly
eyes, feathers, button noses, cotton balls, patterned paper/cloth, etc.)
Week # 6 (Oct. 26th)
Shadow Box: a display case that features collection of objects or a miniature scene (diorama)
Week # 7-#12 TBA
Animation for Kids with Otto Lai
Animation Studio Foundation | Wed 3:15-5:15PM for ages 10-16
Otto Lai is an animator, artist, and educator whose industry credits include Celebrity Deathmatch, Little Bill, Alice in Wonderland, and Transformers 3. He has taught animation and graphic design at colleges and public schools in California. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Otto creates collaborative art and champions equitable, culturally responsive education. He currently teaches Dual Enrollment classes for Laney Community College at Madision Park Academy and Oakland Tech.
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Otto's contact: clonefotto@gmail.com
Artworks above by Otto Lai
Animation Studio Beginning | Wed 3:15-4:45PM for ages 8-11
Student Works
Fine Art Classes for Kids with Mr. Zander
Art Exploration | Thu 3:15-4:45PM for ages 8-11
Art Foundation | Thu 4:15-6:15PM for ages 11-16
I believe that students must learn the fundamentals of drawing and painting (line, shape, blending, perspective, anatomy, measuring distances, and understanding the underlying structure of objects, and the basics of color theory) in order to be able to express themselves creatively. Younger artists need experience with dexterity and exploration of materials so that when they are ready to learn these fundamentals they have a familiarity with the mediums and processes.
In terms of my artistic journey, I am the grandson of Spanish royal portrait artist Ricardo Macarron, who painted kings, queens and royal families across Europe including the king and queen of England, Spain and more. Because of this I was encouraged to make art from a young age, I got into UCLA as a fine art major, but decided to study Psychology. After graduating I began studying Illustration at Art Center College of Design while there I won the Lynda Dryer Award from the Society of Illustrators in New York. I began to balance a fine art career with freelance illustration. I got an apprenticeship as a storyboard artist at Titmouse Animation, I created illustrated album art and logos for platinum selling musicians, murals around the east bay, editorial illustrations for GQ magazine, kickstarter funded comics, wine labels and more. At the same time I have exhibited artwork in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Berkeley, Pacifica and Seattle. I currently have a studio in Berkeley. I began teaching a decade ago working at art studios such as Ichen Art Academy in Fremont and Pleasanton, US Arts in San Diego and CalColor Academy across the South Bay Area. My students have gotten into top Art Schools and Universities and have won prestigious awards. Last year, I had 17 students win awards at the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, one of the oldest and most prestigious youth art competitions in the country, including 2 Regional Gold Keys. I am excited to take what I have learned from my artistic journey and my decade of teaching experience to bring a high level of youth art education to the East Bay.
Contact: zbice1@gmail.com
Artworks by Mr. Zander Bice
Drawing Comics for Kids
with Dean Stuart
Rising Star Comics | Tues 3:15-4:45PM for ages 7-10
Next Level Comix | Tues 4:15-6:15PM for ages 11-16
Dean Stuart is an author and illustrator who’s been making work for children’s books, magazines, and comics. His debut graphic novel ‘Cassi and the House of Memories’ was published with Penguin Random House in 2025.
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Dean has been teaching illustration and comics for the past 6 years in the East Bay. His goal as a teacher is to combine fun and collaborative projects with new drawing challenges.
