Young artists test their brains with Studio MPL

By turning common objects upside down, Leah transforms a familiar item into a series of unfamiliar shapes.

Studio MPL—Mentor Library’s art club for kids—tested the artistic and organizational parts of their brain on Monday, May 18.

They did this by drawing recognizable objects—hands, horses, even a Pablo Picasso painting—while the objects were flipped upside down.

“By turning them upside down, you transform a horse into a group of unfamiliar shapes instead of the familiar ‘horse,’” said Lisa Layton, the children’s associate from Mentor Public Library who oversees Studio MPL. “This forces you to use the organizational part of your brain when drawing it, instead of your artistic side.”

Mira recreates a Pablo Picasso painting with markers during Studio MPL, an art club for kids at Mentor Library.

Studio MPL meets on the third Monday of most months. Each month, students work on different art challenges, as well as their own projects. However, it will be on hiatus during the summer and shall return in September.

In the meantime, kids can participate in Mentor Library’s summer reading program. This year, the theme for children is “Every Hero Has a Story.” The kickoff party is May 30 at MPL’s Main Branch.

Kids can win fun prizes—up to the grand prize of a $50 gift certificate from Toys ‘R Us—just for reading (or being read to) and coming to fun programs at Mentor Public Library.

Colin starts sketching his superhero for MPL's "Every Hero has a Story" summer reading program.

To see more photos from Studio MPL, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.