Born to Draw is about creating a community of people who believe in the importance of art education and want to bring visual arts to our young people, in schools, homeschools and after school enrichment programs.
This is the very time that we need to inspire our young people and adults and assure them that we can prepare ourselves and adapt for what is coming our way both in the long and short term by anticipating the problems that we see on the horizon. We can do this by engendering creativity that ignites passion, to find out how we are to start and how we are to create a world our children want to live in. They have to be shown a different way of thinking about themselves and envision a future that is possible.
Our purpose is to inspire those who are interested to see the world around them and be an active participant in the journey of learning to see. Visual literacy, critical thinking and enhanced creativity to problem solving are key in the Born to Draw educational approach.
We believe in providing children and teens with a safe, meaningful place filled with people who respect them; to give those children and teens the chance to have a voice through their art work; to show them how respect and responsibility, that comes from learning new skills, can foster self-esteem and accountability; and to provide access to educational experiences and encourage academic achievement. Art does this for all people.
Our life’s mission is to find our passion, thus finding the true self. Finding passion is about finding the thing that you love to do. I believe that most people have the ability to connect with their true self. Your true self is connected to your creativity. Your creativity is connected to your passion. You may have an aptitude for or what your naturally good at, however, that may not be enough. One can be good at something but not necessarily passionate about it.
History of the Program
The Born to Draw Art Curriculum has been taught in the public schools and in afterschool programs since 1993. Elaine Cimino first taught this program in Carmel and Monterrey Ca. as an afterschool program with the support of the school’s administration and Parents Teacher Association (PTA). In 1997, it was New Mexico House Representative, Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales of Taos, NM that hired Elaine for the Goals 2000 Program where she taught in both Taos and Ranchos Elementary Schools. From there Elaine brought her art curriculum to Espanola, Los Alamos and the Santa Fe School Districts. Elaine was simultaneously teaching college-level Studio Art, Art History and design courses at the University of New Mexico, Taos and Los Alamos Campuses, and at Santa Fe Community College. Elaine has exhibited her 40 years of art work statewide, and on the national and international stage. Her work can be found at www.elaineciminostudios.com
“I have looked into the eyes of young people and have tried to figure out what will work for them. This is the true value of art education.”
— Elaine Cimino
Elaine Cimino wrote the Born to Draw art education series to teach children and adults the values and skills of drawing and learning to see, develop visual problem solving and to build conceptual and critical thinking skills. Once learned these become life-long skills no matter what your passion is or where your creative career path takes you. The Born To Draw community seeks to advocate for visual literacy.
Consider joining our community and helps us form a connection to people locally and world wide that foster art education.
