Who We Are
Comic Kids is a 501(c3) non-profit whose mission is to bring art classes to underserved communities by using comics, cartoons and books as a way to inspire children in art. Children are able to take step-by-step classes learning to draw characters they know and love while also learning advanced art skills such as perspective, color rendering, scale and shadowing and shading among others.
The Backstory
The non-profit was founded by Miami fine art dealers Reed and Kat Horth who initially taught a weekly comic illustration class to the children of Big Brothers Big Sisters Miami starting in 2018 and later expanded the program into schools, hospitals and other non-profits. Reed, who was also in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program as a child, found his own love for reading, writing and illustrating as a child through comics. His early exposure to drawing and reading led to an Art History and Journalism degree from the University of Florida and eventually a career in fine art. The couple believed that communities that lack quality art education for children could benefit from both the art and reading that their classes covered, so they founded Comic Kids as a way to expand the programming.
The Classes
Comic Kids is an art organization which teaches drawing classes to children through several different formats. We utilize popular books for our "Read + Draw" class for ages 5-9 which combines reading books and drawing characters from the books as a way to inspire children's love of the written word while teaching children how illustration styles help create the narrative. The "Comic and Cartoon" drawing classes for ages 5-9 focus on drawing characters the children know and love from their favorite movies, tv shows, comics and graphic novels.
The Books
Comic Kids has created a series of drawing and coloring books for children which help them develop fine motor skills and learn drawing techniques. Our step-by-step drawing books simplify concepts, helping children discover that art skills are attainable through practice. Comic Kids books are available to be donated in bulk and given to help children in hospitals, foster care, homeless shelters and other children in need. For book sponsorship opportunities, reach out to us at comickidsorg@gmail.com. Books are also available to be purchased by the public on Amazon.
The Future
Since 2018, Comic Kids has taught thousands of children art, switching permanently to a virtual model in 2020 to impact more children. By utilizing tech as a platform to reach underserved communities, Comic Kids has been able to teach children without the constraints of a physical classroom. Classes are taught over Zoom and Zoom Webinars while children are in their own schools with their own teachers, or in after-school programs. Our goals are to expand our art classes throughout schools, hospitals, foster care and after school programs. We will partner with book publishers and art supply companies to donate books and art supplies to underserved communities and will enrich more children’s lives through art by continuing to create art-related events and field trips.