Youth Arts Programs
2019 Summer Youth Program is dedicated to introducing children to a broad range of art mediums. The 25 classes offered are taught by experienced artist and teachers and may be taken in full or half day sessions. We hope your child will find something exciting to introduce them to art, or further their interest.
Morning classes run 9am to 12pm. Afternoon classes run 1pm to 4pm. Please let us know if you need early drop-off (8:30am) or late pick-up at 4:30pm. There is no class time in those periods. Full day enrollment includes a supervised home-packed lunch (and snacks) which may be enjoyed outdoors, weather permitting. Students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and are requested to refrain from cell phone use during class.
Half day sessions are $175/week or $350/week for full days. This fee includes materials. Additional charges may apply for supplies to some classes, which will be specified upon registration. Student membership to the Academy is $25 annually. Family membership (3 or more) is $60.
Download Summer Youth Programs brochure and Registration. (PDF Summer Youth Programs)
Sculpture in Motion
with Melanie Carr
Ages 10 & Up Morning
Enjoy thinking and working in 3D as we discover the work of artist Alexander Calder, who worked in CT for over 40 years! Calder became famous for inventing the mobile, a type of sculpture that moves. In this workshop we will explore various techniques for bending and manipulating wire. We will build a simplifi ed mobile as we learn and discuss issues of balance and how to fi nd equilibrium. The fee includes all materials, however, you are asked to provide a pair of scissors, pliers, sketchbook, and colored markers and any other drawing materials of your choice.
Doodles
with Melanie Carr
Ages 10 & Up Afternoon
Through doodling, scribbling and drawing, students learned about their own creative processes. This workshop begins with collaborative timed exercises. Students will make view finders out of scrap paper and translate doodles into small drawings – and continue this process to make large cut paper artworks. Working collaboratively is a unique component to this workshop. We’ll discuss how a small doodle could result in a large public artwork and/or how cut-outs could be utilized as stencils to apply paint on a large exterior site.
Paint your Pet in Acrylics - All Day Class
with Nick Frasco
Ages 7 & up - All day class
Using a picture of your own pet, (or any picture of an animal) the student is taught a step by step process for making a portrait of their own. Students start by "gridding" their photos to get the exact pose of their pets. Once the final drawings have been established, they will then use skills of blending and layering a pelt. An indoor or outdoor environment will be added to the finished piece.
Gelli Plate Printing - Morning
with Trudy Mitchell
Ages 9 and up – Morning
Join us for three days of printmaking using plates that mimic the texture of gelatin. This exciting new medium allows artists to print with leaves, stencils, brayers, and more to create papers perfect for small hand-tied books.
Students will spend the first two and a half days printing and complete the class by gathering their papers into hand-tied journals. Adults are welcome!
Concept to Creation- Morning
with Nick Frasco
Beginner to advanced (Ages 8 -15) - Morning
Students will learn how to put a "Concept piece of Art" together using "thumbnails" and storyboards to construct a theme. They will go from rough sketches to developing a concept piece that will utilize their imaginations and train them to think "outside of the box."
Once the drawings are completed and finalized, we will use multiple mediums (watercolor, Prisma colored pencils and micron pens) to interpret their wonderful ideas into a full color, story telling Illustration.
Fantasy Art – Afternoon
with Nick Frasco
Beginner to advanced Ages 10 and up - Afternoon
Create Mystical Creatures from dragons, gargoyles, elves and trolls, to fairies and wizards and whatever else the mind might create in this mystical and wonderful land of make believe. Only our imaginations and of course a bit of skill and instruction can conjure up these creatures. Join us as we explore these very imaginative themes. Everything starts with the drawing. Learn how to work in the parameters of the page and develop a drawing of your own using actual statues of these creatures. This will help to interpret positioning and depth for your creature by breaking them down into simple shapes. We will have daily instruction and demonstrations for using this method of relating what the "eye sees" into simple forms and shapes.
Creating A Nature Journal - Mornings
with Trudy Mitchell
Beginner to Intermediate – Mornings
Have fun drawing outdoors as students begin their own artist's sketchbook! Participants will explore ways to simplify scenes they wish to draw, observe the behavior of light and shadow on objects, learn simple perspective and complete their sketches with ink and watercolor. Artists will leave the workshop with drawings, color notes and observations that will encourage independent sketchbook journaling throughout the summer and all the seasons to come! Adults are welcome!
