Anna Chapman

This camp, for students age 10-11, offers students the opportunity to focus on their drawing and painting skills in a highly creative and challenging environment. Through individual and collaborative projects, students are introduced to both traditional and experimental materials and methods and explore a variety of drawing techniques and approaches to build their technical, spatial, and creative abilities, including essential elements of 2D design and art. Working with a wide range of materials, students investigate contemporary subjects and themes using pencil, charcoal, pastel, ink, gouache, water-based paint, and mixed-media through skills such as line, perspective, tone, proportion, composition, value, gesture, and contour. Trips to the Art Institute of Chicago Museum to observe and sketch from a wide variety of paintings, sculptures, and objects are used as inspiration for studio work (virtual tours are featured if your course is online). This camp is designed for beginning students as well as those who want to continue developing their skills and confidence in drawing and painting, and can be repeated for continued skill and idea building.

What are the differences and similarities between fine art, graffiti art, and street art? Many contemporary artists have discovered that viewers engage with their work differently at street level than on the walls of a gallery. Through daily experiments, presentations, workshops, field trips, and discussions, students focus on producing publicly engaged visual statements, aimed at new ways of thinking. Working in SAIC's studios and public spaces, students have the opportunity to create their own individual portfolio-quality works in addition to a collaborative mural or public project. Students investigate a variety of methods, including spray-painting, stencil and lettering, wheat pasting, and graphic drawing. Discussions about the work of contemporary artists inspire projects. While primarily a painting and drawing course, students may choose to work in a variety of media and forms, following their personal interests and research. *NOTE* Some basic drawing experience is preferred, but not required. SAIC provides basic equipment for this course, but students are encouraged to bring their own digital camera, tablet, and/or laptop for homework and after-studio hours projects.*NOTE* Some basic drawing experience is preferred, but not required. SAIC provides basic equipment for this course, but students are encouraged to bring their own digital camera, tablet, and/or laptop for homework and after-studio hours projects.