| 
Kids'
Play
Karen unites with several children's organizations From
the Start
Kids have always played a large role in Karen's life.
Early in her career, she taught dozens of children's workshops. She covered every
topic from t-shirt painting to mobile making, and the kids had a blast. So, it's
no surprise that the past year (with all of its various children's events) has
been so enjoyable for Karen. She has been thrilled to work with organizations
such as the CT Art School and the Channel 3 Kids Camp to return to her roots of
art workshops. Fans
of All Ages
It seems that Karen is developing quite a strong following
amongst the youngsters of Connecticut. Children in art-related settings all over
the state have been enjoying and emulating the whimsical style of Karen's flying
characters. Earlier this year, first graders at one of the South Windsor elementary
schools created their own versions of "Fanciful Flights" by using fun
foam, markers, and pipe cleaners. This lesson was part of a series called "Art
Talks," a parent volunteer program in which the parents introduce students
to a particular artist. They were thrilled to find "a local and very active
artist" to feature during one of the "Art Talks." Special
Time
In addition to the South Windsor public schools, Karen has
also connected with another school in her hometown of South Windsor, the CT Art
School. Offering classes for children and adults alike, the CT Art School provides
artistic opportunities for kids of all ages. They recently collaborated with Karen
on a project that allowed the students to learn about Karen and her "Fanciful
Flights" characters. After creating their own flying characters, a special
reception was held. The kids were able to meet Karen and share their creations.
After attending the reception at the CT Art School, Karen was just beaming. She
talked about the event for weeks and raved to friends and colleagues about what
a special event it was. Channel
3 Kids Camp
Probably the longest running kids' connection that Karen
has had in recent years has been the Channel 3 Kids Camp. She has enjoyed several
opportunities to work with the camp and the campers on fundraisers, auctions,
and other art-based projects. Karen is hoping that she will have the chance to
return to the Kids Camp this summer for another rock-painting class. Last August's
workshop was such a success! Workshops
Returning
to workshops and classes has probably been the most fun of all. Karen has held
several parties and special events ranging from a birthday bash to a Girl Scout
outing. Watching the faces of the kids light up has been so rewarding. When they
see the fun, colorful, and sparkly charms that are used to decorate their "Fanciful
Flight" creations, they just go wild! To
learn more about scheduling your own "Fanciful Flights" party, click
here.
Fun
Foam Flights
The
students from a South Windsor elementary school used fun foam and pipe cleaners
to create these lively, fun creations. | 