Fundamentals of Drawing - Mornings
with Eliza Moser
Beginner Level (Ages 10 and up) - Morning
Learn the fundamentals of drawing, starting from the very beginning. Students will start by learning how to copy shapes and proportions in line-drawing, then move on to understanding the relationship of light, values, and planes; finally, students will learn the components of form to create a convincing sense of 3D. Excellent for beginners looking for a strong start to drawing
Steampunk Creation - Mornings
with Nick Frasco
Beginner level – (Ages 8 and up) - Morning
Steampunk – noun -a genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology.
Turn a boring jacket, hat or other piece of clothing into a unique Steampunk creation. The essence of steampunk is homage to vintage fashion with a modern, sassy twist. It is a style of design and fashion that combines historical elements with anachronistic technological features inspired by science fiction. Students must bring suitable clothing items for transformation into their own unique Steampunk design.
Making Mardi Gras Masks -Afternoons
with Nick Frasco
Beginner Level (Ages 8 and up)- Afternoon
Have fun making your own Mardi Gras Masks (Also good for Halloween) with feathers, beads, sequins, paint, ribbon and any other “found objects” and “whatnots” you have.
Your imagination is the limit.
Students are required to bring at least 2 blank masks with them to class for embellishment.
Fundamentals of Painting - Afternoons
with Eliza Moser
Beginner Level (Ages 10 and up) - Afternoon
Learn the fundamentals of oil painting, starting from the very beginning. Through a series of lectures and class exercises you will learn how to depict light and shade through a value-scheme, how to create desired effects of color, as well as blending tricks to achieve a realistic sense of form. This is an excellent course for beginners looking to understand painting, both in concept and practice.
Manga/Anime Drawing, Design, Storyboarding - Mornings
with Nick Frasco
Beginner – Ages 8 and up - Morning
"Manga" literally means “Whimsical drawings” Learn the art of this very popular, and unique style of drawing starting with rough sketches and design layouts of a full page illustration of these Japanese style comic characters.
We will create our own Manga Illustrated page using only a grey value scale. We complete these black and white storyboards with micron pens to give them a finished quality without the use of color. I will demonstrate how to get this Japanese style effect to the drawings, as well as instructing the different techniques used with micron pens.
Manga / Anime Drawing Full Color - Afternoons
with Nick Frasco
Intermediate – Ages 8 and up - Afternoon
Students will design and sketch a “Manga” style character of their own imagination to put into a storybook type setting. Students can used the character created in the morning class or draw a new character. A finished and completed comic book style fully detailed cover art will be created.
Embroider a Denim Garment - Mornings
with Lynn Payette
Ages 9 and up - Morning
Using basic embroidery stitches and pearl cotton threads in a variety of sizes and colors, come and create your own masterpiece of wearable art! Garment is not supplied, but all threads, needles and a hoop are included in the class fee.
Paper, Thread, Beads and Embroidery Squares - Afternoons
with Lynn Payette
Ages 10 and up – Afternoon
The design for this class is a 4.5" x 4.5" square (on an even-weave ground) that has been divided into 9 individual 1.5" squares. The squares are filled with a variety of different artist’s papers, gilded paper towel (this will be taught), a variety of fabrics, (including) metallic fabrics with beading and stitching embellishments. The student will learn how to apply the fabrics, as well as beading techniques and a variety of embroidery stitches to create their own design. Stretcher bars and even-weave ground as well as the embellishments for this class will be supplied.
Portrait Drawing From a Photo - Mornings
with Eliza Moser
Intermediate Level (Ages 10 and up) Morning
Learn how to create a realistic portrait working from a photo! Students will learn how to create accurate proportions to capture the likeness of their subject.
Additional concepts covered will be facial anatomy and the the structure of individual facial features. Prerequisite Fundamentals of Drawing course recommended, but not required.
Plein Air in Old Wethersfield - Mornings
with Nick Frasco
Intermediate Level (Ages 10 and up) Morning
Plein Air is an adjective which is used to define the manner of a 19th-century style of painting outdoors, or with a strong sense of the open air, that became a central feature of French impressionism. In this class we will take our work outside and sketch through observation a scene in Old Wethersfield and add color reminiscent of classical Frech Impressionist painters.
