Little Picasso – LOST GEM 2020
Little Picasso – LOST GEM 2020
313 East 61st StreetNew York, NY 10065
The story of Little Picasso is of a woman who understands priorities. Isabella Grossman, originally from Israel, was a successful fashion designer working in China when she learned that her daughter was pregnant. She decided that she had to be in her granddaughter’s life and chose to move to Manhattan.
Between applying for positions in the fashion world, and working temp jobs, Isabella played with her granddaughter. Early on, she realized that her granddaughter was artistically talented, and whenever she could, she engaged her in elaborate art projects. One day, Isabella’s daughter suggested to her mother that perhaps she should begin a new path and teach art to children. Thus, Little Picasso was born.
Isabella teaches all ages from preschool up through high school, and always knows exactly how to adapt her lessons to the skills and interests of the children. As a grandmother myself, I was completely drawn to Isabella, both for her artistic passion and her devotion to her precious granddaughter. While listening to her, it became apparent that she is adamant about not teaching “cookie cutter arts and crafts.” Though she appreciates simple arts and crafts studios, she feels that there are enough places like that in the city. Isabella prefers to help children learn “real” art techniques, and educates them without them knowing that they are learning.
Isabella spends time teaching students to make pyramids, and does folding projects that demonstrate how 2D foot plans become 3D shapes. Looking around, I found an amazing paper mache project made to look like an archaeological dinosaur dig and rows of sculptures and raised paintings making use of recycled materials. Some of the art, made with painted tissue paper, reminded me of Eric Carle’s technique, known universally in his classic book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. When I told Isabella this, she admitted that she reads that story to the younger children, whose lessons end each week with a picture book and a snack.
In her small, warm studio, Isabella brings a worldliness that sets her above the rest. She informed me that she teaches her students to “literally think outside the box.” Though she is happy with the life that she has built for herself in New York, she would love to return to Israel one day, as she is torn having her son there as a “Lone Soldier,” and she is sorry she cannot be with him. Understandably, Isabella considers herself fortunate that she can spend so much time with her granddaughter, now five years old, and her two-year-old grandson, and open up new worlds of colors and forms to them and so many others in and around Manhattan.