Kids ‘wow’ parents in art program

Rather than hold roundtable discussions about the state of the arts in education, Eader Elementary School parents have taken a more proactive approach.

The school is highly involved in the national PTA Reflections Program, which awards excellence in literature, musical composition, visual arts, dance choreography, photography and film/video production.

At Tuesday’s after-school Reflections Art Studio, kids bedecked in their parents’ old, oversized T-shirts gathered in the school’s multipurpose room and chose their medium of choice from pastels, markers, paints and other supplies.

“The kids dig it. They love painting,” PTA Reflections Chairwoman Jeannette Price said.

Students chose to draw and paint pink unicorns, flame-powered skateboards, hearts, stars, a jack-o’-lantern and other designs as their entries to the contest.

Many kids worked on their pieces on their mother’s lap, with gentle encouragement.

Leanne Vinh tried making color suggestions for her daughter Lauren, 5, but Lauren was very particular about the girl she was drawing.

“Her shoes have to match her dress,” Leanne Vinh said, throwing her hands in the air.

Lauren chose to draw a rainbow bridge protruding from a large rock; a squirrel chased the girl across her artwork.

She said she based it on the rainbow bridge she saw while visiting Lake Powell this summer.

“The bridge wasn’t really a rainbow, but that’s how she chose to visualize it,” Vinh said. “She also saw the squirrel there.”

Across the table, Grace LeBeau, 8, drew pink flamingos — another summer vacation memory.

The program has grown by leaps and bounds since its introduction a few years ago. While 10 children first participated, dozens now fill the multipurpose room.

This year’s theme is “Wow!” — a much freer and easier topic for kids to illustrate, Price said.

Kids have the option to complete the art in class, at home or with their peers; the program’s purpose is to enhance, rather than replace, arts education in schools.

Entrants submit their work into four age divisions. Kids first submit to their local area, which comprises four adjacent districts; winning selections may be sent to the county, state and national levels. Selections are judged by professionals working in the competition areas.

The students’ works will be presented in a Reflections Art Gallery from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in the school multipurpose room.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 466-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.