Art, Yoga, Meditation
& Nature for Kids
Our Vision
Spark envisions a generation fo creative thinkers, compassionate leaders and mindful citizens who will shape a brighter future of all.
The Pillars
ART
Through drawing, painting, sculpture, and art history: we inspire kids to cultivate creativity, curiosity and self-expression.
YOGA
Practicing different poses helps kids build strength, flexibility, and balance while learning about the importance of movement.
MEDITATION
Teaching kids to slow down and breathe teaches emotional resilience, stress management, and mindfulness.
NATURE
By immersing children in nature, we foster a deep respect for the environment and instill a responsibility towards the planet.
About Us
Spark started in a New York City apartment with one student and now has grown to reach thousands of children through our unique blend of art, yoga, meditation and nature as the foundation of our teaching.
Spark has many offerings ranging from after school and weekend classes, holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio prep, private classes, bespoke pods, homeschool groups and now, a forest school program.
Your child will leave our studio with a finished piece of art, a calmer nervous system, and a story about the bug they found in the park. That’s a Tuesday afternoon at Spark!
Spark is on-site in schools, at our main studio on the Upper West Side. We also run the program from our family studio in the Pennsylvania. If you are not local to either of our locations, we offer in-home instruction and virtual options as well. There are so many ways options to choose from so please take a look and let us know how we can bring Spark to you.
Spark Gallery
Spark in the Press
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My daughter had an amazing week at Spark. The owner Sebastian was so accommodating and welcoming. She made so many friends and is already going back for another week
Spark is a neighborhood gem! Their summer camp is not only unique, but absolutely magical. We enrolled my 5 year old son this summer– his first camp experience. My hope was that it would nurture his love of art and creativity, yoga and breathing, and foster his natural curiosity. We started with half days, and after day 1, he asked when he could attend the full day. I knew it had resonated so deeply with him when he told me yoga helped his body feel calm, and started sharing his favorite yoga poses with us before bed. Each day, he comes home so full of joy, sits down at our kitchen table, and starts working on his art– usually recreating the artwork taught that day. He has so much pride in his work, and loves sharing the new techniques he learned, as well as new materials (clay, canvas, paint). I see so much growth and development each and every day. He's also made new friends of different ages each week. The exposure and nurture Spark offers children is incredible. From what I've observed, it teaches kids to be curious, trust their inner knowing, follow what feels good, and learn how to move their bodies in productive ways. I wish I had access to something similar as a child. Not to be missed is Founder's week, taught by Sebastian himself! It amplified an already empowering experience for my son. The end of week art show brought me to happy tears. Not only seeing the beautiful artwork created by my son, but the other children as well. It was truly spectacular. We will certainly return next summer.
Thank you, Sebastian and the entire Spark team, for an incredible week! Our daughter absolutely loved Founder’s Camp and came home every day excited to share what she learned—from meditation and yoga to art and new friendships. The camp struck a wonderful balance between creativity, mindfulness, and fun, and every child was made to feel welcome and encouraged. We can’t wait to be back!
recommends We are so happy to have found Spark! My 8 yo daughter loves it! Every week she asks me if I signed her up. Sebastian is amazing with the kids who range in ages and personalities and he somehow makes time for each one. It's wild to watch the children actually practice yoga and then sit in a short meditation. The art part of the class teaches a new artist and or style with different mediums and canvases. She is always telling me something new she learned and our house now overflows with her artwork. It is so wonderful to have such a great place to go where she actually thrives. Highly recommend!!!
We absolutely love Spark on the Upper West Side — and more importantly, so does my daughter. There has truly never been a day that she has come home from Spark without talking about how much fun she had. Every single day is filled with creativity, movement, and genuine joy. Sebastian, the owner, is incredibly accommodating, kind, and helpful. You can tell he truly cares about the kids and the families he serves. When we decided to host my daughter’s birthday party there, he made everything effortless — it was such a special and memorable experience for her and all of her friends. Spark feels like a second home for our daughter. It’s warm, safe, imaginative, and run by people who genuinely love what they do. We are so grateful to have found this place and recommend it wholeheartedly to any parent looking for a camp or space where their child will truly thrive.
recommends My three children had the joy of attending SPARK’s summer program in 2025, and the experience was truly transformative. The program not only helped them build new skills but also opened their hearts to the beauty of community. I’m deeply grateful to Amanda and Sebastian for their passion, clear vision, and commitment to providing such a meaningful offering for our youth. Their dedication and partnership shine through in every detail. I always felt my children were in safe, caring hands—and each day they came home full of stories, wonder, and excitement. In a time when children are growing up so quickly, SPARK creates a much-needed space for them to simply be kids—exploring, creating, and learning at the natural pace of their developing minds. Truly recommend their summer camp, a wonderful experience for our children!
