Kara Brooks

As a professional artist and educator, I love helping students build confidence and joy in their creative practice — whether an enthusiastic elementary school multimedia art maker or a teen exploring art as a possible career path. I meet each learner where they are, with patience and encouragement, building on their interests and natural excitement.

In our lessons, you’ll get to experiment with painting, drawing, and digital media while building real art skills step by step. Together, we’ll work on projects that let you explore your interests, try out new techniques, and find the style that feels most like you. I’ll encourage you to play, take risks, and discover how much fun making art can be.In our lessons, you’ll get to experiment with painting, drawing, and digital media while building your skills step by step. We’ll create projects that let you follow your interests, explore new techniques, and discover your own style and voice. For teens who are thinking about art in college or beyond, I can also help guide you in starting a portfolio that shows off your best work — but for everyone, the focus is on learning, exploring, and having fun while making art.

In my lessons, students gain practical skills in drawing and painting, amazing things about colors, and  found object sculpture, pastel, drawing and while also learning how to shape portfolios that highlight their individuality. I make space for exploration, play, and curiosity-driven projects that allow students to refine their skills, discover their personal style, and express their unique voice. I also see art-making as a powerful support for mental health — a way for students to manage stress, focus their energy, and experience the positive benefits of creative expression.

Most importantly, I create a supportive, inspiring environment where young artists feel safe to take creative risks, have fun, and grow as confident, thoughtful creators — ready for their next steps in art and beyond.

My teaching style is about starting with each student’s unique strengths and building from there. I teach core skills through a structured, level-appropriate curriculum, but I always balance that with space for students to explore what makes their art their own. I like to keep things flexible, fun, and supportive — because art should feel like a place to experiment, not a test to pass. Whether we’re working on painting, drawing, or trying out unexpected materials, I give students tools and techniques they can grow with while encouraging them to take risks, play, and embrace their own voice. At the end of the day, my goal is to create a space where learning feels exciting, skills feel achievable, and every student feels empowered as an artist.