2590 Truxtun Rd #204, San Diego, CA 92106

What is Monart?

Based on the best selling book, ‘Drawing with Children’ by Mona Brookes, Monart is a specialized drawing method focused on teaching children how to draw realistically while helping them build confidence and develop important skills such as fine-motor, hand-eye coordination, project planning, decision making and problem solving!

A Monart class provides a non-competitive environment that promotes success and self-esteem. The Monart Drawing Method breaks all subjects down into five elements of shape that serve as an “alphabet” or “visual language” enabling children to draw things as they see them. Monart classes offer structure for growth and success, while allowing enough freedom for expression and individuality in each student’s work. We believe that drawing is a teachable skill, and everyone can learn to do it!

MONART METHOD

In 1979 Mona Brookes developed the Monart Drawing Method through a grant from Pepperdine University as a new standard for teaching children how to draw realistically. However, the Monart Method does more than simply teach children how to draw. Leading educators recognize Monart as an academic program encorporating several key learning modalities such as focus & concentration, decision making, problem solving, sequence planning, and development of hand-eye coordination & fine-motor skill.

Much like learning the alphabet to read or notes & scales to play an instrument, Monart teaches children to see the world around them in five basic elements of shape and helps them develop the skills needed to translate that information to paper. Since 1979, Monart has been taught in classrooms around the world. The Monart Method has achieved great results with children of all skill levels, including those with learning difficulties. The use of Monart in classrooms has also resulted in increased reading & math levels and better concentration & problem-solving public school students.

MONART VALUES

The Monart Drawing Method helps build a healthy & positive sense of self-esteem in students through its non-competitive, non-judgmental and educational environment. All Monart students are taught several key values that help to eliminate negative or judgmental feelings regarding their drawing skills or their artwork. Here are Monart’s core values:

1. Drawing is a teachable skill at which everyone can be successful. The Monart Drawing Method works from an academic viewpoint, showing students how to take things apart and put them back together. Whether they like their drawings or not, students have now acquired the skills and knowledge of how to draw and can practice drawing as much as they want.

2. You don’t have to wait to grow up to be an artist. Many adult artists have attempted to capture a childlike essence or energy in their art. They are inspired by the children’s free use of color, shape, symbols, etc. This simple truth speaks to the importance and validity of children’s artwork.

3. It’s OK if you don’t like your artwork. Many professional artists do not like everything they create and will even throw artwork away. Monart students are encouraged and taught how to figure out what they do and do not like about their drawings, so they can make some changes the next time they draw. This process teaches students to be realistic in achieving their skills and goals.

4. There are no 'mistakes'. Each attempt in drawing is a stepping-stone to achieving a final result. Each time an undesirable line is made, the artist is given more information about his/her drawing. It doesn’t necessarily mean the artwork is doomed and/or ruined. Now that they know what they don’t want, they are encouraged to make a different line to figure out what they do want. This process can often invoke a new creative approach or inspiration that otherwise may not have been discovered if the artwork was simply crumpled and thrown away.

5. There isn’t a 'better' or 'best'. Each piece is simply different. Rembrandt and Van Gogh are two famous artists with very different styles. One artist is not better than the other. Although a personal opinion might favor one artist over the other, it doesn’t make one a good artist and the other bad. They are simply two different artists. The Monart Drawing School teaches its students to respect the artwork of fellow artists/students and how to learn to appreciate the similarities and differences in their work.

6. It's okay to be inspired by another artist and attempt to copy their work. It is a common practice in the realms of higher education for artists to study the line drawings of Durer by drawing his drawings, or to study the paint strokes, or color palette of another artist by attempting to duplicate their works. This process is considered a valid and important learning tool. Creating an original piece of artwork is a wonderful goal to have, but difficult to do if one doesn’t have enough information about how to do it or the skills to execute the knowledge. At the Monart Drawing School, everyone is given enough structure to be successful and enough freedom to be creative.

ACADEMIC ENDORSEMENTS

“Mona Brookes’ well-chosen words and illustrations broaden our conception of learning in the arts and suggests ways in which the arts can contribute productively to the mastery of other disciplines.”

– Howard Gardner, Professor of Education at Harvard University, Author of Multiple Intelligence

“The Monart Drawing Method emphasizes step-by-step guidance for drawing in a learning environment that is non-competitive and non-judgmental, where when pencil meets paper there is no right or wrong.”

