Art Smart, Arlington

Art Smart welcomes students K–12 to develop artistic expression with a multitude of art styles and mediums. Over more than 20 years, founders Gary and Crystal Templin nurtured and educated more than 6,000 pupils, drawing on their experience teaching elementary, high-school, and college courses and illustrating kids' menus for international restaurant franchises. The duo keeps kids engaged with simple, step-by-step instructions, observing as their protégés experiment with realistic and cartoon drawing, painting acrylics on canvas, and sculpting with terra cotta, polymer clay, and lunchbox leftovers. All classes are grouped by age, but the Templins allow more experienced students to advance their skills at their own pace, staving off the ensuing boredom of repeating areas they've covered at Art Smart previously. Parents can register their kids for weekly classes by the month or semester, and can supplement their children's budding creativity with summer day camps and seasonal five-hour workshops.