Meet the Confederation Centre's new visual arts educator

When is the best time to introduce children to art?

"As soon as you can hold a paint brush in your hand!" says Kate Sharpley, the newest fulltime employee of the Confederation Centre's art gallery.

Besides teaching youth art classes in the Centre's Schurman Family Studio, Sharpley who has use her art degree in illustrating children's books and animating video games will offer guided interpretation of gallery exhibits for schools and other local groups.

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In her new role, she plans to encourage as many people as possible to make and enjoy art.

"I always felt the need to be creating in some way," SharpleytoldCBC Radio:Mainstreet's Angela Walkerin her Irish lilt.

The importance of starting young

When she and her husband moved to Stratford, P.E.I., a few years ago with their young family, Sharpley said she did many preschool art activities with her children.

She volunteered at the Stratford Library, creating a program for preschoolers including art and music, stories and rhymes.

"I really wanted to have some program where they could explore art," she said, but many such activities were for school-age children or older.

Sharpley will teach the centre's fall series of Saturday visual art classes for children which began Oct.15, and is excited to incorporate the art gallery into her program, as a teaching and inspirational resource.

"I am very pleased to be have someone as enthusiastic about art education as Kate joining the Gallery staff," says gallery director Kevin Rice in a written release.

"I know she is looking forward to welcoming students to art classes and connecting with educators interested in guided tours of our diverse exhibitions."

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