For 17 years, Mark Kistler has used public television to entertain and instruct children in three-dimensional drawing.

Beginning this week, Kistler's acclaimed children's program "Imagination Station" will debut 29 new programs which were produced at Redding's public television station, KIXE-Channel 9.

Based on his new book, "Mark Kistler's Imagination Station," the Redding productions will supplement 36 episodes already being used by public television stations across the country. All 65 shows will be fed to stations via satellite throughout the month.

"Mark Kistler's "Imagination Station" has been a popular series with art lovers of any age," said Brad Fay, KIXE program manager. "We are thrilled with the opportunity of producing a series of this caliber that has national distribution." Fay said San Diego used to be the production site for Kistler's "Imagination Station," but KIXE offered him a better deal.

"He got a better price, a better crew and we're members of the Pacific Mountain Network, which distributes to all public television stations," Fay said.

Known in art circles for his energy ad enthusiasm for teaching art, Kistler uses vivid computer animation and art history to instruct members of his viewing audience how to apply fundamental drawing principles to their own work.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Kistler, 32, has been drawing for a national audience on PBS since the age of 15. He is single and resides near San Diego. Kistler's list of guest artists for the Redding production is impressive. The new episodes feature former "The Simpsons" animator Tim Decker and "Ren and Stimpy" producer Doyle Smith. Other guests include NASA space shuttle designer David Brewster and children's book writers/illustrators Lee Ames and Mona Brooks, as well as Kim Solga of Mount Shasta, an author/educator.

Kistler's "Imagination Station" is also known for teaching art history as well as instruction. Kistler's own self-styled method - called the 12 Renaissance Words - is used during an art history and appreciation segment in which he explains how the world's greatest pieces of artwork were created with one or more of the 12 basic fundamental drawing principles.

Kistler said the method builds a child's critical thinking skills and nourishes self-esteem.

"My philosophy is simple. If kids can learn to draw three-dimensionally, they feel good about themselves," he said. "This self-esteem helps them to excel in all subjects."

The proof may be in the mailbag. Since he began his PBS series, Kistler has received more than 1 million letters and drawings from children,