Start with Art

12/24/2025

🎄 Merry Christmas from Start with Art

The holidays can be full of joy but they can also be heavy, emotional, and overwhelming. As we close out the year, we want to gently remind you that rest is productive, boundaries are healthy, and taking care of your mental well-being matters.

Start with Art will be stepping away from social media until January 2nd 2026 to spend time with family, to slow down, and to intentionally care for our mental health. We encourage you to do the same in whatever way feels right for you, disconnect from the noise, reconnect with yourself and those you love, and give yourself permission to pause.

As you move into the new year, take time to reflect, set intentions, and dream about goals and aspirations that support your peace, growth, and healing. You are allowed to move into the next season gently.

We are so grateful for this community and look forward to reconnecting in the new year with renewed energy, creativity, and purpose.

With love,
Start with Art Team

Please consider donating to help support 2026 !!
Indianastartwithart.org

12/23/2025

Another successful Mental Health Monday is in the books! We were incredibly grateful to welcome over 50 kids from different schools, all coming together in one space to connect, create, and support one another. Throughout the night, we saw new friendships form, meaningful conversations happen, and kids learning about each other in a safe, welcoming environment, exactly what Mental Health Monday is all about. 💛

This event would not be possible without our amazing partners. We are so thankful to Chasing Sunsets Inc for continuing to stand alongside us in bringing mental health awareness to youth in our community. We also extend a huge thank-you to Wes & Wyndsor Event Rentals for providing the bounce house, which brought nonstop smiles and laughter, and to Batten Acres Barbecue for keeping everyone fueled with delicious food.

Our creative activity, Cookies on Canvas, was led by our talented artist Jodi Berry of Berryfied Ceramics/ Paint your own pottery who guided the kids through an art experience that blended creativity, expression, and fun.

We were also excited to have Centerstone Health Services at the event, sharing mental health resources and having meaningful conversations with the kids, helping normalize mental health discussions and making support more accessible.

This Mental Health Monday was proudly sponsored by Citizens State Bank - Indiana of Union City and The Community Foundation of Randolph County whose support allows us to continue creating safe, impactful spaces for youth.

We’re already looking ahead with excitement to our next Mental Health Monday Teen Night on January 12 at StarLite Skating Rink We can’t wait to keep building connection, creativity, and community together.

12/18/2025

Tonight, our young artists explored the world of Vincent van Gogh by creating their own Sunflowers using scrapbook paper. As they cut, layered, and assembled their pieces, we talked about Van Gogh’s bold colors, expressive style, and how art can be a powerful way to share feelings and stories.

We’re also thrilled to share that we’ve been dreaming up future classes with Selena Burke, where children will continue learning about different artists from around the world. These upcoming sessions will invite kids to look closely at each artist’s techniques, materials, and unique voice—then use that inspiration to create art that reflects their own ideas and emotions.

Our long-term goal is to launch a biweekly Junk Journal Artist Series in 2026, where each child will:
• Learn about a famous artist
• Explore their style, story, and creative process
• Add pages to their personal junk journal
• Create an original masterpiece inspired by what they’ve learned

This ongoing journal will grow alongside the kids—becoming a creative timeline of their learning, self-expression, and confidence. We’re beyond excited to watch their imaginations bloom and to continue using art as a tool for connection, curiosity, and creativity.

12/18/2025

Tonight !!!

🚨 CLASS UPDATE! 🚨

We’ve made a change to our Vincent Van Gogh: Flower class with Artist Selena Burk 🌻

✨ Originally scheduled as a homeschool class from 11–2, this class has been moved to the afternoon to better accommodate families.

🗓 NEW TIME & DATE:
Thursday, December 18th
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM

Join us for a fun, hands-on art experience inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, where participants will create a beautiful sunflower-style collage while learning about the artist and his work.

🎨 Perfect for creatives of all ages
🌻 Guided by local artist Selena Burk
💛 A relaxed, welcoming environment

We can’t wait to create with you Thursday evening!

— Start with Art

12/16/2025

Today we had our end-of-year wrap-up with our bookkeeper, Bry Friend, and it is always such a pleasure working with her. She brings so much clarity and intention to the table, and I truly value how we’re able to bounce ideas off one another and create better, more streamlined processes for the future of Start with Art.

I am incredibly thankful for all that Bry has done for us this year. Choosing to work with a third-party accountant/bookkeeper has been so important to me because it ensures transparency for our donors and accountability for our organization. Our supporters deserve to know exactly where their money is going and how it’s being used to serve our communityand Bry helps make that possible.