– The Washington Post

“Mona Brookes, creator of the revolutionary Monart Drawing Method has developed techniques for utilizing right-brain function in children to create surprising artistic results.”

– The Smithsonian Associate

“Monart, a method of drawing developed by California art educator Mona Brookes, shows that anyone is capable of drawing. Brookes’ techniques have attracted national attention.”

– Kennedy Center Events for Teachers

“I’ve watched the Monart Drawing Method gain grass-roots popularity. It works! It’s a MUST for teachers.”

– Dr. Lucia Capacchione, Creative Writing Journal

“A superb job of simplifying the drawing process, taking away the mystery and the terror. In all the years of giving and organizing teacher workshops, I’ve never read more positive evaluations from teachers.”

– Jean Katz, Sp. Ed, LA. Co. Supt. of Schools

“I have witnessed first hand the admiration, respect, and adulation that the public feels for Mona Brookes and her method of teaching drawing. To those unable to take classes, everything is in her books.”

– Robert Evans, Adm. Dir., D.C. Children’s Museum

“I knew the instant I met Mona Brookes, here was someone who was going to have a profound affect on my daughter and whose thoughts would one day be an established part of school curricula everywhere.”

– Joanne Nelsen, Huntington Beach News

“Mona has invented a new alphabet of building blocks in restructuring the brain, and it is fun.”

– Dr. Geraldine Schwartz, Vancouver Learning Center

“The Monart Drawing Method is particularly useful in helping teach children with learning disabilities.”

– The Whole Life Times

MONART STUDIO

Our Monart Studio opened it’s doors in Solana Beach back in 1992 as one of the founding Monart Drawing School franchises. The original owner, Cynthia Stringfellow, had set out to offer art classes and camps to children of all skill levels throughout the community.

Now after more than two decades Monart is going strong and growing children throughout San Diego County how to draw! The current owner, Leslie Vaughn, has been working to grow Monart and extend our classes to more children in more schools throughout San Diego county. As of January 2015, our studio has moved down to Liberty Station as a more central location to better serve the greater San Diego area. Here we offer a wide variety of art classes and camps for children ages 6 to 16.

Directions – From the 5 or 8 Freeway:

EXIT ROSECRANS and continue SOUTH for approximately one mile.
(past Midway Dr and Lytton St.)
LEFT on ROOSEVELT to enter into NTC Liberty Station.
LEFT at 1st stop sign, TRUXTON RD
LEFT at the next stop sign, DEWEY RD
LEFT into driveway (PORTER RD) to go behind building for parking.
UPSTAIRS (Second Floor)

MONART STAFF

Leslie Vaughn – Owner / Director

I bought Monart from the previous owner in 2009. It had already been in business for 15 years. The first time I walked into the studio (which was then in North County) I couldn’t believe the art work on the walls. Did a 7 year old really do that? I was so impressed. I began learning about the method & saw it being taught. The concept and results really resonated with me. Though not an artist myself, I am a creative person who appreciates the importance of art education. Monart was a way for me to make sure quality art instruction continued to be available to parents and their children.

In 2014 we moved the Monart studio to Liberty Station. I’m a Point Loma native and was very excited with the art emphasis that was happening there. Great idea!! We love our new space yet still maintain strong ties to the North County area. We continue to offer after school programs in school districts throughout San Diego County in our ongoing effort to make Monart available to as many communities as possible.

When not in the studio, I am often in LA producing TV commercials. Though San Diego is my home, I went to college in Los Angeles and still spend time there working on creative projects in the film industry.

Amazing Artists & Teachers

Our Monart instructors all come from artistic backgrounds, many of them professional artists themselves. They undergo a rigorous training process that prepares them to teach the Monart Drawing Method in the studio and out at public and private schools throughout San Diego County.

They believe that drawing is a teachable skill that any child or adult can learn to do and be successful at, and they want your children to grow both in skills and confidence so that they may become budding young artists!

We prioritize a calm and peaceful classroom environment where children can find their focus and achieve brilliant results. We also believe that there are no mistakes in art and that even the biggest accident can be turned into the most stunning outcome! Our teachers will provide your child with the tools to succeed.

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