Chinaza at work, sketches face of religion

painting face of religion with wax crayons

application of poster colour to cover the background of her painting

Chinaza displays her painting, age 11, year 6 pupil

Chinaza used Wax crayon and Gouche on a white cardboard. Here she depicts an African mask at the centre of the painting, couple with two other religious icons. A Cross at the left side while crescent shape and a star at the other side. The cross represent Christianity while the crescent shape and a star represent Islamic The super imposed and a mosaic like painting shows the influx of civilization in Africa and its impacts on African traditional religion. African religion was considered crude, satanic and demonic. Many of their activities like festivals which include sacrifice of animals and human life were seen as out of norm. Thus, face of religion shows how Christianity and Islamic religion has taken its due place and influences their converts’ behaviour. The dark background shows thick darkness surrounding the represented religious circle in the painting. This art work is aimed at promoting tolerance and peaceful co-existence amongst the various religions

represented. The summary of this painting is 'SAY NO COLLECTIVELY TO THE KILLINGS OF INNOCENT; CHILDREN, MEN & WOMEN IN NIGERIA & THE WORLD AT LARGE' and embrace peace IF WE DON'T WANT TO END IN PIECES.

Abstract paintings of tender arts kids,Called Enamel

The magic of oil based paint, enamel painting in progress by a team in the art class. age 8-9

wow!!!

 A fish like painting with human features

Nice painting, germination. abstract in form

 like a thumb print

Enamel painting which was made from oil based paints. The paints were spilled on the water in a tray. Then a stick was used to create a design on the water, after which a cardboard of a smaller size was placed on the water in other for the paints to have contact with. the result is what we are seeing here.

an accidental, magical painting which appeared in form of an abstract arts.

AYOMIKUN, AN AMBASSADOR OF TENDER ARTS APPEARED ON NEWSPAPER

Ayomikun Omoyiola, an ambassador of tender arts was published in the Nigerian Newspaper, The Guardian.

TENDER ARTS AT VON

Amazing kids trained by tender arts at (VON) Voice of Nigeria display their creative expressions

Chinaza Okey Nzeakor on air with Mrs Anate, the program director on arts at VON. She explains the concept behind her painting titled 'Faces of religion'

CEO,Tender arts, Kunle Adewale, Bimbo Adeoye and the program director on arts VON with the amazing kids in the studio after the art discussion on air.

Unity in Diversity of Mmesoma

                                  Unity in Diversity, a cultural perspective of Mmesoma Onuoha, age 9
Mmesoma employed oil pastel to execute her creative idea on culture on a white cardboard

                                           An Igbo man, Edo lady and hausa girl in Nigeria
                                           all dressed in their traditional attire

AYOMIKUN'S PRETTY FISH

This is a painting of Ayomikun Omoyiola, a 10 year old female and upcoming Nigerian artist. This painting is titled ‘Ologbon dori eja mu’. It is a picture of a fish colourful represented. She made use of acrylic paints and Gouache on a cardboard to execute her creative expressions. In this work, one hand at the upper part of the picture could be seen holding the fish head while the other below holding the fish tail.. The young artist employed a bluish green and harmonious colour for her work and a complimentary colour of orange hues. She used a wavy line which runs across the picture to represent the natural habitat of the fish, which is water.

‘Ologbon dori eja mu; omugo diru-u re mu’ is Yoruba proverb among the south western people of Nigeria, which is been interpreted literarily as the wise person grabs a fish by the head while the fool grabs it by the tail fin. This implies that the wise person knows better than a fool the way to handle a situation. It is imperative that we all embrace wisdom in conflict resolution, either in relationships, friendship, leadership, courtship, marriage or any other area of life.

Conflicts is part of life, challenges are part everyday living. But wisdom is profitable to direct. The distinguishing factor between a wise person and the foolish is application of knowledge acquired which is demonstration of wisdom in all situations. Indeed we all need wisdom to deal with situations and crisis in life. Even in the socio-economic and political side of life. A rash decision can ruin a whole community of people or nation. A foolish act can send millions of lives untold to early grave. Let wisdom be your guide and you won’t slide. May God give our leaders, fathers, mothers, children and everyone wisdom to lead a successful life.

 Conflicts is part of life, challenges are part everyday living. But wisdom is profitable to direct. The distinguishing factor between a wise person and the foolish is application of knowledge acquired which is demonstration of wisdom in all situations. Indeed we all need wisdom to deal with situations and crisis in life. Even in the socio-economic and political side of life. A rash decision can ruin a whole community of people or nation. A foolish act can send millions of lives untold to early grave. Let wisdom be your guide and you won’t slide. May God give our leaders, fathers, mothers, children and everyone wisdom to lead a successful life.

Creating arts with A LITTLE IGNITION...

          Art is like a little spark, a little ignition will command a global attention
                       At tender arts, we thrive on team work and friendship.

PRINT MAKING OF A FLOWER VASE

Every artist was first an amateur- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.