recommends The team at SPARK camp was so wonderful to my daughter. We received a scholarship for her to attend and we couldn’t be more grateful for her to have this opportunity. She learned so much about art and yoga and came home everyday so excited to tell us about her day! She loved Sebastian, Amanda and Miss Jomani, they all made her feel so welcome. We can’t wait to attend classes at SPARK and we are excited for next years camp! Thank you for giving her a great week!!!
recommends SPARK PA is where our children’s natural gifts immensely cherished, enchanted and enriched. I thank God for everyday! This is the best thing ever happened to us! I have a daughter who is 5 years old. We were introduced to this beautiful homeschool community where kids become the best friends to each other also the parents become the best friends to each other. Mr.Sebastian is a very enthusiastic, FUN and encouraging and CREATIVE teacher! (Makes everyone laugh and have so much fun!) Ms. Amanda is so cheerful, present, loving and enthusiatic about gathering community and spirituality (Her hugs are like a sunshine!) and Mr. Adam who is so knowledgeable about anything about nature, excellent building and foraging and very caring. We recommend this amazing place 1000000000 out of 10 (10 being the maximum. It exceeds beyond the maximum!!!)
recommends Great spot for kids to learn about art, nature and mindfulness
Sebastian and his whole Spark team were amazing at helping our daughter prepare her portfolio for high school admissions. Between in-person classes and individual Zoom lessons, Spark supported our daughter - first through explaining LaGuardia's very specific admissions requirements to her and then by pushing her to hone her skills to meet those requirements. Sebastian and his teachers were always available to help answer our questions, and they were incredibly flexible with carving out times to meet online as needed. We started the process a year early in order to space out the required pieces and give our daughter time to grow and mature in her work, and that ultimately worked well for our family. With the portfolio she assembled, our daughter got into her top choices (LAG and independent schools).
Wonderful school, wonderful people, highly, highly recommend.
recommends SPARK PA forest school offers a kind, inclusive environment in an atmosphere brimming with engaging content not to be found in a brick and mortar school. My son just completed his first semester of this unique nature and art program, and is looking forward to the spring semester. Unparalleled addition to our homeschooling curriculum.
recommends We absolutely love this program and are so grateful we found it! Our kids struggled in a traditional school setting but they shine at SPARK - each of the teachers brings a different amazing skill set and they are all incredibly warm and patient. I love knowing our kids are outside using real-life skills, learning to collaborate with others while also having the independence to choose their own adventure for each session. We are definitely in for the long haul!
recommends My boys just finished the fall semester at forest school and LOVED it! This was the first time my youngest has been okay with being away from me and it’s matured him so much. Every week has a different theme and they’re being exposed to new and adventurous concepts. I’m grateful for spark pa and this opportunity they provide for the kids.
recommends SPARK is THE BEST! We did the 14 weeks of forest school and I’m so glad we chose to send our son here! He loved it SO much he never wanted to leave! Amanda, Sebastian, and Adam are all amazing teachers and so kind! They’re all so welcoming, I was nervous about leaving my son for the first time ever, but there never any rush for me to leave at all. It’s more like a family/community than just a homeschool program. We love SPARK and recommend anyone looking for an awesome program that promotes life skills combined with nature for kids!
My daughter has taken Spark art classes throughout the school year and during the summer -- all of which she has loved. Most recently, she participated in the Founder's summer camp, which integrated art, yoga, meditation, and nature. Living in NYC, it was wonderful to hear how the students interacted with the nature elements around them and connected their experiences with the art they were creating. The week left my daughter feeling fulfilled, inspired, and happy. Thank you Sebastian, Joy, and all the great teachers at Spark!
recommends Spark PA is such a wonderful organization bringing mindfulness and outdoor education to kids in Pennsylvania! I joined them for a lesson to teach the kids about foraging and wildcrafting through my business Glam Gardener NYC, and the kids and owners were great. 100% love what they’re doing!!!
My 5 year old daughter loved Spark art camp! The day activity and the curriculum are so well designed, and the teaching artists each week are all so caring and fun. My daughter had so so much fun everyday! She’s been bringing home more art ideas with various medium explorations, and she loves showing me all these yoga poses she’s learned. Thank you Sebastian again for hosting such an amazing art camp!
