Young artist draws them in

By: Ginger Gadsden

Tampa, Florida. Any parent will tell you how challenging it can be to capture and keep a child’s undivided attention.

But these 6 to 10 year old budding artists at Perrone Park recreational center in Tampa are focused and fixated on their work.

So what has drawn them in?

This young artist named Leah Lopez got her cartoon calling when she just was two years old.

Her first memory of drawing was on her bedroom wall during nap time.

These days, no one falls asleep when Leah gets hold of a crayon.

Once you see some of Leah’s original cartoon creations it’s hard not to smile.

There’s a singing shark wearing tennis shoes. A colorful tomato lady with long legs and gloves. And who wouldn’t love a picture of horses in love?

Now at the ripe age of 17, Leah loves teaching young would be artists about her craft by throwing cartooning parties.

Leah says with art disappearing from so many schools she feels strongly about getting kids to express their creative side on canvas.

The pictures don’t have to come out perfect. Leah says it’s all about getting the kids get to create something they like.

At the end of the party they all go home pint sized Picasso’s.