                                                                                                                                    Scott Adams                  

Alone we can do little, together we can achieve greatness. Tender Arts bloom on team work

Print making of a flower vase by primary 5 pupils, ages 8-10  A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires. 

Hedy Lamarr

                                                                                                                   

                                

The drummer boy of Adaugo Ogbu

Adaugo displays her print making "The Drummer Boy' an abstract print work on a handkerchief
Age 8, primary 3

DANCING VASES OF AYOMIKUN OMOYIOLA

At Tender Arts, we discover talents and deliver the future!

The latest painting of Ayomikun Omoyiola, A 10 year old Nigeria female artist. She titled her work ‘Dancing Vases’ Here she depicts 5 flower vases of the same size, which overlaps on each other. The vases are with beads embolden on their necks represented with circular shapes. While at the upper part, there are flowers of different species with bright colours overlapping each other…According to the young artist, she said the vase at the Centre is standing straight while the two others, both at the right and left are bent. This is to indicate they are dancing. She employed dark colours at the background to create a contrast in her painting against the bright colours in the picture.

The model of the vases is in form of feminine shapes. These were dancing except for the centered flower vase. The flowers could be said to be patterns found on the head gear most women wear to occasions like wedding, burial ceremony and any other celebration. Thus, the young artist has been able to put her inspiration into expression, the beauty of nature! The dark background shows the nature of gloominess, moodiness and depression that people pass through, the young artist employs all and sundry to dance and be cheerful irrespective of what surrounds them. Ayomikun will continue to make more research into creative activities across the globe to ensure she update herself on matter concerning visual art in the global village. According to Ralph Waldo Emerson ‘every great artist was once an amateur’. To this end Ayomikun has not attained, she is still undergoing her studio practice in visual arts.

INK BLOT PAINTING

Ink blot painting by Ayomikun Omoyiola, age 9 title of the work 'The Bike Man'

Medium Gouache on Paper

The Importance of Art in a Child's Development

        

year 1 pupils, age 5 making palm prints

Have you ever seen a child smooth cool finger paint over a sheet of paper with both hands, pulling her fingertips through the paint to make squiggles? Or observed a child coloring in bountiful spirals with crayons? If yes, then you have seen the concentration on these children's faces, and the joyful expressions of art explored. You have witnessed creative art in process!

Seven parents who do art activities with their kids on a regular basis were asked, "Why is art important?" Their answers appear throughout this article.

Most of us instinctively know that art is important for our children; we simply believe it's important because we've seen our children deeply involved in art. But beyond what we feel and believe, there is much factual information about why art is important in our children's development that is both interesting and helpful to know. Creating art expands a child's ability to interact with the world around them, and provides a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. Not only does art help to develop the right side of the brain, it also cultivates important skills that benefit a child's development. But art goes far beyond the tangible statistics measured by studies -- it can become a pivotal mode of uninhibited self-expression and amazement for a child. Art matters the same way language matters -- or the way breathing matters! It is a fundamental component of what makes us uniquely human.

Ashley said, "Sometimes art is just fun with no purpose or reason, just creating, getting messy, and the joyful expression of being a KID!

age 7-8 kids displaying their  group artwork

Children Develop Life Skills through Art Activities

Art may seem like fun and games -- and it is! -- but you may not realize that your child is actually learning a lot through exploring the arts and doing art activities. Your children will gain useful life skills through art, so encourage them to get creative, and you will quickly see that your children are picking up these skills: 

Communication Skills: When a child draws a picture, paints a portrait, or hangs buttons from a wobbly mobile, that child is beginning to communicate visually. A child may draw to document an actual experience like playing in the park, release feelings of joy by painting swirling colors, or share an emotionally charged experience like the passing of a loved one through art. Art goes beyond verbal language to communicate feelings that might not otherwise be expressed.

Diana said, "My kids express things through their art that they don't even have words for yet."

Problem-Solving Skills: When children explore art ideas, they are testing possibilities and working through challenges, much like a scientist who experiments and finds solutions. Should I use a shorter piece of yarn to balance my mobile? This tape isn't holding -- what should I try instead? How did I make brown -- I thought I made orange? Art allows children to make their own assessments, while also teaching them that a problem may have more than one answer. Instead of following specific rules or directions, the child's brain becomes engaged in the discovery of "how" and "why." Even when experimenting or learning how to handle art materials effectively, children are solving challenges and coming up with new ways to handle unexpected outcomes.

Lindsay said, "Art helps my kids feel willing to try new ideas, to experiment, to solve problems."

Social & Emotional Skills: Art helps children come to terms with themselves and the control they have over their efforts. Through art, they also practice sharing and taking turns, as well as appreciating one another's efforts. Art fosters positive mental health by allowing a child to show individual uniqueness as well as success and accomplishment, all part of a positive self-concept. 

