Paseo artists partner with Oklahoma City schoolchildren

“I still remember learning to draw a guitar,” she said. “I don't remember who my teacher was. But I still know how to draw a guitar using geometric shapes, and I'm 53.”

Now Campbell is one of a team of artists who teach art to Oklahoma City children after school through the Paseo Edgemere Education Partnership Spectacular, also known as PEEPS. The free program partners volunteers from the Paseo Arts Association with children in kindergarten through sixth grade at the nearby Edgemere Elementary School.

Students learn technical skills, such as how to hold a paintbrush or break a picture down into basic shapes, Campbell said. But the class teaches more, Campbell said.

“Far above that, I want them to take away that there's no wrong way to do art,” she said. “It's an expression. Whether you aspire to be an artist someday, you can use this as a tool for expressing yourself.”