Long before YouTube tutorials and CGI transformed how people learn to draw, Carlsbad native Mark Kistler was teaching 3D drawing on television, in school auditoriums and at a community center off Harding Street.
Now, the artist and former host of the 1980s and ‘90s PBS shows “The Secret City,” “Draw Squad” and “Imagination Station” will lead a series of local children’s art camps this summer in North County, where his career began.
“Creativity is such an elixir of joy,” Kistler said. “Everybody needs just a peaceful, joyful hour to be creative and draw right now.”
Kistler will also appear as a featured guest artist at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, offering live drawing demonstrations at the Arts and Crafts Pavilion and staffing an artist booth on select days.
The 61-year-old grew up in Carlsbad, a self-described beach kid who body-surfed alongside dolphins and attended Magnolia Elementary School. His path toward a career in art education began not in a studio but in a library, when he checked out a drawing book by Bruce McIntyre, a teacher at Jefferson Elementary School who opened his classroom every Thursday afternoon to kids from across the district.
“My brother and I would ride our bikes down from Magnolia School,” Kistler said. “We would draw for an hour after school with Mr. Mac. That was the start of my passion for drawing and for teaching drawing. He was the spark that set me on this path of teaching the world to draw.”
By age 14, Kistler was running an after-school drawing program through Carlsbad Parks and Recreation. By 16, he had expanded to Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, La Jolla and San Diego.
When Carlsbad High School had no pool for competitive swimming, Kistler’s mother, a nurse in the school district, helped him land an inter-district transfer to El Camino High School.
“My mom was inspiration for everything that I thought was impossible. All she saw was possible,” Kistler said.
Kistler’s mother also nurtured his artistic side, ensuring drawing materials were always available at home and never something that had to wait for a special occasion.
“She said, ‘You don’t have to ask for the presence of oxygen. You always have it. You will always have art,’” Kistler said.
Mark Kistler takes a selfie with a classroom full of budding artists. (Photo courtesy of Mark Kistler)From El Camino, Kistler enrolled at San Diego State University and, while still a junior, began developing “The Secret City” with a New York producer. By 21, he was co-creator and on-air host of the PBS series airing alongside “Sesame Street” and “Reading Rainbow.”
Over the past 40 years, Kistler has taught millions of children at K-12 school assemblies and visual arts workshops in the United States and abroad in countries such as Australia, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Dubai.
Many of Kistler’s students have gone on to work as animators and art directors for “Toy Story,” “Frozen” and “Star Wars,” among others, while several pursued careers as visual artists at NASA.
“I see these light bulbs go off in their heads,” Kistler said. “I think I enjoy teaching as much or more than I do the actual drawing.”
Kistler has authored 13 drawing books with nearly 2 million copies sold worldwide.
Since relocating to North County in January 2025, Kistler has drawn live on Instagram every day — a streak now exceeding 500 consecutive days — as part of his “Draw Live in 2025!” campaign.
He closes every livestream with the same message: “Be the reason some stranger smiles and chuckles tomorrow.”
View this post on InstagramThis summer’s camps, divided into groups for ages 6-8 and 8-14, will cover 10 to 20 drawings per day. Themes range from ocean creatures and outer space to ancient Egypt and Australian animals, and parents and grandparents are welcome to stay and draw alongside the kids at no extra cost.
“I really hope that they do decide to stay,” Kistler said. “I love the families to draw together.”
He is also preparing a “Drawing on Memory” workshop for North County seniors, using art as a tool to strengthen memory and push back against symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
For Kistler, bringing his work back to the communities where he grew up carries personal weight. He’s conducted more than 4,000 school assemblies around the world, but there’s nothing quite like teaching kids to draw in his own backyard.
“The world needs more joy and creativity,” Kistler said. “And I get to bring that home.”
Information about Mark Kistler’s summer art camps, which start June 29, is available here.
Hence then, the article about pbs star and carlsbad native who taught america to draw is coming to a summer camp near you was published today ( ) and is available on Times of San Diego ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( PBS star and Carlsbad native who taught America to draw is coming to a summer camp near you )
Also on site :