Our studio is located in Madrona at 3302 E. Spring St. Directions to Madrona Studio >>
About Arts Aloft and Betsy Erving
"Nobody can ever tell you that you are doing something wrong in art." - Asta, age5
Arts Aloft is an art studio for kids located in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle. There are a variety of classes for children ranging in age 3-12 years old where the learn about watercolor and acrylic painting, collage, plaster, ceramics, and a variety of other media.
Classes are taught by Betsy Erving, an accomplished watercolorist who has shown her work in Seattle and who now paints children’s illustrations on commission. Before having children Betsy traded foreign exchange in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco for a major Investment Bank. She longed for her creative side and consequently left Investment Banking and taught art in an after school program in Palo Alto California and privately from her home. Betsy opened Arts Aloft in 2006 after searching for art lessons for her daughter. There were few options and those she found seemed rigid and lacked room for the child to develop their creative skills.
Betsy wants the children’s art experience to be non-threatening and fun and creative. Some teachers are concerned with how things look and try to march the kids step-by-step to that end. The philosophy Betsy uses is just the opposite. She is more concerned about the process and in having the child connect to their work in a personal way. By the time the children are seven or eight years old they are familiar enough with the materials that they can begin to express themselves powerfully.
Art For Tots Teacher Nadine Smith:
Nadine Smith is a Seattle-based mixed-media artist and teacher. She has spent the last 7 years working as an artist-in-residence, and creating collaborative art projects funded by various organizations, including the Refugee Women Alliance, Safe Futures Youth Center and the Pike Place Market Foundation. Currently, Nadine has art works in Columbia City Gallery and Matter Gallery in Olympia, WA,. Nadine received her Masters in Creative Arts and Learning from Lesley University, and holds Bachelors degrees in Fine Arts and Communication. As a teaching artist, she believes the process of creating art is the pathway to a lifetime of inspiration.
