Let's Create - About the Staff

Ann Felice

Praised for her warm, caring, and upbeat manner that kids love, Ann Felice has been teaching art to young people for more than thirty years. She has also been the executive producer, host, and main force behind "Let's Create" since kicking off the series more than a decade ago. Now she has opened an art studio where she and her staff offer art classes to pre-schoolers through sixth graders (and throw some very creative and fun kids' birthday parties).

Long devoted to bettering herself as an educator, Ann is writing her dissertation on the effectiveness of video in art education, and will have a doctoral degree from Columbia University, New York.

Her passion for art and children is clear to anyone who has seen a Let's Create video. Her well-directed art projects can help children expand their creative abilities, develop motor and manipulative skills, and boost self-esteem.They also show children how they can have a love and appreciation of art.

The Let's Create children's art video series, which has won extraordinary praise from TV Guide, Coalition for Quality Children's Media, Booklist, Video Review, and the Parent's Choice Foundation, among others, is spreading its wings with three new titles that celebrate different cultures. Let's Create Asian Art, Let's Create African Art, and Let's Create Native American Art bring a whole new dimension to learning about the art of other cultures, in a way that's both fun and meaningful for the 5- to 11-year-old target audience. Reviewers have long praised Felice for her ability to include educational elements in a meaningful way that appeals to kids. Video Librarian, says that "educational tidbits are seamlessly inserted into the activities" which is "a testament to the exceptional talent of this gifted teacher."

Felice has now incorporated one of the most important aspects of modern life into her attention-grabbing videos: cultural diversity and tolerance. Felice believes making the understanding of cultural diversity into an exciting learning experience is a lot more effective than lecturing. "You can tell kids that diversity is a good thing," she says, "but if you can make it fun and meaningful to them then they are a lot more likely to get the message." Our theme song says it all: "Get to know your neighbor…let a friendship start…begin to get to know them by studying their art. You'll gain an understanding of people…of people near and far…because the things that they create, are coming from their heart."

Let's Create Asian Art, for example, includes scenes shot in a museum of Asian-American art. Then, using the time-tested techniques kids love in the entire Let's Create series, this video shows children simple and interesting steps to create their own art projects themselves, once they internalize the information. All projects can be completed with basic art materials, and of course, safety is a major priority.

"The world seems to be getting smaller, and kids encounter different cultures every day," says Let's Create founder Ann Felice. "These tapes can help kids get to know their neighbors' similarities and differences by understanding their art." Each of the cultural tapes features a rich offering of cultural information presented in a child-friendly manner, original songs, and six exciting projects on the cultural theme. Every video features Ann Felice and lots of real kids. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, no matter where you are-in a classroom, at a camp, or at the kitchen table. Best of all, kids love these videos, and will happily watch them again and again.

With more than three decades of experience teaching art, Felice started the acclaimed Let's Create video series and has never looked back. "I set out to find a way to influence, bring the love of art, and feel the joy of creativity to as many children as possible," she says. "When video came out, I thought, 'that's it.'"

Our Staff

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Irena D. Schachter (Mrs. S) is a New Jersey certified teacher, with an M.A. in painting. For over 25 years she has taught students of all ages, at all levels and has always given individual attention. She is a prizewinning professional artist wha has done a pastel drawing of Joe DiMaggio, displayed in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame.

Karen Park is a talented illustrator working as a professional artist for many years. She is also a muralist; an example of her work is in the Lakeland YMCA. Karen is teaching enrichment art classes in the Kinnelon school district and now at Let's Create.

Dave McCoy has been drawing since childhood, and has worked as a professional cartoonist and illustrator for 30 years. He taught classes for the past 5 years at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon in Dover, drawing and design classes at Gibbs College. Mr. McCoy has a BA in Art and also freelances as a caricature artist, children's book illustrator and commercial artist.

Martha Romano is a professional, award-winning nature/wildlife artist and art educator. She is the creator of an unique Artist-in-Residence children's program - "Exploring Nature's Treasures Through Art." She is an instructor at the County College of Morris, "Stage Struck Kid" & Morris County School of Technology. Martha is a graduate of NSFIA and also attended the School of Visual Arts, NYC.

Phyllis Johnson is an experienced artist and art teacher. She has studied at the Art Students League and at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts. Phyllis is an award winning artist, who is currently exhibiting her in oils and is also know for her design and illustration work.

Katie Truck received her BFA from Alfred University. She has been teaching multi medias to children of all ages and levels for the past six years at Creative Hands in Madison and Chester. The Art Canter of New Jersey. Maybe you have seen some of Katie's wire and panty hose sculptures featured around the tri state area.