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Welcome to the
Efrén González
Children's Art Program

Skip the intro, and go directly to
the children's art image gallery...

About Efrén González

Efrén González was born in Ajijic, and was a student in the Neill James children's art program in the 1980s. He has since studied with well-known painters, watercolourists, and sculptors. He is now himself an internationally-recognised painter and muralist – particularly in the mediums of acrylic, oil, watercolor, and pastel.

He began his journey to becoming a working artist when he was young – Efrén likes to say, “Art started with a pencil – almost as soon as I could hold it.” He won local and regional drawing contests when he was in primaria (primary school), and now his work is chosen by galleries across North America.

About Our Children's Art Program

To give back to his community, Efrén created a children's art program several years ago to teach art to local children, and implant in them a passion for art – so that, just maybe, some might follow in his footsteps! His latest program has been relocated from its original location at his studio/gallery in Ajijic centro to his new museo in west Ajjic.

He offers free art classes for local children aged 5 to 18 every Saturday from 10:30am to 12:30pm at his Ajijic Museo de Arte, at Privada Flores Magon #3A in Ajijic – all art supplies and materials are also provided to the students free of charge. Efrén strongly believes that the children in our community are the future of art in Ajijic!

Our Children's Art Cards

Selected work created by the children in our art program is scanned, and made into art cards. These high-quality reproductions are sold at various events around town. Half of the proceeds from the sale of each card goes to the young artist who created it – the remainder goes towards art supplies for the classes. Please support our kids!

Selected Photos of Our Kids Learning Art

Photos courtesy of Danielle Pagé & Claudia Miramontes

How to Appreciate Children's Art

You cannot compare children's art to art produced by adult professional artists. Unlike other children's art programs with art from "kids" aged 18 to 28, our children average between 9 and 11 years of age. Our art students all have great potential because they have imagination, creativity, and passion. However, they have only just started on their journey towards learning the technical skills needed to fully realise their ideas. That said, their art is charming, and, often, surprising. When you consider children's art in the context of the age of each young artist, you will be amazed at the quality of the vision and composition from someone so young.

Our Volunteers

Our Children's Art Program could not run without the help of our volunteers giving of their time to help our kids on their art journey.

Maestros (teachers): Efrén González, Kenia Paoce, Javier Zaragoza, and Ramón Carranza.
Administration and card sales: Danielle Pagé
Website, card production, and promotion: Garry Musgrave