Verified My daughers 6 and 8 did camp there this summer and last summer. They had such a great time with this camp. This year they had Michelle and Joy as camp instructors who were so good with the kids. Everyday they came home with wonderful art and had lots of stuff to say about their day rather than the typical "I dont remember or I don't know." My children also became close with the other kids in the camp as the instructors foster a good environment. My daughers told me that next year they want to go back to Sparks camp but for longer! The camp instructors are very assessible. We are given their contacts. In addition, they post a summary and pics after each day of camp so you have a nice idea of what they did and pictures of the kids having fun. Would highly recommend for your children
recommends My daughter just attended a one week art camp with Spark PA and it was amazing! She came home so happy with full smiles everyday and couldn’t wait to tell me and show me what she did that day! As I listened to her and watched her expression my heart was so full! Usually by the third day she would have resisted going to an all day camp, but she was thrilled she wants to go back again! I can’t say enough about Amanda and Sebastian who warmly welcome the children every morning and run a fantastic program. I loved that they were in nature, learning, exploring and expressing themselves in a safe space that was created for them! She even mentioned how kind and sweet the other kids were. Needless to say I highly recommend Spark PA and I’m eternally grateful for these wonderful people who have been brought into our lives!
recommends Mondays became a precious time while we were in Pennsylvania. Lucas, who is four, would attend yoga, meditation, and art classes run by Sebastian at SPARK. What we loved most was the sense of community and the welcoming environment that Sebastian and Amanda created and lovingly nurtured. Each session had a fun theme, like discussing birds, doing yoga poses that imitated birds, and then drawing them. Not only did Lucas enjoy class, but Sebastian and Amanda were also generous with their space. We would hang out afterwards, running around in the grass and playing on the playground. All the kids had a wonderful time and bonding experience with no need to rush. It was a peaceful and beautiful place for Lucas to enjoy an early introduction to yoga, meditation, and art.
recommends We are so happy we picked Spark PA for our daughter’s 5th birthday party! Mr. Sebastian was absolutely amazing with the kids and took his time explaining and showing them all what to do with their paintings!! His space is ideal for parties with a waiting room in the back or space outside. I would definitely recommend looking into having parties here , it was affordable and everything we were looking for! Thanks again!!
recommends We love Sebastian and his passion for teaching! My daughter loves going to SPARK every week, seeing the kids, creating beautiful pieces and learning the history to many different types of art. She has also taught me some of her meditation techniques, which she uses to calm down when she needs it. There is no one else who incorporates their soul into their work the way Sebastian does. The integration of art, yoga and meditation introduces children to a healthy, well rounded experience. We absolutely love SPARK and highly recommend!
recommends Spark PA is an amazing program. Mr. Sebastian is an exceptional teacher. He has such a way with the kids! He has a natural ability to connect with the kids and you can see he genuinely loves them and loves what he does! The kids all have a great time with him. He teaches them, builds their confidence and they have so much fun. His program is unique since he does include yoga and meditation and my granddaughter loves it! I highly recommend his program!
Desperate to find an Art Portfolio class after a thorough search in the web, we came across SPARK. We were late in enrolling our daughter however, the staff and owner were very courteous and are extremely helpful in navigating this experience. This greatly helped my daughter put in the work! We highly recommend SPARK! If it were not for SPARK, my daughter would not have been accepted to her HS of choice.
Sebastian and his team, particularly Joel, did an amazing job helping guide my daughter with her work on her portfolio pieces. She learned many new techniques and explored various mediums. They challenged her to step outside of her comfort zone and provided extra attention and time, when she needed it the most. The studio space is warm and welcoming. I would definitely recommend this program (she got an acceptance from her top choice school!)
recommends Spark is so much more than an art program and not just because it combines meditation and yoga. It’s because Mr. Sebastian takes an approach that true ignites a spark in his learners. To truly understand the magic that is spark, sign your child/children up for his program. You won’t be disappointed.
I have three children ranging in age from 7 to 16 and all three have taken virtual classes with SPARK. My 16-year old has been taking private animation lessons with Joel for several months now and she absolutely loves it. She looks forward to the lessons every week. Joel is incredibly thoughtful and well prepared and provides us with a recap of each lesson. He is also helping our daughter with her portfolio through SPARK's portfolio review program and it has been so helpful. The SPARK team is always well prepared and the lessons are great. Plus, the team members are all artists so they understand the way my children think about art. Thank you so much!
recommends This is hands down an amazing place, atmosphere, classroom, family and studio…. All of it!! Highly recommend 💜💜💜
recommends When you find a family that is wonderful with children and has a passion to teach and guide children, you share them with the world! Mr Sebastian’s ability to connect with a room of children is a talent. He inspires and helps them build confidence, strength, and more. SPARK is a more than just art, yoga, and mediation- it is a safe place for our children to be free and build connections with themselves and others. We are so grateful to have SPARK here in PA.
recommends Spark has been fantastic for my boys! They always have a great time and are so proud of their work. I enjoy my time there too. We can’t wait to check out summer camp this year and might even take advantage of their birthday party specials! 10 out of 10!
