Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
PROVO — On any given evening when Brandon and Carlie Hellberg want quality family time but don't have anything planned, they turn to one of their favorite YouTube channels.
Their virtual art teacher, Rob Jensen, sits with one of his four children and strives to help more than 7 million subscribers find talent and creative expression, fun and joy through his uniquely stylized drawing lessons. His channel Art for Kids Hub emerged in 2012 after his kids came home and said their school art program had been dissolved.
The Jensen family has posted a new art lesson at least 5 days a week for the last 12 years. One of Jensen's kids, or his wife, will sit with him as he provides step-by-step instructions to draw things — from book and TV characters to personified desserts, animals and made-up creatures, like the Pandacorn.
Making art fun
Seven-year-old Madison Hellberg said she likes the lessons because Jensen, a Utah County native, includes a lot of detail in his drawings, and she really enjoys detail.
"Maddie loves art, naturally, but I think that (Art for Kids Hub) has made her into a pretty talented artist for a 7-year-old," said Madison's mom, Carlie Hellberg. "I mean, when she draws — especially faces — she always adds highlights in the eyes. And she's very aware of her shapes that she uses, way more than I ever was or other people who don't use (the channel), I would say."
Jensen's love for art began at a young age, as well. He loved the pride he felt after creating something. His mom always posted it on their fridge. When he got older, he graduated from Brigham Young University in Industrial Design and ended up designing cars at Ford Motor Company for seven years. His YouTube channel has now become his full-time job.
"Art was always something that I felt saved me, in a way. It was something that I could do at any time. If I felt down, it always picked me up. If I was happy, I always felt like drawing," Jensen said. "I could always just almost retreat and get lost in my own little world and do a drawing and then come out and just feel like a different person, almost."
Ultimately, his objective in teaching art to kids is for them to find joy like he did. He wants them to have fun — noting that, in school, children are often told they did something right or they did something wrong — but with art, there is no right or wrong, and it can be anything they want it to be.
Your kids might have a question about the thing that they're drawing, and so it leads you down this discussion that you might not have had without it.
–Rob Jensen
He said the first time kids go to draw, they may feel it has to be a certain way, and they may get frustrated, just like when they learn to ride a bike and they fall. But he hopes that with Art for Kids Hub he can help kids see that kid's drawings don't look exactly like his drawings, and they still turn out awesome.
"It's also one of my favorite things about using a marker instead of a pencil … because sometimes, I think kids can get caught up in trying to make a perfect line, a perfect circle. … With an eraser, you can erase it, try it again, erase it, try it again, until all you have is a circle and you spent an hour just drawing a circle instead of trying to draw a complete picture."
Anne Warner, a kindergarten teacher at Green Acres Elementary School in North Ogden, utilizes Art for Kids Hub in her classroom at least once a week.
"He does such a good job at giving the kid's perspective," she said. "One of our learning goals is to learn about 3D rather than just the single objects and shapes … and so he often will help the kids learn how to draw a little bit with that 3D. And it's so nice to have a little kid that he has right there doing it besides himself for the kids to follow along with."
Warner believes Art for Kids Hub gives her students more confidence in their drawings.
"(Art) is such a wonderful avenue," she said. "It uses their senses, and it's a wonderful avenue for them to express themselves and their creativity. It is fun time when the kids can do art. They love it."
A family affair
Jensen has enjoyed having uninterrupted time with each of his children as he draws with them during various episodes. He believes other families can benefit from doing art together, too.
"A lot of times, there's time to talk, there's time to laugh … it might even bring up something else," he said. "Your kids might have a question about the thing that they're drawing, and so it leads you down this discussion that you might not have had without it."
Jensen said he also appreciates the positive feedback he's gotten regarding his channel. He is particularly impacted by the emails from parents of kids who are struggling with illness or are grieving a loss and have found solace in doing art with him.
"Those emails have always been extremely touching," he said.
He had no idea the channel would turn into something as powerful as it has become for some people. He hopes it can be something to pass the time for children who are struggling or to settle some anxiety.
To learn more about Art for Kids Hub or to suggest an art lesson, visit their website.
