Since tigernoodles debuted in early 2026, one of the things that has most excited us is how much the art educators that we have befriended (check out our inspiring story on the Pennsylvania Art Education Association) truly believed in and trusted in the instincts of their students. They are every day challenging them to learn about art that would open up their imaginations, and to discover something about themselves in the process.

Minneapolis College of Art & Design graduate Kathy Barbro is one such educator. Having become an art teacher in the early 2000s, simply because her son's school in Sherman Oaks, CA didn't have one, by 2005 she started blogging, and now runs the wildly popular Instagram page and YouTube channel Art Projects for Kids - with a combined 100k-plus followers and subscribers. Her lessons are inspired by such unexpected artists as René Magritte, Gustav Klimt and visionary Austrian environmentalist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

In the first of what we're hoping will be a regular tigernoodles feature, we present Kathy's captivating, step-by-step lesson in how to paint a self-portrait like Jean-Michel Basquiat, the late iconic New York artist - whose raw, visceral works made him an international sensation in the 80s, before his tragic passing in 1988. (His paintings now sell for tens of millions of dollars.)

Can you tell us a bit about the mission and work of Art Projects for Kids?

My interest in children’s art began when my son entered our local public school and they didn’t have an art teacher. I began volunteering, because I did have an art background, and soon became hooked on the work the students would create. There was a fresh originality to it that would sometimes just take your breath away. 

And how did that develop?

Over time, I saw that some students would just jump in and create, no matter what projects you brought; but others might still hold back, for whatever reason. In my quest for trying new things, I would sometimes stumble across projects that all of them took on with zeal, and would engage with. These searches to find the next “perfect” project which would connect with an entire classroom - and teach them something, too - took time, but were endlessly satisfying to come across. 

My next thoughts were that other teachers should know about these projects too, and not have to reinvent the wheel themselves. Especially if art didn’t come naturally to them, and they didn’t daydream about new projects like I did. Fortunately, the world of blogging had just begun, so I started my own, and the rest is pretty much history.

Why do you think art education is so important to kids?

I once read an important distinction about art education in elementary schools, in that it could be the one and only place where some students might get to experience art classes at all. When they get to middle school, art becomes an elective. Those early five or six years in elementary school are the formative ones, where they will make decisions about what art is, and whether they are good at it...or even if they just enjoy it or not. No pressure! Just something to keep in mind, when those in charge decide when and if to add art classes to the day.

What is unique to you in regards to your teaching style?

Many of my projects begin with a drawing component. That’s not because I think you have to be good at drawing to be an artist; more that I’d like students to not be afraid of it. Yes, some are lucky and naturally fall into it - but in the end, drawing is just a skill, like riding a bike. And if you learn to take it on, and not let it keep you from creating, all kinds of things are possible. 

In fact, many creative careers start with drawing, like fashion design, graphic design, architecture, etc. They all depend on you being able to share an idea with a drawing, so it's an incredibly useful skill to have.

What would you want kids to know about Jean-Michel Basquiat before they start on a project? 

It’s no accident that Basquiat was incredibly prolific, and produced a large body of paintings and drawings in his brief life. He achieved an incredible amount of success, going from a street artist to [exhibiting at] famous NYC galleries in just a few years. A large part of his success was due to just plain working hard, and not giving up. That’s always a great message for students to hear.

Why is Basquiat a good choice for a children's art project, and what do you think kids can take away from his work?

I love how Basquiat took all kinds of things that interested him, including street art, words, and music, and mashed them up in his drawings and paintings. There’s no hesitation, just boom! There are lots of thoughts that are in my head, and here’s how I feel about them. His work encourages young artists to “just do it”, get expressive, and personalize their art as much as possible.