I’m deeply grateful for her knowledge, support, and partnership, and I’m excited about what we’re building together as we move into the next year.

12/16/2025

The Holidays Aren’t Always Easy And That’s Okay ❤️

The holidays are often painted as joyful, bright, and full of togetherness. But for many people kids, teens, and adults alike. This season can also bring stress, grief, loneliness, overstimulation, or big emotions that feel hard to explain.

If the holidays feel heavy for you, please know this: you are loved, you matter, and you are not alone.

Sometimes routines change, expectations feel overwhelming, family dynamics are complicated, or we miss people who aren’t here anymore. Those feelings are real, and they deserve compassion, not guilt.

Here are a few gentle coping skills that may help during this season:

Create without pressure
Art doesn’t have to be “perfect.” Coloring, painting, doodling, crafting, or even tearing paper and gluing it back together can help release emotions and calm the nervous system.

Name the feeling
Try asking yourself (or your child): “What am I feeling right now?” Naming emotions helps take away some of their power and reminds us that feelings pass.

Breathe and ground
Slow breaths, holding a warm drink, squeezing a stress ball, or noticing 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 things you can smell & 1 thing you taste. These small moments can bring your body back to calm.

Take breaks
It’s okay to step away from noise, crowds, or social media. Rest is not rude, it’s necessary.

Reach out
Whether it’s a trusted friend, family member, teacher, or community space. You don’t have to carry everything by yourself.

At Start with Art, we believe creativity is a safe place to land. It’s okay to feel joy and sadness at the same time. It’s okay to need support. And it’s okay to take this season one moment at a time.

You are not alone. We see you. We’re here with you.

12/15/2025

🚨 CLASS UPDATE! 🚨

We’ve made a change to our Vincent Van Gogh: Flower class with Artist Selena Burk 🌻

✨ Originally scheduled as a homeschool class from 11–2, this class has been moved to the afternoon to better accommodate families.

🗓 NEW TIME & DATE:
Thursday, December 18th
⏰ 5:00–6:30 PM

Join us for a fun, hands-on art experience inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, where participants will create a beautiful sunflower-style collage while learning about the artist and his work.

🎨 Perfect for creatives of all ages
🌻 Guided by local artist Selena Burk
💛 A relaxed, welcoming environment

We can’t wait to create with you Thursday evening!

— Start with Art

12/15/2025

Hey friends 💕

Our dear friend at Hines Homestead & sweet treats isn’t feeling well, so we’re going to need to postpone our cake pop decorating class. Working with little people, we understand that some may have weaker immune systems or be around loved ones who are immunocompromised, and especially right before the holiday season, we’d much rather be safe than sorry.

Once a new date is set, we’ll be sure to share it with you as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you could send prayers and positive thoughts her way, I know she would appreciate it more than you know. Thank you all for your understanding and continued support. 💛

12/15/2025

Last few classes of the year !!!
Make sure to sign up !!

We still have openings available in our homeschool classes !!

We know we’ve been a little MIA lately — between having a spot with Wi******er Main Street’s Majestic Christmas, handing out free books with our amazing partners at Heart of Indiana United Way, and our CEO moving, it’s been a very full season. Add in the joy of being present with our families and community during the holidays, and December has been beautifully busy.

But we are so excited to share that we still have a few openings in our upcoming Start With Art December classes, and we would love to see you there!

✨ Coming Up This Thursday – Randolph County Recycling Christmas Craft
We’ll be with Randolph County Recycling District this Thursday from 5–6pm for a fun Christmas craft. There are still a few spots open, so grab yours and come create with us!

✨ A Special Note About Our Hines Homestead & sweet treats Cake Pop Decorating Classes

These classes require early registration so Hines Homestead has enough time to prepare the right number of cake pops for each child. Spots are limited and this one fills up fast, so please sign up as soon as you can!

🎨 Other December Classes You Don’t Want to Miss:
• Randolph County Recycle Christmas Craft
• Van Gogh Flower Workshop with Artist Selena Burk
• Mental Health Teen Night: Cookies & Canvas at the 4H Fairgrounds

Each class is designed to inspire creativity, connection, and joy—perfect for the holiday season.

💡 How to Sign Up:
Registration for all December classes is now open! Use the link below to reserve your spot:

👉 Register here for December classes:

https://pci.jotform.com/form/253293130823149

Let’s finish 2025 with art, community, joy, and connection. We can’t wait to create with you!