recommends Spark is a wonderful program! It is evident at first sight that Sebastian loves what he does and is very good at it. He is very kind, caring and patient with all of the children in his class. He has gone above and beyond to get to know my son, his interests and to bond with him. He always makes him feel special and welcome. I love hearing the giggles and joyful conversations while he is teaching his lessons. All I hear and see is happiness during Spark classes. It makes a Mommy's heart happy. My son, Callen, brings home what he learns. He loves to practice his yoga moves. He has even used what he has learned about meditation to find his calm. As a parent I have always been interested in art so I love seeing the quality art lessons Mr. Sebastian is teaching. Sebastian's wife, Amanda, is also very sweet, kind and welcoming. She is always very inviting and really fosters a nice community for the parents. As a Mommy and former teacher I can't recommend Spark enough! We are very thankful that Callen gets to be a part of this special program.
recommends my son attended spark classes just a few times. At home he doesn't like art. I really felt Sebastian met him where he was at learning wise. It is such a warm and loving place. Sebastian and his wife are so welcoming to all parents and children. the environment is calm and they are wonderful with community. I highly recommend Spark for all types of children. I am thrilled they have built this type of class in the area!
recommends Sometimes you meet genuine people who really love what they do. Our family loves spark so much, it’s taught our little one to stop and breath when she’s frustrated, and it has really expanded her creativity. Absolutely love these guys!! 100% recommend
recommends We cannot recommend SPARK enough! My son looks forward to his art and yoga time with Mr. Sebastian, and counts the days until we get to see him again!
recommends My kiddos attended summer camps at spark and absolutely love it. They were able to be creative and felt like their art and opinions were valued. They came home each day with pep in their step, new skills, and knowledge of different kinds of art and mindfulness! My son is a little older and wasn’t sure he wanted to go but Sebastian took the time to bond with him and truly won him ever! Wonderful!
We recently celebrated our daughter's 9th birthday at Spark and had a wonderful time! Jonathan was very artistic, attentive and kept the children entertained and engaged at all times. We added face painting to our party and Maddy, the face painter, was exceptionally creative and very sweet/kid-friendly. My daughters had so much fun that now they are interested in taking art lessons at Spark! Thank you Sebastian, Jonathan and Maddy for making it a memorable experience!
Both my daughters attended Spark summer camp. They had such a fantastic time! Every day, they would wake up and be so excited to go to camp! They also never wanted to leave camp when we would go pick them up. They’ve learned so much in such a short time. Spark offered everything I’ve wanted them to be a part of in one place. The yoga, meditation, learning different art techniques and their background. Thank you for all that you do! Looking forward to continuing to be a part of Spark family!
My 15 year old daughter attended the camp this summer. She was hesitant before going but when she got home she couldn't stop talking how much fun it was. She loves art, mostly drawing and felt it was very relaxed and fun but at the same structured enough for her to feel like she knew which direction to go on her projects. She was excited about doing some drawings while visiting interesting places in the neighborhood and going to Met. Teachers were very responsive and super friendly and fun.on the last day of the camp she brought home a beautiful painting that is now hanging on the wall.
Sebastian and the entire team have been entirely accommodating given the special needs of my daughter. They created a special curriculum for her and slowly introduced art to her in a meaningful way. My daughter is now more comfortable in art activities at school after working with Spark. I hope that others can see the value of their after-school and tailor made “pods”, especially families with kids with special needs looking for providers that are participating in OPWDD.
My son first started to take art lesson with Sebastian when he was in the third grade and that journey has continued till today when he now is a high school student (even Covid didn’t stop it!). We as a family are very grateful to have Sebastian in our life. He is such an inspiring and encouraging teacher and has the magic to connect with kids. My son has been taking private lesson with Sebastian for the past year and every session is not only an art lesson but also a precious private space where he comfortably talks about everything in his life with Sebastian! Anyone with experiences with teens should know that’s pretty amazing to have a teen completely open up to you and share their thoughts, positive or negative. As to the art lesson itself, my son always finds it fun and interesting! If you are looking for an inspiring and caring art teacher for your kid, you have found him.
We recently hosted my daughter’s birthday party at Spark. The new venue is located near the subway station, which is very convenient. The studio is spacious with large windows. The layout of the party was perfect. I requested a Monet painting theme and they accommodated my request. We also had a wonderful face painting artist who was great with the kids. The instructor was phenomenal. Jonathan was patient and did a good job keeping all the kids engaged. My daughter and her friends had a wonderful time. They got their own Money paintings on canvas. I highly recommend this studio for birthday parties, art classes, or summer camp.
We just hosted our daughter's 9th birthday party with SPARK. It was a great experience. Sebastian and his team are wonderful, very responsive, and they make everything run smoothly. They led the group through every step of the project we chose, and everyone went home with beautiful artwork! Their new studio is such a bright, happy place. It was just a pleasure to work with them. Highly recommend!
