Ömürhan Alptekin-Torres

This immersive experience offers a stimulating environment where young artists can develop as creative individuals while learning to solve problems innovatively. In addition to daily studio art projects, students will keep a sketchbook to capture their research, ideas, and reactions during visits to the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, where they will explore captivating exhibits that inspire new ideas and fuel their imaginations. Campers will enjoy diverse artistic adventures with friends through experiments in painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, printmaking, and more, creating lasting memories and friendships. Each session will have a different focus, allowing students who enroll in multiple sessions to encounter new studio projects each time.

Explore drawing as an engaging form of expression through writing, discussion, sketchbooks, and individual and group projects. Students will explore various drawing techniques and approaches while gaining an understanding of essential elements of 2D design and art, including line, shape, shading, and light. Visits to the Art Institute of Chicago will offer inspiration from various paintings, sculptures, and objects. This course invites beginners and those seeking to enhance their drawing skills and confidence. Students can repeat the course to improve their abilities further and generate new ideas.

This camp allows students aged 10-11 to focus on their drawing and painting skills in a highly creative and challenging environment. Through individual and collaborative projects, students explore a range of traditional and experimental materials and techniques. They will learn various drawing methods, building their technical, spatial, and creative abilities while focusing on essential elements of 2D design and art. 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. Inspiration comes from visits to the Art Institute of Chicago Museum to observe and sketch various paintings, sculptures, and objects. This camp, designed for beginners and those looking to develop their drawing and painting skills further, can be repeated for ongoing skill enhancement and idea building.

This course is perfect for students passionate about drawing but new to painting. Build your drawing skills as a solid foundation to explore exciting new painting techniques as you define your unique artistic vision with the guidance of your instructor. You will explore essential skills such as line, volume, space, materiality, form and function, and color. Various traditional and contemporary materials will be utilized, including graphite, charcoal, pastels, water-based paints, mixed media, and collage. Additionally, visits to the Art Institute of Chicago and discussions about contemporary artists will enhance the studio experience and inspire students to develop conceptual ideas in their artworks. By the end of this course, you'll have a deeper understanding of different art materials and the confidence to transition from drawing to painting. This course is beneficial for beginners as well as those looking to refine and enhance their skills. Note: Figure Drawing and Figure Painting use nude models hired by the School. Other painting and drawing classes may use them to a lesser degree.

Students will explore both traditional and modern approaches to watercolor, including gouache. The course will introduce various techniques, types of paper, alternative painting surfaces, and mixed media processes. It is designed for those with basic drawing skills and previous painting experience, encouraging experimentation with scale, subject matter, and formats. Critiques and discussions will support and guide each student in their artistic direction.