NEWS RELEASE: Cheers to 10 Years! Picasso’s Garage Marks a Decade of Inspiring Creativity

PICASSO’S GARAGE · 525 Hillsdale Ave. E., Toronto, ON M4S 1V1 claire@picassosgarage.com

TORONTO, January 4, 2015 — Headquartered in midtown Toronto, Picasso’s Garage is proud to celebrate 10 years of inspiring creativity, successful operations and continued growth this February. With two busy toddlers in tow, Claire Nicholls couldn’t imagine returning to the corporate world of graphic design, so she swapped her computer mouse for a paintbrush and a corporate boardroom for an atelier. On the advice of friends, Claire began teaching art classes in her backyard studio in 2005. “I’ve always loved working with kids and have been told I have the patience of a saint,” says Claire, owner and art instructor at Picasso’s Garage. “Whenever I hosted play dates, I’d get the kids creating something fabulous. Friends encouraged me to teach art classes so I went for it, starting with a three-week session of summer camp. After that I was hooked. I can’t imagine not working with kids. It’s been wonderful combining two things I’m passionate about: working with kids and creating art.” The initial three-week camp session in the summer of 2005 blossomed into a thriving art school comprising three 11-week-long after-school art classes, plus an additional five week-long sessions of summer camp annually. “I want to thank my loyal students for their continued support,” said Claire. “They are a constant source of inspiration and have challenged me to broaden my own knowledge of art history. I’m so grateful for a job that doesn’t seem like work most of the time.” To date, Claire has taught more than 463 students in 32 sessions covering 228 different artists over the last 10 years. Enrollment continues to flourish thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations from her students and their parents. In fact, demand for additional classes prompted an expansion into a larger venue at Toronto’s Evergreen Brick Works during the summer camp months. Building on last year’s success, children attending summer camp will be exposed to a variety of artists and techniques, including drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. In addition to three-and-a-half hours of hands-on creative expression, children will take advantage of the Brick Works’ tranquil, natural surroundings. Classes will break out for daily nature walks, nature sketching plus outdoor games and activities. The camp season runs from Jul. 6 through Aug. 7, 2015. Registration opens on Jan. 15. About Picasso’s Garage Art classes and summer camps are tailored to a variety of skill levels and expose children to myriad materials and techniques including watercolour, pastel, printmaking, sculpture, sketching and more. Each session examines the works and styles of a historic or modern-day master including Emily Carr, Wassily Kandinsky, Maude Lewis, Georgia O'Keefe, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Vincent Van Gogh, among others. The small class sizes help foster friendships and ensure time for one-on-one instruction. An art fair marks the end of each session, where students showcase their own masterpieces. Picasso’s Garage was recently recognized as one of the Best Summer Day Camps in Toronto by SavvyMom.ca, and as the number 3 best place for Kids at Play in Toronto Life’s Top 300 Places to Eat, Shop and Hang Out. For more information, visit PicassosGarage.com. About Claire Nicholls Claire has a background in illustration and fine art and holds a degree in graphic design from OCAD University in Toronto. A graphic designer by trade, she has designed logos, identities, collateral, websites and branding for corporate clients including Ironside Technologies, IBM Canada, Scott Paper and Sprint Canada. She’s been teaching art classes in her Davisville Village studio since 2005. For more information, please contact: Claire Nicholls