We had the pleasure of working with Sebastian at SPARK to help our son create a portfolio to support his applications to high school. We had a tight timeline but were able to work with Sebastian to come up with a plan to still meet our deadline and he was incredibly accommodating throughout the process. He worked 1:1 with my son over Zoom to help him create a portfolio that reflected his authentic self, making the process that much more enjoyable for my son. He is a wonderful teacher with a patient and empathetic disposition for working with children. Even though it required a lot of time to put together the portfolio, it never felt like "work" for my son. He thoroughly enjoyed the process and loved working with Sebastian as a teacher. Sebastian helped him refine his technique (his medium is drawing) as well as taught him new techniques to bring his work to the next level. The work my son produced was without question his best work yet and he was so proud of his final portfolio, which he was able to submit with his high school applications. This experience also deepened my son's passion for art and desire to continue to invest in it. I highly recommend working with Sebastian and SPARK if your child is interested in art and looking to either assemble a portfolio for school or just deepen their learning.
We hosted my daughter's 5th birthday here - she is a budding artist and really enjoyed the party. Sebastian made the planning phase easy - we just showed up with cupcakes and favors! The space is large and easily held 18 kids for 2 guided art projects (painted canvas and a *very* fun silly drawing contest - the latter was a huge hit). Spark is well-established in arts education and they are growing their birthday party component. They were very open to feedback and welcomed our impromptu freeze dance parties! Recommended asking if music can be provided - if not, I would bring a portable speaker to use during the spaces between activities. They encouraged drop-off of the kids - but there is a sizeable anteroom separate from the party space - might be possible to host coffee/pastries for any grownups who wish to stick around.
Our son just finished his art portfolio for the art high schools admissions, working on it for 7 weeks with Sebastian and the other Spark teachers. This was an intense effort (because we started late) but Sebastian managed the timeline, taking this forward step by step and really pushing our son to create the different parts of the portfolio on time and more importantly to the best of our son's ability. 4 of the Spark teachers worked with our son on different parts of the portfolio. All were great, and each brought a different skill or specialty that helped our son learn and improve. We are very thankful to the Spark team, both for the result that had exceeded our expectations as well as for the progression and development that we saw in our son throughout this effort.
Our kids had the best time at Spark! At a recent camp they started the morning learning how to draw bright and beautiful floral pictures, becoming familiarized with blending colors, shadows and the portrayal of diverse textures via different strokes and lighter vs stronger pencil pressures. By noon, they were at the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art, visiting various galleries and sketching artifacts. It was a rainy day but the teachers kept them safe and sound and ensured that they had a worry-free, exciting day at camp!
Verified One of the best summer and after school program in town! Sebastian and team has put their heart and soul into this. My 7 year old daughter had amazing experience be it the summer camp or the museum tours on school holidays. The fact that spark ties art with yoga and meditation and ensures 5+ year old's understand, experience and practice it is pretty impressive.
A+++ experience. First off, I couldn’t imagine a better place to have my daughter‘s 9th birthday party. Sebastian and his team were so warm, welcoming, INCREDIBLY organized and prepared. They took the guesswork out of everything for me. Sebastian also has the unique ability to zero in on each individual child and really connect with them. He truly has a gift on what engages kids, what they like/need, not to mention - what parents need. After the kids were welcomed and everyone settled in, he took them through an hour long polymer clay lesson (geared to what my daughter had interest in) and the second half we had pizza, cake and fun. My daughter and her friends had a complete blast. I should also note, the overall vibe, ease of the booking, and the party itself, was unparalleled to anything in the area. It was well-priced, well-thought-out and a lot of fun. The UWS has a wonderful sense of community engagement and I am so glad SPARK is part of it. It's truly a neighborhood gem and I would 100% recommend SPARK without reservation and with enthusiasm!
recommends A+++ experience. First off, I couldn’t imagine a better place to have my daughter‘s 9th birthday party. Sebastian and his team were so warm, welcoming, INCREDIBLY organized and prepared. They took the guesswork out of everything for me. Sebastian also has the unique ability to zero in on each individual child and really connect with them. He truly has a gift on what engages kids, what they like/need, not to mention - what parents need. After the kids were welcomed and everyone settled in, he took them through an hour long polymer clay lesson (geared to what my daughter had interest in) and the second half we had pizza, cake and fun. My daughter and her friends had a complete blast. I should also note, the overall vibe, ease of the booking, and the party itself, was unparalleled to anything in the area. It was well-priced, well-thought-out and a lot of fun. The UWS has a wonderful sense of community engagement and I am so glad SPARK is part of it. It's truly a neighborhood gem and I would 100% recommend SPARK without reservation and with enthusiasm!
Verified A+++ experience. First off, I couldn't imagine a better place to have my daughter's 9th birthday party. Sebastian and his team were so warm, welcoming, INCREDIBLY organized and prepared. They took the guesswork out of everything for me. Sebastian also has the unique ability to zero in on each individual child and really connect with them. He truly has a gift on what engages kids, what they like/need, not to mention - what parents need. After the kids were welcomed and everyone settled in, he took them through an hour long polymer clay lesson (geared to what my daughter had interest in) and the second half we had pizza, cake and fun. My daughter and her friends had a complete blast. I should also note, the overall vibe, ease of the booking, and the party itself, was unparalleled to anything in the area. It was well-priced, well-thought-out and a lot of fun. The UWS has a wonderful sense of community engagement and I am so glad SPARK is part of it. It's truly a neighborhood gem and I would 100% recommend SPARK without reservation and with enthusiasm!