Fine Motor Skills: Fine motor skills enable a child do things like delicately turn the page of a book or fill in a sheet of paper with written words. Holding a paintbrush so that it will make the desired marks, snipping paper with scissors into definite shapes, drawing with a crayon, or squeezing glue from a bottle in a controlled manner all help develop a child's fine motor skills and control of materials.

Marta said, "After my kids spend time creating process art, they focus better in math, science, and other academic assignments."

'Deep things' a mixed media painting made by Adaugo, a age 7 . Fishes made from CD plates

Self-Expression and Creativity

Children express themselves through art on a fundamental level. Sometimes their artwork is the manifestation of that expression, but more often, the physical process of creating is the expression. Picture the toddler who has a new baby sister busily pummeling his fists into Play-Doh; a six-year-old joyfully painting flowers with huge arm movements blending, reds and yellows; a ten year-old drawing a portrait of her grandmother who recently passed away. Creating art allows children to work through feelings and emotions, and referring to a finished piece of artwork helps a child talk about feelings in a new and meaningful way. Art also develops a child's creativity. Rather than being told what to do, answers and directions come from the child. Art is an experience that requires freethinking, experimentation, and analysis -- all part of creativity. 

Ayomikun Omoyiola, age 9 displays her painting titled 'The royal family

It is important, however, to separate the notion of "talent" from "creativity" -- a child does not have to create a masterpiece to have a meaningful artistic experience. Art is a process, not a product. It's tempting to want our children's art to turn out "cookie-cutter perfect" to prove that they are successful and on track. It's reassuring to know that we can relax! Where art is concerned, it is the process of creating -- exploring, discovering, and experimenting -- that has the greatest value. Through self-expression and creativity, children's skills will develop naturally, and their ability to create will soar.

Marti said, "It seems art is the one area where kids and their creativity have free reign."

Ayomikun Omoyiola making her painting with oil pastel and acrylic paint, age 9

article written by MaryAnn F.Kohl, Pictures are my art kids

Splash painting class

Splash painting. This create a kind of abstract linear representation of fireworks, trees and  flowers. The kids in the art studio made use of straw, poster colour and a large white cardboard to express their creative ingenuity  It was a group work where everyone is allowed to create his or her own patter/design. It was fun working wonder with colours, a world of beauty and expression of creative minds!

we are the future...

Pablo Picasso wrote 'every child is an artist'

Working with Children my projection

         

During the Junior Achievement of Nigeria art exhibition, 2006 edition, the kids I prepared won the art competition, came 1^st and 2^nd runner up, even in poetry contest. My projection is that every child that passes through my tutelage would be able to stand tall anywhere in the world, because I believe in my product; they represent excellence anywhere they go. Working with kids has also giving me the privilege of breaking into the media house. Early this year, we were invited to VON (Voice of Nigeria) on art platform. There I was interviewed alongside my art kids who did a practical and critical analysis of their various visual expressions. My art pupils are taught on various artistic medium of expressions, this is to ensure they can diversified their arts, from collage to mixed media paintings, crafts, paintings, drawing and exploration of materials.       

In attempt to project kids to the world of possibilities, I have been able to package their works for sales. One of them is Ayomikun Omoyiola, a ten year old female stunning and amazing kid whose passion is much more into visual arts. I was able to secure an appointment with art gallery in Lagos, Quintessence art gallery at Falomo, Ikoyi. They have decided to help market her arts. Apart from this, individuals have also approached us

on the sales of my kids work. This is one out of the numerous opportunities that avail the diligent ones among them.

Exposure is key in developing the arts my kids produces. That is the more reason why I usually take them out to on educational visits to art galleries, museums, studios, show, seminars and art exhibition, where they will be able to meet great artists of international repute. More so, to be able to see prospect that visual arts has for those who want to pursue life career in that line. I have also been able to showcase my kids’ artworks to millions of people across the globe by using my Facebook wall as a canvas through which the world can celebrate these geniuses. This has generated lots of comments, encouragement and encomiums on their art produce. My kids now have friends all over the world, India, Hong KONG, Britain, United States of America among many others to mention but a few. 

My kids can work in mixed media painting, collage, printmaking, sculpture and textile design. Their thematic representation bothers on love, family, culture, environment, religion and beauty of nature.

My vision transcend cultural barrier, as I aspire to work with charitable organizations and the international communities like United Nation (UN) UNICEF, WHO among many others to mention but a few. This is to use creative arts as a veritable tool for societal transformation, child’s development and youth’s empowerment. I believe in a future where everyone has a role to play in the national development, both in the socio-political and cultural contribution for a sustainable economic growth.

On a closing note, children are like arrow, if you can stretch them, and take a shoot into the future, they will not miss their target. Children love art because it's fun and provides them with authentic self-expression: the freedom of choice, thought and feeling. According to Wassily Kandinsky, an art historian in the modern art says ‘There is no must in art because art is free’ Anna Reyner says it all ‘Art is Communication ~ Art is Self Expression ~ Art is Creative Energy ~ Art is seeing