Youth Art Classes & Workshops

Young Artists Getting Started [Sections A & B]

Bring your creative skills and get ready to discover your inner artistic voice! Young artists are challenged to play with a wide variety of media while learning basic theory on shape, color, and design thinking. This class is great for those wishing to provide young artists with a gently structured creative environment where art and learning intersect.

Offered weeks 1-5 (morning only).

Young Artists Finding Their Voice

Develop your unique artistic voice and hone creative skills! Young artists are challenged to explore different media while focusing on self-expression and personal artistic processes. This class is great for those wishing to provide young artists with a gently structured creative environment where art and learning intersect.

Offered weeks 1, 2, 3, and 5 (morning only).

(Re) Imagination Station

This course will challenge students to innovate using common everyday items such as drinking straws, cardboard, and recyclable materials. Students will brainstorm, sketch, prototype, test, and reflect, revise and construct original designs in this innovative workshop. Inventors will study industrial and product design to make their own toys, vehicles, and more!

Offered weeks 1, 2, and 4 (morning only).

Behind the Mask *NEW!*

Whether designed for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment, masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. Explore the history and uses of masks throughout the ages. Use a variety of materials and techniques to create your own masks for costume or decoration.

Offered weeks 1 and 5 (morning only).

Summer STEAM Series: Creepy-Crawly Insect Art

Iridescent wings and crunchy carapaces have excited artists and scientists throughout history. Inspired by the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, this class explores the forms of insects and how they can inspire our artwork. Studying silk, wax, and dyes made from insects, students will pursue projects based on their study of the creepy crawlies around them!

Offered weeks 3 and 4 (morning only).

Summer STEAM Series: Cosmic Creativity *NEW!*

Artists, designers, scientists, writers, film directors, and explorers have all looked to the sky for inspiration! From planetary bodies, to swirling galaxies measured in mathematical spirals, flying machines, and sustaining life on Mars - we encourage young artists, designers, and inventors to join us as we blast off into a creative voyage. 2D and 3D projects inspired by outer space will engage students' interest in the cosmos through visual art and hands-on making.

Offered weeks 2 and 5 (morning only).

Expressive Drawing

Take drawing techniques to the next level by creating personal narrative works. Delve into a study of the variety of materials that can be used to express yourself with drawing. You’ll explore pastels, ink, and toned papers while practicing silhouette and shapes. Learning when and how to combine drawing techniques and materials for your own desired effect will help reveal your aesthetic voice.

Offered weeks 3 and 4 (morning only).

Primary Printmaking

Printmaking processes have been around for thousands of years and are still used in contemporary art practices today. Create your own tools for printing with a variety of materials such as linoleum and foam, and then use them to produce original works of art! Pattern, shape, line, composition and repetition are all explored in these centuries-old techniques.

Offered week 4 (morning only).

Flipbook Animation

Long before films were animated with computers, illustrators used flipbooks to provide the illusion of continuous motion. Make your drawings come to life by experimenting with this early form of animation. Standard animation elements such as character development, story boarding, and concept will all be used to organize and plan your unique narrative work. Flipbooks are versatile, easy to create, and a great way to explore animation techniques.

Offered weeks 1, 4, and 5.

Character Design

Learn the basics of character design in this exciting class! Artists will consider shape, expression, and even species while creating characters inspired by the world around them. Study movies, television, and video games to learn how the professionals create memorable characters we know and love.

Offered weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Digital Art

Can you draw, paint, or even sculpt with a computer? Yes, you can! Computer technology merges traditional illustration with the digital world. Learn to illustrate using industry-standard tools and software for a contemporary twist on traditional arts.

Offered weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Summer STEAM Series: DaVinci Maker Studio *NEW!*

Taking inspiration from famed Renaissance inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci, students in this class will bring original designs to life! Explore the intersection of art, science, and design as you create concept sketches and build 3D objects using everyday materials in this new course. Let your curiosity and innovation take flight!

Offered weeks 1, 3, and 4.

Drawing & Color Theory

Hone your technique in this expressive art form through figure studies, life drawing, illustration, and other approaches. This course allows artists to explore color theory as a narrative practice as well as an expressive choice. Young artists will explore materials such as pastels, acrylic paint, and papercraft.

Offered weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Expressive Drawing

Develop your technique in this expressive art form through still life, contour drawing, perspective drawing, and other illustrative approaches. This course allows artists to explore different media all grounded in the foundational skill of drawing.

Offered weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Manga & Comics Creation & Appreciation *NEW!*

Dive into the history of manga, comics and related media through the works of iconic artists such as Naoko Takeuchi (Sailor Moon), Goscinny and Uderzo (Asterix), and Marvel’s Stan Lee. In addition to viewing and reading real world examples of this genre, students will apply various techniques found in this dynamic artform to their own characters, illustrations, and stories.