My 2 kids has been part of Spark for 6 years already. They started when they’re in Kindergarten. Spark has been inspirational to my kids. They learned so many things from yoga to a creative artist. Summer camp are the most favorite of my kids because they visited different art museums aside from going to various parks to enhance their wild imaginations. Spark has also been part of our family. Sebastian is a wonderful person that help children to develop their talents. We will continue to have our kids attend Spark. May god bless all of them for this amazing opportunity that they open for all kids. Thank you Spark!!
My son went to SPARK summer camp and had an amazing time! He was waking up enthusiastic to go every morning and coming home excited to tell me about his day. Sebastian does an amazing job with them. I recommend it 100%
My 5 year old absolutely loves this camp! Sebastian is amazing and it’s a magical experience for the kids. I don’t know of any others that teach mindfulness to children. They are also cultured in the best of NYCs museums. Highly recommend!
My 5 years old son loves the art classes! Sebastian is a fantastic artist and amazing teacher, creative, energetic, patient and passionate. Every class is well designed, with different themes and styles. Sebastian is very good at inspiring kids to have their own creation and lifting them up. I am always looking forward what works my son will bring back after the art classes.
I needed to find a place to help my daughter create a portfolio and I found SPARK. Sebastian was willing to work with my daughter even though it was last minute. He was really great. He helped bring out the potential in her. My daughter loved his class. She learned how to create a sculpture which she has never done. He taught her new things and was always professional. With his help my daughter was able to create a portfolio in time to submit for her school application. Thanks to the SPARK program my daughter was able to get accepted to her first-choice high school. I highly recommend the SPARK program.
I cannot rave loudly enough about Spark Art and Sebastian. When my daughter was 6 years old she attended the afterschool classes, and it must have planted a seed because fast forward to next year -- she will be attending her first choice high school, Art & Design, thanks to Spark Portfolio! (Her portfolio also scored high enough to get into Frank Sinatra). These classes are the perfect combination of teaching skills and encouraging kids to find their own artistic voice. They are warm and supportive and fun. Highly recommend!
My 9 y.o. daughter loved this experience - Sebastian led a wonderful tour of the Met and spoke in-depth about an important painting from the Winslow Homer exhibition currently on view. My daughter came home with sketches and is excited to take another special course like this again.
My son can't wait to come back !! Thanks a lot for exposing him to art and beauty!!
My 6 year old daughter had a wonderful experience with Spark Art. Sebastian helped us set up a pod with a couple of her friends and it couldn't have gone better! Their teacher was Jonathan and he was absolutely amazing with the kids. Each week my daughter produced thoughtful and beautiful artwork that she felt so proud of. Would highly recommend!!
My 5.5 year-old son love the art classes at SPARK. Johnathan is really nice and professional! I loves everything my son drew and made in the class (comics is a really special one). Definitely wonderful art classes. The museum trip is also a fantastic way for the kids to spend a day when the school is off! (I want to join it myself too. lol) Highly recommend to all the kids!
My 7 year old daughter has been taking an art class at SPARK for almost 2 years and absolutely loves it. Sebastian and his team have created a truly special and unique experience that goes beyond just art instruction. In addition to technique, the children learn about the history of art, NYC, and more. They also practice patience, focus, respect, and other skills, which add multiple layers to the experience and are evident in the final products. The lessons are incredibly thoughtful and sophisticated yet implemented in a way that are instructive and fun for young kids. My daughter always comes home proud of and surprised at what she has produced. The classes have been such a gift during the last 2 years, I highly recommend SPARK to everyone!
My daughter had a wonderful art experience with both Jonathan and Sebastian. They are terrific teachers and genuinely love what they do. I can’t think of a better activity for kids right now.
Spark art classes are amazing! My almost 8 year old daughter started taking classes with Sebastian virtually last winter and then transitioned over to in-person classes this fall. Both classes were top notch and she learned about different artists and mediums and really brought her skills to the next level. During the warm weather, Sebastian takes the class to Riverside Park and conducts plein air classes which she loved.
Love Sebastian and the wonderful class he gave my 1st grade twins. They were part of small COVID-conscious class. They would come home proud of their new art techniques and eager to go back. Highly recommend. We haven’t gotten a chance to take their holiday camps but will definitely in the inter
Verified Sebastian and the team were just great! The kids loved every part of it. And some of the parents already scheduled Spark for their birthday parties as well.
