The Salty Clay Creative Method

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Pablo Picasso.

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The Salty Clay Creative Method™, formerly known as Hands On Art, was born from a childhood where creativity wasn’t an activity—it was a way of life.

Growing up in a single-parent home, resources were limited, but imagination was endless. Empty yogurt containers, egg cartons, cereal boxes, paper towel rolls, and shoe boxes weren’t considered trash—they were possibilities waiting to become something new. Every day offered another opportunity to imagine, invent, and create.

Those simple materials gave me countless hours of joyful exploration, but looking back, I realize the materials themselves were never the most valuable part of the experience.

What shaped me most was the freedom to create without fear of making mistakes.

My ideas were welcomed. My curiosity was encouraged. Conversations centered around what I was thinking, imagining, and discovering—not whether my artwork looked perfect. The praise I received wasn’t for producing beautiful art; it was for having the courage to explore, experiment, and keep creating.

Without realizing it, I was developing something much greater than artistic ability.

I was building confidence.

That confidence became one of the greatest gifts of my childhood. It taught me to believe that I could create anything I could imagine. Today, that same mindset continues to guide me as an entrepreneur. Building a business is, in many ways, another form of art. Every challenge requires creativity, every obstacle demands problem-solving, and every new idea begins with imagination. The resilience, adaptability, and confidence I rely on every day were first developed through the creative process.

As I began studying art education, I wanted to understand how children were being introduced to creativity in today’s classrooms. Through years of research, I discovered that many art programs place significant emphasis on completing projects, meeting curriculum objectives, or supporting learning in other academic subjects. While these goals are valuable, I found myself asking a different question:

Where do children learn to generate their own ideas?

Where are they given the time to wonder, experiment, take risks, and discover their own creative voice?

I realized that what had shaped my childhood wasn’t simply making art—it was having the space to think creatively before making anything at all.

That discovery inspired me to continue researching educational philosophies from around the world. I found many ideas that resonated with my own experiences, particularly approaches that value child-led exploration, curiosity, and creativity as essential parts of learning. I also explored educational models that use clear learning expectations and thoughtful assessment to help children develop independence, personal responsibility, and confidence in their own abilities.

These influences, combined with my personal experiences and years of teaching children, became the foundation of what is now the Salty Clay Creative Method™.

Our method is built around four intentional pillars: Inspiration, Demonstration, Facilitation, and Sealing the Learning. Together, they create an environment where children are encouraged to imagine, explore, experiment, reflect, and grow.

Every lesson is designed with purpose. Students learn artistic techniques, study both historical and contemporary artists, and explore the Elements of Art. More importantly, they learn how to think creatively, solve problems, persevere through challenges, and trust their own ideas.

At Salty Clay, our goal has never been simply to teach children how to make art.

Our mission is to help them develop the confidence, creativity, resilience, and independence to become lifelong creators—whether they are creating a painting, solving a problem, building a business, or shaping the life they dream of.

Because we believe the greatest masterpiece a child will ever create is not the artwork they take home.

It’s the person they become.

How to support your child’s creative growth?

Never set expectations on your child’s final product

Remember, your child will create based on their age and skill level. Appreciate their precious scribbles, and blobs, because they will grow out of them quickly.

Avoid drawing for your little one

Drawing for little kids only teaches them the inability to draw like an adult or older sibling. It will create a misconception from a young age.

Scribbles are the early stage of drawing and reading

Appreciate scribbling, like crawling, you don’t want your child to start walking before crawling.

Try not to intervene in your child’s creative process.

There is a lot of exploration, problem-solving, and discovery during the process of crating. The real learning experience happens when they are working on their own.

Encourage originality

Display more appreciation for original marks than a copied, beautiful form. Emphasize your admiration for your child’s own ideas, even when those marks might look less refined. Remember, the process to become a creator is more important than the final product. Plus, realistic drawing or painting is not the only form of art.

Lead by example, model what you would like to see in your child.

Avoid complaining about your inability to do art in front of your child. While you might think you’re busting your child’s confidence, the moment he/she can’t draw the same way as a peer, he will drop the practice of creating.

Pretty, cool or nice isn’t enough!

Show interest in your child’s creation, take a moment and sat with your child and ask questions about the process of how the project was done.

Don’t assume or try to identify forms on your child’s art.

You might be wrong in your perception. Instead, ask questions about simple elements you can identify, it can look something like; can you tell me more about this vertical line, yellow color, circle, etc., and show genuine interest in the response.