A Love Letter to Carlen

I love my neighbourhood – I love walking up our quiet street and suddenly finding myself in the bustling community that is Clayton.  We have everything at our fingertips – groceries, coffee shops, a bakery and an art studio.  4Cats is situated at the top of my block.  I walked past it with our first child for two years before actually walking through the studio’s door. The moment I did, I was greeted by a colourful character – Carlen. While I was still in the phase of parenting where I panicked when the soother hit the floor, Carlen was mere steps away encouraging children to splash paint across walls, drip it on the floor and create with abandon. How could I resist?

My children do not remember life before art class. Their knowledge of Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh and Klimt has become second nature. I find myself standing here, three years since our first experience at 4Cats, and my house has become a gallery.  Carlen has imprinted my children in ways she can hardly imagine. She shows up at the pumpkin patch with my preschooler’s knowledge of the peduncle, she shows up at daddy’s office where masterpieces hang proudly on the walls – she has taken up residence in china cabinets across the province. Each season I look forward to bringing out carefully crafted holiday creations that grow more precious with each passing year (except the Santa snow globe I can’t bring myself to pack away).

As my eldest prepares for kindergarten and I prepare myself for this next phase – I realize that I have loved these afternoon classes as much as the kids have. Thank you, Carlen, for giving my children the confidence to create.  

Love Erica 

My kids do not have mom who likes to fingerpaint or do papier-mâché, so when the opportunity to enroll Henry in 4Cats came along, I jumped at the chance! While our first lesson came about because I am a bit reluctant to get messy myself, our time at the studio became so much more than that.

When we walked into 4Cats, we met a woman with purple hair, a beautiful smile, and an infectious enthusiasm for her craft (and superheroes). From that first day, Carlen encouraged the kids to be independent and to trust their own creativity, which in turn taught them to push themselves a bit more and to take pride in their achievements. I have seen so much growth in Henry since he met Carlen that first day – it is now “no big deal” to make a bit of a mess or to have something not turn out as anticipated after the first try, he knows he is quite capable of trying something new and showing some independence, and he takes pride in the artwork he has created. On top of all that, he knows Carlen as much more than his art teacher – she is a friend who cares about him and all the things that matter to him.

So, as Henry moves into Kindergarten this year, I would like to thank you, Carlen, for the time and care you have invested in my son, every Tuesday for the past two and a half years. Time spent at the studio has produced a confident and independent little boy with a passion for creating, as well as a beautiful art gallery right in my very own home!

Love Kate