Matthew - Art therapy tutor - Santa Monica

1^st lesson free

Matthew

5 (1 review)

Rate $52
Response 1h

5 (1 review)

$52/h

1^st lesson free

Art therapy

Playful, pressure-free painting lessons — for people who think they're "not artistic," and for parents who want to share art with their kids.

Art therapy

Lesson location

- online

About Matthew

My teaching method is playful, encouraging, and hands-on. Rather than asking every student to copy the same finished painting, I use simple guided prompts that teach artistic techniques while leaving room for individual choices and imagination.

Students may explore color mixing, mark-making, texture, layering, collage, intuitive painting, and the use of traditional and unexpected painting tools. I demonstrate each technique clearly, then encourage students to experiment with it in their own way. Mistakes are treated as discoveries rather than failures.

A typical lesson begins with a brief centering activity or playful question, followed by a quick warm-up to get the hands moving. I then introduce a creative prompt and demonstrate the relevant materials or techniques. Most of the lesson is devoted to making, experimenting, asking questions, and following new ideas. We finish by looking at the work and discussing what the student discovered or found surprising. The focus is on curiosity and growth, not grading the finished artwork.

What sets me apart is my background as an artist, lifelong magician, and graduate of a master’s program in spiritual psychology. Art taught me to experiment, magic taught me the power of curiosity and surprise, and psychology helped me understand how fear of judgment and getting things wrong can limit creativity. I bring these perspectives together to help students feel comfortable, engaged, and willing to try something new.

My role is not to take over a student’s work or teach them to paint exactly like me. I provide structure, demonstrate techniques, ask helpful questions, and support each student in developing their own creative voice.

Lessons are suitable for children ages eight and older, teens, and adults. No previous drawing or painting experience is required. Lessons can be adapted for beginners, students returning to art, people who struggle with perfectionism, and experienced students who want a more playful and intuitive approach. Individual students, siblings, parent-and-child pairs, families, and small groups are welcome.

These are not traditional art lessons in which everyone copies the same image. Students learn practical techniques while also building creative confidence, making independent choices, and discovering that art can be fun without needing to be perfect.

About the lesson

I'm an artist, a lifelong magician, and I hold a graduate degree in psychology. Art taught me to experiment. Magic taught me how to create curiosity, play, and surprise. Psychology taught me how people respond to judgment, uncertainty, and the fear of getting something wrong. I bring all three together in lessons that feel encouraging, engaging, and freeing.

This is not a traditional art class where everyone copies the same image. I teach through simple, guided prompts — demonstrating techniques and providing enough structure to help you begin, while leaving room for your own ideas, choices, and discoveries. Depending on your age and interests, we may explore color mixing, mark-making, texture, layering, intuitive painting, collage, unconventional tools, and working with unexpected results.

A typical lesson: We begin with a brief centering activity or playful question, then a short warm-up to get the hands moving without worrying about the outcome. I introduce a painting prompt or creative experiment, demonstrate any helpful techniques, and give you time to work, ask questions, and follow what interests you. We finish by talking about discoveries and surprises — never by grading or criticizing the finished piece.

Who it's for:

Children ages 8+, teens, and adults. No drawing ability or experience required. Sessions work for individuals, siblings, parent-and-child pairs, families, or small groups. With children, I emphasize imagination, play, and freedom from comparison. With teens and adults, we can also work on perfectionism, overthinking, and learning to trust your creative instincts.

These lessons are especially good for parents who want to connect with their child through art but aren't sure how to begin — painting side by side, I'll give you both a shared place to start, so the time together is about play and discovery rather than one of you teaching the other.

These lessons are a good fit if you want to build creative confidence, learn real techniques through hands-on experimentation, become less afraid of mistakes, and spend less time on a screen and more time making something together. My role isn't to take over your work or make you create like me — it's to offer an inviting place to begin and help you develop confidence in your own creative voice.

Recommendations

Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the tutor.

America

I’ve known MATHEW for 12 years. We went to school together. I have also seen MATHEW research and develop his art curriculum over the years. His work is simple effective and sophisticated in that it is an art class but it’s not about the art. It’s fun and collaborative, but it’s really about you. So you go in expecting to take an art class and you come out with a completely different experience of yourself and what you thought about yourself.
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A
America
I’ve known MATHEW for 12 years. We went to school together. I have also seen MATHEW research and develop his art curriculum over the years. His work is simple effective and sophisticated in that it is an art class but it’s not about the art. It’s fun and collaborative, but it’s really about you. So you go in expecting to take an art class and you come out with a completely different experience of yourself and what you thought about yourself.
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5 h: $260
10 h: $520

free lessons

This first lesson offered with Matthew will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

1hrs

online

$52/h

Playful, pressure-free painting lessons — for people who think they're "not artistic," and for parents who want to share art with their kids.

Lesson location

About Matthew

About the lesson

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

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Playful, pressure-free painting lessons — for people who think they're "not artistic," and for parents who want to share art with their kids.

Lesson location

About Matthew

About the lesson

Recommendations

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

Other tutors in Art therapy

Jacelyn

Nadine

Maitri

Narinder

Vandana

Magdalena

Lisa

Marjolaine

Monika

Julia

Sandra Leigh

BHAWANA

Aspasia

Rojo

Deepti

Eddie B

Shipra

RU

Angelica

Ugonma

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