Verified Our 7.5yo son loved Spark camp so much. He came home talking about Alexander Calder, Van Gough and Calvert Vaux with a passion I had no idea he had! They visited museums, learned about famous sites in Central park, did yoga, meditation, and-- of course-- made beautiful art. Thank you so much Sebastian for making our son's first few weeks of summer so special. We will definitely be back for more--our son is begging for it.
Verified Our daughters discovered Spark Art during the pandemic. After taking a couple of Sebastian's drop in art classes, we set up a weekly art class for my daughter and a group of her friends, which the LOVED. This spring, my older daughter wanted a painting birthday party and I knew just who to ask. I reached out to Sebastian and hired him on the spot. He could not have been any easier to work with - so flexible, responsive, and reliable! And of course, he was wonderful with the kids. He has an amazing energy and creativity that really captivates the kids. We set up painting stations for each of the party guests on the lawn in Central Park. Sebastian brought everything needed for the girls to create their own paintings. He gave them inspiration, encouragement, and guidance throughout the painting party. He was also very flexible with late arrivals and even dealt with the rain that came out of nowhere, essentially incorporating it into the art lesson! The girls had a blast and proudly went home with their finished work of art. I can't recommend Sebastian enough for a perfect socially distanced birthday party!
Verified Wonderful art school that my daughter absolutely loves & thrives in! Sebastian & his teachers are a most inspiring team who continuously instill the love of art in the children. The classes teach real art concepts and expose the children to different artists, genres, mediums etc. Above it all, Sebastian really cares for each of the kids, and creates unique art lessons that he knows will inspire them. Driven by COVID, Sebastian adeptly turned his art studio into a virtual escape for the children - this was the one Zoom that my daughter truly looked forward to each week. It has been healing for my daughter, amidst all the other changes going on to her life as a result of COVID. My daughter also recently had the opportunity to participate in Spark's Plein Air camp and she had a splendid time drawing in iconic locations all across the UWS. It was such a breath of fresh air (literally!) for her to be sitting outside, enjoying the outdoors, while drawing. Sebastian believes in balancing the mind through art & meditation - so he also incorporates ways for the children to channel their energy into their art, be it through yoga or meditation. Art class at Spark is truly a holistic, mind & body experience for the children! Highly highly recommended!
Verified Spark hosted our son's 6th birthday party, we could not have picked a better place or a better person. Sebastian offered individualized attention to each of the 17 young artists. He led the children in drawing and watercolor, checking in the children while providing meaningful feedback, guidance and support. Spark was amazing, beautiful space and a great time was had by all!
Verified Had our daughters 7th birthday with Sebastian and SPARK art today. Exceeded all expectations. My daughter likes landscape and nature designs. Sebastian chose a Monet painting and taught the kids how to create a similar painting. It's was amazing. They loved it. Even the adults joined in the artistic activities.
Verified Spark is an extremely immersive and incredible program for kids. Not only is Sebastian a great teacher he really cares about his students and goes above and beyond to make sure everybody is included and happy. I cannot stress that Spark is the best art / yoga program for kids. Our LO loves him and did I mention they do field trips to the Met!!??? We'll be coming back for more sessions.
Verified We celebrated my daughter's 9th birthday at SPARK with the help of Sebastian. She wanted to have an art & crafts birthday party particularly wanted to do something using clay/pottery. I came across SPARK over internet and it was indeed a perfect match! Sebastian was kind enough to invite my daughter to an art class to meet her prior to the party and talked to her to understand what she wanted for her birthday There were 13 kids at the party and they were all stay engaged and made beautiful little sculptures that they took back home. Sebastian brought in an assistant art teacher too so all kids were able to get attention/help they needed. Dealing with Sebastian was a pleasure, such a breeze, his love for art and kids is obvious. Venue was beautiful, too, lots of lights and space. Highly recommend Sebastian and his fun art classes and birthday parties.
Verified My daughter adores Sebastian, as do I. She has been taking classes with him for a few years. She comes home from every session with a new and super-creative beautiful project. He is very creative, a great teacher, a passionate and talented artist, and a super warm and wonderful person.
Verified We hosted our youngest daughter 6th birthday party. Sebastian was very flexible with our dates and time. He even accommodated our date change without making me feel horrible. Sebastian keep in communication open. He allowed us to be there 30 minutes early to set up. He had his assistant there. They both gave each child time to understand the craft. He praise each child which made them feel special. Also, he made the tallest chair "the birthday girl chair". My daughter always wanted to seat on that chair. Sebastian and his team make a birthday party special easy, and mostly stress--free. All the kids had fun and parents were able to mingle because Sebastian is amazing with kids.
recommends Sebastian runs an incredible program, highly recommended!
