Christine and kids find fun in art

MANILA, Philippines - “I am always with my children!”

Former Olympic athlete, showbiz personality, sports buff, proud wife and mother Christine Jacobs-Sandejas beams as she talks about her children. Paolo, the eldest

is 13, Gabrielle or Gabby is 12, Nina is 10, Luis is seven, and the youngest, Jaime is four. “We are together all the time. We do schoolwork, play sports, eat out. We somehow find it more fun when we do things together.”

With three boys and two girls, the Sandejas household is a beehive of activities.

Christine says, “Me and my husband Paco make sure that we give each child the encouragement he or she needs to develop his or her talent.

“I, for instance, introduce my children to different inter- ests. So we do sports, we do art, some are into music and dance. We do anything as long as the children learn and have fun.

“When I was growing up, it was all sports. As a parent, I do not want to be so rigid. I want my children to have as much varied exposures as possible. If they happen to like sports, then that is fine. But if their interests lie elsewhere, then it is fine, too.”

This is, perhaps, the reason why Christine did not hesi- tate to inquire at an art school she happened to pass by at a mall.

“I was at the mall with my children when I saw this art school with really striking artworks plastered all over the walls,” Christine recalls.

“I went in, inquired and found everything really inter- esting. I thought then that my kids may like going there. As it turned out, my kids loved the school and today, all five are enrolled.

“I thought Global Art is just going to be a passing interest for my children. I never thought they will truly fall for it. They really take it seriously.”

Proof is the numerous artworks that the kids have churned out in the past three years. The continuous mas- tery of the skills is evident in every piece. The eldest, Paolo is honing his skill in creating comic strips. Gabby is doing acrylic painting, while Nina and Luis are focused on im- proving their drawing skills. Jaime, on the other hand, is getting used to using clay as well as improving his motor skill. Almost all the kids have won in the yearly competi- tions that the school holds for all its students.

It is not only the art skills that get honed at Global Art. The curriculum has been designed to make children more analytical. It pushes their imagination and make them more articulate not only on paper and canvas but in verbally expressing their ideas as well.

When a child is given a theme to work on such as a rooster or a shark, the teacher engages him in a discussion to explore the possibilities of what the rooster and the shark might be doing. Thus, each student, although given the same theme to work on, would come up with differ- ent ideas from each other. From those ideas, the trained teachers would help each one of them turn those ideas into a work of art.

For example, one child may draw a family of roster, hen and some chicks in the farm and the other child might draw a rooster fight-ing with a duck over an egg.

Each child is able to produce an art piece that sometimes intimidates an adult.

“I am surprised by my children’s artistic skills,” shares Christine. I have to be honest and say that it didn’t come from me. They are so good at this point, I feel inse- cure,” says Christine with a big laugh.

Global Art provides each student his own set of workbook and coloring materials that were specially made for the program. The school has such a wide range of programs that will suit a three year old to adults. It covers creative drawing, painting, sketching, cartoon and comic making, crafts and clay. The painting program itself ranges from painting on a paper, canvas, cloth and even glass. A stu- dent graduates on his own pace from one level to the next.

Let your chil- dren develop their creativity. Junior level is from three to four years old; foundation is for four to six years

old; basic seven to nine years old; intermediate is 10 to 12 years old; advance is 13 and above; acrylic paint- ing; cartoon and comic as well as glass painting are seven and above. The handi- craft and clay programs are for children of all ages.

Visit the nearest Global Art branch in Metro Manila at Ortigas (tel. no. 726-0435), Xavierville Ave. Loyola Heights, QC (709-1547), Ton- do, Manila (354-5339), Del Monte Ave., QC (666-0033), Makati (392-6220), Serendra (404-4399), Tiendesitas (296- 6694), Alabang (861-2061), Davao City (082-221-9980) and Cebu City (0915-933- 3278). – MA. TERESA LAURENTE