Offered week 3.

Illustrated Comics

Learn how to design imaginative characters for children's books, comic books, and animation through a variety of fun drawing projects and exercises. Students will explore everything from costumed gesture drawing to designing and constructing three-dimensional characters from Sculpey clay. This workshop will cover the necessary skills to bring doodles of superheroes or fantasy characters to life.

Offered weeks 4 and 5.

2D Animation

Traditional animation meets technology with the use of digital animating tools. Learn to animate objects and characters using basic walk and morph cycles. Fundamentals of animation including character design, timing, and movement will be introduced along with skill-building exercises for drawing and animating the human body. Mastering 2D animation basics lays a foundation for continued work in creating the illusion of movement.

Offered weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Digital Comics

Computer technology merges traditional comics illustration with the digital world. Learn to illustrate using industry standard tools and software for a contemporary twist to this popular platform. Storytelling and character design will be emphasized while reviewing the history of digital comics. Utilizing digital tools allows faster changes to panels and a format that makes it easy to share finished work.

Offered weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Expressive Drawing

Take drawing techniques to the next level by creating personal narrative works. Delve into a study of the variety of materials that can be used to express yourself with drawing. You’ll explore charcoal, conte, ink, and toned papers while practicing silhouette and shapes. Learning when and how to combine drawing techniques and materials for your own desired effect will help reveal your aesthetic voice.

Offered weeks 1 and 4.

Experimental Illustration: From 2D to 3D

Formally titled “3D Illustration”, this course offers young artists the opportunity to learn how to design original, imaginative characters for children's books, comic books, and animation through a variety of fun drawing projects and exercises. Students will explore everything from costumed gesture drawing to collage and constructing 3D characters using polymer clay. This workshop will cover the skills to bring doodles of superheroes or fantasy characters to life.

Offered week 1.

Character Design

Learn the basics of character design in this exciting class! Artists will consider shape, expression, and even species while creating characters inspired by the world around them. Study movies, television, and video games to learn how the professionals create memorable characters we know and love.

Offered weeks 1 and 3.

Sewing & Mending 101: Teen Workshop

Learn about visible mending traditions and techniques and hone your skills to transform or extend the life of a garment. This workshop series will cover the basics of hand and machine sewing to help you understand the construction and care of your favorite fabrics. Students will leave with a foundational understanding of garment construction, care, and mending techniques.

Offered week 2.

Foundations of Painting

Foundations of painting expands students’ understanding of color and technique through a variety of paint materials. Traditional painting techniques as well as experimentation are used to guide students toward greater confidence in their medium and in their ability to create unique, expressive works.

Offered weeks 2, 4, and 5.

Introduction To Digital Painting *NEW!*

In this workshop, students will utilize computer based drawing programs and techniques to create digital paintings. Projects that demonstrate the process of creating concept art and painted illustrations will allow students to grow in their ability to create dynamic compositions and lighting while exploring the expressive powers of colors and perspective. This workshop will have a strong focus on more niche digital techniques, like blending, photo-bashing, keyboard shortcuts, and photo editing skills.

Offered week 2.

Fashion (Re)style

It’s time to give clothing an upgrade. Design and construct totally new, one-of-a-kind garments and accessories from existing clothing. Using the latest fashion trends as inspiration, projects will include altering basic T-shirts and thrift store finds with surface design, construction techniques, and embellishments. You’ll develop skills in this workshop that will allow you to give your own wardrobe a makeover.

Offered weeks 2, 4, and 5.

Stop Motion Animation Studio *NEW!*

Life is full of movement! You’ll learn how to capture it in this unique hands-on animation workshop. Students will work with experimental forms (think claymation, 2D paper forms, or other forms of animation made with unexpected materials) and industry grade software to develop unique characters and animated shorts. Students will have the incredible advantage of making these works using state of the art Animation facilities, with the support of an expert instructor.

Offered week 3.

Summer STEAM Series: FabLab Exploration *NEW!*

Unleash your inner maker! This workshop will offer an introduction to our campus fabrication studio hub through dynamic projects that will have students learning how to use tools like laser cutters, 3D printers, spray booths, or routers. Through hands-on training, students will learn how to bring their designs to life!

Offered week 3.

Fashion Accessories

Nothing completes a look like the right fashion accessories. Design and construct several one-of-a-kind accessories to enhance your wardrobe or someone else’s. Color trends, form, pattern, and surface design will be explored in selecting projects such as scarves, hats, belts, and bags. Exercise your unique design aesthetic while creating wearable art.

Offered week 4.

Intro to Game Art & Development

This course provides a project-oriented introduction to game development and design, including concept development, elements of game, flowcharts, level design, and character/environment design. Students will be introduced to working with game engines and 3D programs, learn basic programming, and keep documentation through game docs. Polygon count, optimization, prototyping, and testing will be stressed, with students learning the full game pipeline to develop a playable level.

