To computer or not to computer

How do we respond to this debate?  Simple really – YUVA Studio sees the computer as a medium that is gaining in popularity of use with children. While it doesn’t replace getting your fingers dipped in paint, or modeling plaster or cutting and gluing tinsel, it offers compelling ways of creative expression. Clean-up is also easier though that should hardly be the primary motivator!

Hands-on mediums are important in developing technique and augmenting motor skills. As a medium, computers are better suited to enrich cognitive skills, which are important means of expanding imagination and concentration.

Above all, when children are freed of the challenge of drawing perfect lines or coloring neatly within them, they can experiment with other aspects of their art – composition, color relationships, proportion and the play of positive and negative space, expressing their thoughts. By gradually accessing and experimenting with given shapes, and making a series of choices to unfold ideas, the young learn to evolve a visual language.

Having selected the digital medium, YUVA Studio is committed to taking digital drawing “beyond the paint bucket”.  A lot of web-based tools for children are entertainment oriented.  Our focus is to promote active thinking and to fuel imagination in children, and to explore the rich possibilities of the digital medium while doing so.

For instance, YUVA Artists can see drawings created by others in Ideabooks and the online Gallery; Artists’ drawings are available as part of the merchandise store as greeting cards and t-shirts; they can participate in contests and have their art displayed in the YUVA gallery – Through YUVA they can share their creations and become part of an online community of YUVA Artists.

And at YUVA Studio our current not-so-secret project involves creating new ways for YUVA Artists to collaborate and create joint drawings!  Look for more news on that coming soon.

	“I found the YUVA game to be a very colourful, playful tool for children to learn shapes and colours and to learn of their juxtaposition to each other. It’s a FUN tool for children to interact with themselves or with others, while learning how to advance their hand-eye coordination skills, their motor skills and their interactive skills, while having fun doing so. Congratulations for thinking about educational tools for children!” Gene Kinoshita, Grandparent, Architect and Principal of Cannon Design in Toronto, Canada

Answers to some commonly asked questions:

• What is YUVA and what can I do with YUVA?
• Why YUVA?
• Who are YUVA Studio Members? And who are YUVA Studio Artists?
• What are the various activities in YUVA?
• What are shape swatches?
• How do I start? What are Ideabooks?
• Can I save my drawings? What are Sketchbooks?
• How can I share my drawings with family and friends?
• What are YUVA's safety and security measures?
• How much does YUVA cost?
• What are Artist points?
• How to purchase a YUVA Studio Membership
• Can I see a demo?
• Can I try YUVA for FREE?

More about YUVA, Kids and Grownups:

• YUVA Art Gallery - see the possibilities
• Top 10 reasons why Kids and Parents recommend YUVA
• To computer or not to computer
• YUVA Studio Press Releases
• YUVA Buzz