Youth Art Month workshops at the San Bernardino Public Library

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)— SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The San Bernardino Public Library will be hosting two drawing workshops in observance of National Youth Art Month at the Feldheym Central Library, 555 w. 6^th Street in San Bernardino. The theme of Youth Art Month this year is “Your Art, Your Story”.

The first workshop will be on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 4 P.M. and will be presented by Emmy Award winning author and artist, Ruth Elliott. Her years of experience in the animation industry have given her a desire to share her love of art and stories with children, who enjoy participating and learning valuable character lessons.

Animation artist and author Ruth Elliott has worked for Hanna Barbera, Warner Brothers, Disney and other studios on shows such as The Smurfs, Scooby Doo, Space Jam, The Simpsons, The Tigger Movie, and countless others!  She brings a wealth of knowledge to share her tips on drawing with YOU!” Ruth will provide materials and takeaways for this free art session, including a free download of her book, SEE What You’re LOOKING At!

The second workshop will be on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 4 P.M. and will be presented by author, artist, and cartoonist Phil Yeh.Phil Yeh, founder of Cartoonists Across America, and also known as “The Godfather of the Graphic Novel”, will present a “Design Your Own Story” workshop to help with creating plots and characters to make your own book.

Yeh is one of the pioneers of the graphic novel art form and published one of the first graphic novels in the U.S.  (Even CazcoGets the Blues) in the spring of 1977. He has written over 80 books for all ages. His children’s book, Dinosaurs Across America,was named one of 25 outstanding graphic novels for kids in a cover article of School Library Journal and also won a Children’s Choice Award. Participants will receive a free comic book.

Youth Art Month was founded in 1961 and is an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art and art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs. Some of the goals of Youth Art Month are to recognize art as a necessity for the full development of better quality of life for all; direct attention to the value of art education for divergent and critical thinking; expand art programs in schools and stimulate new art programs; encourage commitment to the arts by students, community organizations, and individuals everywhere; provide additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning; and to increase community understanding and interest in art and art education through involvement in art exhibits, workshops, and other creative ventures.

For more information on Youth Art Month, visit http://www.arteducators.org/news/yam.

This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the San Bernardino Public Library and is open to all ages. For more information call 909.381.8238 or visit www.sbpl.org or www.facebook.com/SBPLfriends/