Offered weeks 2 and 3.

2D Animation

Traditional animation meets technology with the use of digital animating tools. Learn to animate objects and characters using basic walk and morph cycles. Fundamentals of animation including character design, timing, and movement will be introduced along with skill-building exercises for drawing and animating the human body. Mastering 2D animation basics lays a foundation for continued work in creating the illusion of movement.

Offered week 2.

Stop Motion Animation Studio *NEW!*

Life is full of movement! You’ll learn how to capture it in this unique hands-on animation workshop. Students will work with experimental forms (think claymation, 2D paper forms, or other forms of animation made with unexpected materials) and industry grade software to develop unique characters and animated shorts. Students will have the incredible advantage of making these works using state of the art Animation facilities, with the support of an expert instructor.

Offered week 2.

Creative Writing

Students often have the opportunity to experience expository writing in the classroom but have little time to develop imaginative writing. Promoting self-expression, exploring various writing styles, and creating variety in diction, sentence structure, and format, students will develop a creative outlet through writing experiences in fiction and/or nonfiction.

Offered weeks 1 and 4.

Digital Portfolio for Artists & Designers

Today’s artists use digital portfolios to share their work with the world. Learn to create a professional web presence using industry-standard software. Design skills such as type, graphics, and color theory will be explored while editing and preparing images for use online. Creativity and personalization are emphasized to achieve a unique representation of your artistic voice.

Offered weeks 2 and 4.

Intro to Game Art & Development

This course provides a project-oriented introduction to game development and design, including concept development, elements of game, flowcharts, level design, and character/environment design. Students will be introduced to working with game engines and 3D programs, learn basic programming, and keep documentation through game docs. Polygon count, optimization, prototyping, and testing will be stressed, with students learning the full game pipeline to develop a playable level.

Offered week 3.

Digital Forge *NEW!*

In this class, students will focus on the making of an original sword design! After research and sketching, students will bring their ideas to life in digital illustration software and then form their unique creations using our on site Fabrication Lab. Each student can walk away with a full scale sword model of their creation!

Offered weeks 3 and 4.

Fashion (Re)style

It’s time to give clothing an upgrade. Design and construct totally new, one-of-a-kind garments and accessories from existing clothing. Using the latest fashion trends as inspiration, projects will include altering basic T-shirts and thrift store finds with surface design, construction techniques, and embellishments. You’ll develop skills in this workshop that will allow you to give your own wardrobe a makeover.

Offered week 3.

Comic Book Development

Take a trip through comics history and bring your own original stories to life! Students will explore character design, paneling, dialogue, and more while learning about the production pipeline that brings comics from an idea to a finished product.

Offered week 4.

This course provides a foundational exploration of design and structure, wheel throwing techniques, hand building, and sculpture. Artists will experience exercises designed to encourage creativity and craftsmanship while developing a repertoire of methods for working with clay.

Offered weeks 1 and 4.

This foundational course offers the opportunity to learn how short-term speed drawings and sustained life drawing studies can develop your skills as an artist. Explore different artistic media and objects while gaining confidence in anatomy, expression, and gesture with life models, reference drawing, and challenges that strengthen artists at all levels.

Offered weeks 2 and 3.

Learn to create vibrant, colorful paintings using a limited palette. Artists will experience the power and versatility of primary colors while creating beautiful landscape paintings and still life paintings in the studio. Exercises designed to expand knowledge of color theory and painting with oils are included.

Offered weeks 1 and 2.

Learn to create vibrant, colorful paintings using a limited palette. Artists will experience the power and versatility of primary colors while creating beautiful landscape paintings on location and still life paintings in the studio. Exercises designed to expand knowledge of color theory and painting with watercolor paints are included.

Offered week 4.

Learn about visible mending traditions and techniques and hone your skills to transform or extend the life of a garment. This workshop series will cover sewing basics, by hand and sewing machine, to help you understand the construction and care of your favorite fabrics. Students will leave with a foundational understanding of garment construction, care, and mending techniques.

Offered week 1.

In this course, you'll expand on the sewing skills taught in our Sewing & Mending 101 workshop to master garment-making techniques, including pattern reading, size charts, elastic sewing, and pocket construction. By the end of the class, you'll have a finished garment and the confidence to tackle more sewing projects on your own!

Offered week 3.

Prepare to create original images with meaning as you develop your technical skills in traditional film photography! In addition to exploring how essential elements of art like composition, line, value, and space help artists capture more dynamic images; this course will teach you all the basics from start to finish, including 35mm camera controls, B&W film processing, and darkroom processing techniques. Designed for students new to film photography, as well as more experienced photographers looking to reconnect with traditional practices.

Offered weeks 3 and 4.