Newtown youth are invited to a Ben’s Lighthouse event on Saturday, March 29, from 2 to 4 pm, at Trinity Church, 36 Main Street. A Lead Animator from a major animation studio will demonstrate techniques used to create the popular animated movies he has helped to develop and will give the audience a hands-on lesson in creating a favorite character.  (For contractual reasons, the studio has asked that its name not be used. It is, however, a major studio with a few huge hits to its credit.)

The guest animator will share some of his own artwork from his middle school and high school days to show how he was able to develop a raw talent into an exciting career through hard work and dedication. The presentation will be geared toward youth in grades 7-12.

After a 45-minute talk, the guest will take questions from the audience and then will lead the group in a development of one of the characters from one of his studio’s best known movies. The artist, along with support from Emerald Sketch Art Therapy and Ben’s Lighthouse volunteers, will guide kids through the step-by-step process of drawing a favored character. Paper and pencils will be provided.

This presentation is the first in a periodic series of presentations being planned by Ben’s Lighthouse to introduce Newtown’s young people to different avenues of creative expression. Plans are in development for similar forums with authors, actors, poets and others.

Ben’s Lighthouse is committed to finding new and creative ways to help the young people of Newtown reach their potential. In addition to the creative expression programs, upcoming Ben’s Lighthouse events include a Saturday, May 10, trip to Fayerweather Lighthouse in Bridgeport to learn and help beautify its surroundings; the 2nd Annual Lighthouse Festival on Saturday, June 14; and a week-long mission trip to Colorado in July to help in the post-flood clean-up.

For more information on any Ben’s Lighthouse activities or to reserve a seat for the March 29 event, email info@benslighthouse. org or call Carla Tischio at 203-526-0325.  Reservations are encouraged, but not required.