Young Artists’ Intensive
Monday - Friday, February 17 - 21, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Join us for five days of immersive artistic exploration, perfect for focused and creative young artists in grades 4-8 and up! This hands-on workshop encourages participants to explore various mediums while developing their own projects.
Mornings begin with guided instruction from ArtWaves founder Liz Cutler, introducing foundational techniques and creative approaches in Design, Drawing, Printing, 3-D Arts, and Fiber Arts. After lunch, students can deepen their skills in the morning’s medium or revisit a project from earlier in the week.
Details:
Day 1: Design
Explore the world of design with a hands-on start to the week! After introductory activities and a tour of the Kaleidoscope Studio's unique materials, students will assemble their own art kits, including a sketchbook, portfolio, and apron. Using discussions and samples for inspiration, we’ll dive into the possibilities of paper arts—quilling, cutting, origami, pop-ups, papier-mâché, bookbinding, and even papermaking.
Day 2: Drawing and Painting
Students will focus on the art of seeing and connecting eyes to hands, experimenting with tools like kneadable erasers, water-soluble graphite, and charcoal while practicing drawing techniques on giant paper. In the afternoon, we’ll explore color theory and experiment with watercolors, gouache, acrylics, and inks on a variety of surfaces, including canvas, wood, and paper.
Day 3: Printing
Bring design, drawing, and painting together through the art of printing. In the morning, students will create unique monoprints using gelatin and glycerin printing plates with leaves, stencils, and erasers. The afternoon introduces surface pressing and rubber block cutting to create series prints, with opportunities to incorporate skills from earlier days.
Day 4: 3-D Art
Think in dimensions! Today we’ll explore form, function, and space as students design and build 3-D creations, starting with plaster-infused gauze to craft unique bowls.
Day 5: Fiber Arts and Exhibit
Discover the diverse possibilities of fiber arts! Students will sample weaving, wet felting, needle felting, and embellishment techniques with embroidery or beads. The afternoon offers open studio time for free-choice projects, allowing students to showcase their creativity across media. The day concludes with a family exhibit at pick-up time to celebrate the week's creations.
Day 1: Design Sample Schedule
8:30 - 9:00 AM: Check-In and Welcome
Students arrive, settle in, and meet their instructor and classmates. The day begins with an overview of the studio space, available materials, and the week’s creative possibilities.
9:00 - 10:30 AM: Exploring Design and Paper Arts
Introduction to design concepts and hands-on exploration of paper-based art. Students experiment with techniques such as quilling, origami, paper cutting, and pop-ups, guided by Liz Cutler.
10:30 - 10:45 AM: Snack Break
A short, supervised break to recharge with snacks from home.
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Morning Project Session
Students dive deeper into their paper art projects, choosing one or more techniques to focus on. Liz provides individual guidance and support.
12:00 - 12:30 PM: Lunch Break
Students enjoy a relaxed, supervised lunch and connect with their peers.
12:30 - 2:30 PM: Afternoon Studio Session
Continuing the morning’s work, students expand on their designs, exploring additional techniques like bookbinding or papier-mâché, depending on their interests.
2:30 - 3:00 PM: Sharing and Reflection
Students showcase their work, reflect on their creative process, and discuss the skills and concepts they explored throughout the day.
3:00 - 3:30 PM: Wrap-Up and Pick-Up
A final review of the day’s projects and activities. Parents arrive for pick-up, and students take home their completed work or ongoing pieces.
About the Instructor: Liz Cutler, founder of ArtWaves, is an experienced artist and educator dedicated to nurturing creativity in young minds. With expertise across multiple mediums, Liz creates an engaging and supportive environment where children can thrive. Her workshops are designed to inspire curiosity, focus, and a lifelong love of art.
