Returning Veterans Find Colorful, New Start with Abrakadoodle Art

April 10, 2012 - PRLog -- Three years ago while serving in Iraq, April Rose read a cover story about the Abrakadoodle art education franchise in Black Enterprise magazine that fueled her desire to pursue an artful future following her deployment. Hunkered down in a bunker amid rocket fire, she and her future husband imagined their new lives as arty entrepreneurs. According to April, she and Isaac talked about their plans for establishing their Abrakadoodle franchise every night. They are now launching their dream with award-winning Abrakadoodle Remarkable Art, which engages children with creativity-boosting art classes, camps, parties and face-painting through its mobile art program that delivers to host sites well-trained, screened teachers, extraordinary lesson plans and top quality art materials. Abrakadoodle programs are offered in preschools, public and private elementary schools, community centers, parks and recreation programs, and many other community sites that serve children and families.

“The Jackson’s have been the picture of patience these past few years,” commented Rosemarie Hartnett, CFE, President and Co-Founder of Abrakadoodle, Inc. “We feel extremely fortunate to welcome these two enthusiastic, dedicated individuals to our Abrakadoodle franchise team. As industrious veterans who have served our country well, Isaac and April Rose bring not only an amazing work ethic but also a passion for art and education. This will be a great asset as they build their program at schools and sites throughout Oklahoma City.”

“We are so excited about how our program is going to transform children’s lives in a positive way through the magic of creating art,” said April Rose, Education Director of Abrakadoodle-Oklahoma City. “We had to work together a lot, which gives us an advantage as we launch our Abrakadoodle enterprise,” Isaac noted of their Middle East deployment in U.S. Army logistics. The pair met in 2009 while serving in Iraq, and then married in a surprise destination wedding Isaac planned in the Cayman Islands in January 2010. With a degree in graphic design from Jackson State, April also brings a passion for scrapbooking (she has her own blog: The Purple Scrapbook) and comes from a long line of creative family members. Additionally, April’s mother was a grade school teacher for over 15 years before her death in 2000. Isaac has a degree in finance and plans to complement April’s skills by handling the accounting, product inventory and financial aspects of the business. Isaac’s mom is a school teacher in the Oklahoma Public School system, affording both he and April a special knowledge of the education industry. They both refer to the military as “family” and feel well-equipped to work within a franchise family.

Abrakadoodle offers art classes, camps, specialty programs, birthday parties and face-painting at schools and community locations nationwide and in several international locations. A comprehensive visual arts program, Abrakadoodle provides instruction across a wide array of such art forms as painting, sculpture, drawing, collage, mosaics, digital design and more. Abrakadoodle’s Artist of Distinction program connects contemporary artists to children in the classroom through a unique mentoring program in which select artists share their vision, style and technique, which is incorporated into Abrakadoodle lessons. Students are encouraged to tap their imaginations as they produce original art. Abrakadoodle’s exclusive curriculum exceeds National Standards for Visual Arts Education.

In addition to exploring a variety of art mediums, students learn techniques, proper handling of materials, art history and vocabulary for a whole art education experience. The classes are designed to help children develop skills, confidence and creativity. Abrakadoodle’s well-trained teachers provide instruction, guidance and inspiration.

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Abrakadoodle is an internationally recognized company that provides a wide array of creative art classes, camps, birthday parties and face painting for children ages 20 months to 12 years old at schools and community sites.