Mission Statement
The mission at Art Z Kids is to teach children how to use their creativity and imagination through literature and illustration with a personalized, unique, and engaging experience.
Meet Para La Russa
As a child, my Nana, who was an art teacher, introduced me to art at the age of two. Growing up I was moved around a lot and attended 22 different schools. Let’s just say I had an interesting childhood and didn’t have the opportunity to keep many friends, but I had art. It was this magical world I could create and control, it was my happy place, it was my Home. Art gave me the knowledge and the strength to overcome the challenges life had presented me.
After finishing college, I worked in the .com world for several years dabbling in web design, logos, and e-greeting cards before migrating to the bright lights of the movie industry where I worked at DreamWorks Animation, the studio responsible for blockbusters such as Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and Madagascar. But, after becoming a mother to two beautiful girls my career objectives changed. I wanted to spend all my time with them and provide them with a stable upbringing. My devotion to them led me to become a room mother, teacher’s assistant, and eventually an art teacher.
I became an active member of the National Art Education Foundation and the California Art Education Association. As an art instructor, I created and taught school-wide art enrichment programs, after-school programs, and seasonal art camps for more than a 1000 students for over ten years. I specialize in the education of children with all different experience levels from kindergarten through fifth grade, including the privilege to teach those with learning disabilities.
My Daughters
Emily is 21 and is currently attending the University Of The Pacific for a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design. She is also President of the student group of AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts ). Emily has always been gifted in the arts, an eye for detail, and has the patience to edit, create and master the digital world with grace and elegance. She has been my assistant and lead counselor in helping me run all my Art Summer camps and will make a guest appearance during my enrichment programs time and again.
Jordin is 15 and is a Sophomore taking advanced classes, with the gift of becoming an expert at whatever she puts her mind to. She Loves the other side of the arts, "The music world", she has learned the ukulele, bass guitar, piano, and has amazing vocals. Currently, in the Musical "Legally Blonde" at Heritage, she loves theatre and has a bright future ahead of her. Jordin has also been part of the art summer camps that I run and is a lead counselor.
