Megan Mary Kalmes

This advanced camp invites students aged 12-13 with prior drawing experience to explore various materials and techniques that will expand their artistic abilities. While continuing to develop their technical skills, students will focus on using drawing to organize their thoughts and feelings and express their ideas. Students will work with various materials, including pencil, charcoal, pastel, ink, and mixed media. Visiting the Art Institute of Chicago will allow campers to observe and sketch from a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and other objects to inspire their studio work. Students will explore endless possibilities in a supportive environment that fosters growth and artistic confidence¿whether experimenting with innovative processes or refining their unique style.

This course is perfect for students passionate about drawing but new to painting. Build on your drawing skills as a solid foundation to explore exciting 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.

This course is designed for students with previous drawing experience who want to explore a range of materials and processes to expand their work in new directions and improve their portfolios. While building on technical abilities, students also investigate the creative process and ways to use drawing as a language and a tool for organizing thoughts and ideas. Students experiment with media (black/white, color, wet/dry, found materials), scale, arrangement, presentation/installation, and consider aesthetic design decisions, materials selections, and cultural concerns during the creative process. Field trips to the Art Institute of Chicago, artist presentations, and discussions focusing on the work of significant historic and contemporary artists such as Sol LeWitt, Julie Mehretu, Wangechi Mutu, William Kentridge, and others supplement the studio experience.

NOTE: Previous drawing experience required. Students are encouraged to bring a digital camera, tablet, and/or laptop for homework/research and after-studio hours projects.