Verified My daughter has been doing Saturday art classes with Sebastian at Spark for a few months now. She is completely obsessed with this class! From the moment we walked in the first time, Sebastian was warm and welcoming. He is unbelievably wonderful with the students. The projects he chooses are varied and so interesting--my personal favorite was the mood box watercolor. He and the kids discussed different emotions and then chose colors for each one and painted boxes on paper. Hard to explain, but trust me, the kids loved it and the results were beautiful. He also teaches them about famous artists and ties that into the lessons. He really listens to the children and encourages them to express their ideas. It is so clear that Sebastian loves kids and art and that combination is simply magical. After just a few classes, my daughter told me she wanted to have her birthday party at Spark. So we did! My daughter and Sebastian had serious conversations about what type of project to do and what theme. She wanted a nature theme and they ultimately chose clay as the medium. We had about 15 kids at the party and it was everything she wanted. The kids sculpted birds in nests. Sebastian guided them through the steps and the results were beautiful. Even the kids who sometimes have a hard time sitting still, were captivated and worked really hard on their birds. Planning the party with Sebastian was seamless. His main goal was just that everyone (including parents) have a great time. We had lots of time to set up food before the party. He had drawing supplies out for the kids to use before we started the clay project. I had so many parents tell me how much fun their kids had. And a few of them even started taking classes with Sebastian after! Do not hesitate for a minute to sign up for classes here, or do a party. In hectic, crazy NYC, Spark is a little oasis of creativity and tranquillity.
recommends Spark is the greatest art program around town. Sebastian is a talented, energetic art teacher with an infinite amount of patience. He connects with kids of all ages. My daughters, who are 5 &12, love him! We highly recommend his classes.
Verified Every kid who wants to be an artist can make their dream come true at SPARK! Sebastian is an incredible instructor who exudes warmth and nurtures each kid's potential, never is an unkind word heard from him. Each project is rolled out with a lesson in the artist who inspired it. A love of art and the process is instilled and the final project proudly makes it's way home or hangs in the SPARK Art Gallery - the walls of the studio. My 10 year old daughter very much looks forward to her weekly lesson with Sebastian and finds the time at SPARK relaxing and inspiring. This is a wonderful oasis for creativity and calm in an ever busy and fast paced city.
Verified Our daughter had her 6 years old birthday party with her classmates and friends at Sebastian's studio, and the kids had an amazing time. The kids had wonderful time drawing, playing games and doing facing painting with Sebastian and his assistant, while parents just relaxed and mingled with each other. We had a quite large group (over 20 kids + parents), but Sebastian worked so hard and managed the whole party and took care of all the details. My daughter was so happy that we could share her favorite art class with her friends. Great Job Sebastian! we really appreciate everything you did for our party.
Verified We just had a tween birthday party with Sebastian and he was spectacular - as he knew all the girls at the party, he was very thoughtful about what type of art projects my daughter (the birthday girl) might like to do with her friends. Also Sebastian's new studio, while spare, was light, airy, spacious and warm and best of all - THE most convenient location on the entire UWS which all Moms greatly appreciated on a busy Saturday. We highly recommend Sebastian as an art instructor, and exceptionally, as a kind, patient and supportive teacher. Sebastian is a treasure and we hope to keep seeing throughout the years!
recommends What a wonderful program, beautiful location and such an engaged, kind instructor. Sebastian is amazing with the kids. My son is already asking when the next class is!
Verified My son has been taking Art classes with Sebastian for a year. I can't say enough how inspiring Sebastian is to my son - as an artist and a role model. My son looks forward to Art Class each week and has asked for "twice a week". Also Sebastian is helping us put together the Art portfolio for my son to apply to specialized public high schools.
Verified My 3 kids attend a public school that only offers art once a week. I asked our amazing art teacher if she knew anyone that could teach my kids outside of school. She enthusiastically recommended Sebastian who is an artist and art teacher. When my children and I first walked into Sebastian's beautiful studio, we were enthralled with his amazing art work and felt immediately comfortable with him. Sebastian is so friendly and kind - easy to talk to and clearly explains to the children what the lesson is for the week. I am a former teacher and I appreciate his calm manner and patience when working with young children. Each time I pick up my kids, they are still engaged in their art work and cheerfully tell me about their lesson and art piece. Sebastian's lessons truly allow each of my children enough personal choice that they really feel ownership over their individual pieces. My 3 kids ages 6-8 years old have wholeheartedly enjoyed making art with Sebastian. We highly recommend his wonderful program!!
Verified I am an art teacher in a New York City public school. I teach 500 students in kindergarten through 4th grade and I highly recommend ALL my students to Sebastian. Sebastian is more than a great artist, he is a beacon of positive energy who encourages others to see the potential in themselves. I trust my students with Sebastian because I know he will foster confidence within them. Sebastian has the ability to help build his students' skills without imposing artistic notions. He balances guiding students while also helping them realize their own voice. I wish I had had Sebastian as my art teacher when I was younger. I give him my highest recommendation.