Young Rembrandts Art program

March is youth art month. What better time to introduce you to a program right here in the borderland that helps kids learn to draw?

Young Rembrandts is a franchise that was brought to El Paso 8 years ago, and is now ranked 6th in the nation when it comes to the number of children reached.

Owner Marcela Riano is the first to admit she’s not artist herself, but that’s part of the beauty of her chosen career path. She teaches the youth of today that anyone can be an artist.

Riano says it’s important for all kids to learn to draw and color. The key is that they learn to do it while they’re little.
“They can learn to draw just like they can learn to add, subtract…it’s a skill we should all have,” she says.

Young Rembrandts offers after-school classes in districts throughout El Paso and New Mexico. Riano says parents pay a minimal fee compared to other art classes. What she’s most proud of, however, are the free classes now being offered to YISD students in the gifted and talented program. Her goal is to reach a similar agreement with other districts.

“Every kid won’t be a Rembrandt, or Leonardo. But it’s just like music. They have to know the notes.”