CLEVELAND — Given the right environment, kids can create incredible worlds and characters through art. 

Lake Erie Ink works to create a space where kids are encouraged to tap into that creativity and express themselves through their art. 

One of their regular program attendees, 13-year-old Shilah Sample, got into art years ago when she saw her friends drawings.

“I was like ‘Oh, your art is really good. I kinda want to try that,’” Sample said.

Now, she said, she spends most of her free time doodling and making art. 

“Including school, it’s probably some time every period,” she said. “Or, when I’m not in school, it’s probably like a couple hours a day.”

Saturday, she attended Lake Erie Ink’s 11th annual Comic Con event, where they brought in artists to teach kids new skill sets and just give them a safe space to express themselves freely.

Jarod 'Od' Perry-Richardson is a creative arts teacher at Lake Erie Ink and said the arts can often be put on the back burner in school, so he enjoys allowing the kids to embrace their creative side. 

“It's a very creative space,” Perry-Richardson said. “It’s also very nurturing space. It’s a place where we can foster creativity. And I just love working with the kids because of the spontaneity of children's creativity, and just seeing their love for writing and creating stories and just really expressing themselves.”

Sample said being involved in programs like this has expanded her interests in other arts, like theater and writing, and it’s not an opportunity she takes for granted. 

“It's just it's really nice to have a space like this where you can do all kinds of art,” she said. “And I think everybody should have some sort of opportunity like this in life.

Kids ComicCon is just one of many programs Lake Erie Ink offers for students interested in art. 

They also have several in and after school workshops, as well as some summer programs coming up.