Painting Portraits in Oil - Afternoons
with Eliza Moser
Intermediate Ages (10 and up) Afternoon
Learn how to create a realistic portrait working from a photo. Students will start with a transfer drawing and underpainting, capturing accurate proportions. Next, we will cover the basics of color mixing to learn how to mix fleshtones, and finally learn to apply paint and create a convincing sense of form. Prerequisite Fundamentals of Painting course recommended, but not required
Decorative furniture painting - Afternoons
with Nick Frasco
Intermediate Level – Ages 8 and up - Afternoon
With a small piece of furniture, jewelry box, bird house, chest, chair or end table that needs a creative touch up, students will go through the process of surface preparation the application of a paint base-coat and developing a color scheme best suited to the students own vision. The piece of furniture should be easily portable and should be no larger than a small end table.
FORTNITE Creating Characters and Skins
with
Beginner to Advanced (Ages 8 and up) Morning
Do you like the game Fortnite or any other "P.V.P." games? How would you like to create your own Fortnite character from imagining your own “skins” to coming up with your own weapons.
If you have the imagination, we will help you realize it onto paper and then help you turn that drawing into a full colored character straight out of the world of Fortnite.
CREATING IN CLAY - Afternoons
with Nick Frasco
Beginner Level (Ages 8 and up) Afternoon
DESIGN AND PAINT ORIGINAL CHARACTERS IN CLAY, Students will design, sketch and create their own original characters; First, using only their pencils and a 2 dimensional piece of paper.
Once these ideas are in a finished format, we will then take these drawings and start to construct these characters into 3 Dimensional figures using clay and sculpting tools, oh yes and their imaginations. Fortnite characters from the morning session can be used.
Copying the Masters in Oil - Mornings
with Eliza Moser
Advanced Level (Ages 10 and up) - Morning
Learn to paint from the masters! Students will learn the secrets of oil painting by copying a classical work of art. Following a step-by-step process, we will complete an oil painting using traditional methods, learning everything it takes to make a masterpiece. Prerequisite Fundamentals of Oil Painting recommended, but not required.
Designing a Skateboard - Afternoons
with Jared Standish
Intermediate level (Ages 8 and up) - Afternoon
Back by popular demand is Jared’s awesome skateboard class. You will build your own skateboard and design the graphics. You will learn the methods and materials used to make skateboards by building your own board and create a custom collage graphic. At the end, choose trucks and wheels and go home with your own unique handmade skateboard.
3-D painting with Eye Popping effects - Mornings
with Nick Frasco
Intermediate - Ages 10 and up - Morning
Students will draft, sketch and plan out a 3 Dimensional painting by first transferring a drawing of their own onto Masonite board with the intension of putting and eventually gluing 3 Dimensional objects onto a 2 Dimensional surface. This will give their pieces a very cool and unusual effect that will "POP" right out at you!!!
Still Life Week - Half or Full Day
with Eliza Moser
Advanced Level (Ages 10 and Up). Half or full day course
Learn how to create a beautiful and realistic still life oil painting. Following a simple step-by-step process, students will bring the painting from a simple underpainting to a finished piece. Along the way we’ll cover the basics of values, form, color mixing and paint application.
Prerequisite course Fundamentals of Painting recommended but not required.
Drawing Super Heroes in Color - Afternoons
with Nick Frasco
Beginner to Advanced - Ages 7 and up - Afternoon
Do you like reading comic books, or even drawing superheroes? Did you ever think about trying to create your own superhero or comic book?
I want to show you how to draw one of these "Super Humans". From basic human anatomy to exaggerating these muscle bound characters, to creating and laying out an actual comic book cover page in full color. Everything starts with the drawing, so let’s start there and see how far we get.
Youth Drawing & Painting
with Nick Frasco
Saturdays – 2 hours between 9am to 12pm,
can start anytime - Ages 6 & up
- 6-week session ongoing
This ongoing and very popular course will teach young people the fundamentals of drawing, composition and painting, how to mix and apply paint, and the use of a variety of art materials. Students may bring a project of their own on which to work. The ultimate goal of the Youth Program is to create a work of art that is satisfying
Class fee does not include materials.
Please email us for the materials list. info@wethersfieldarts.org
Character Development
with Nick Frasco
Tuesdays, 4 - 6pm can start anytime
Ages 6 & Up - 6-week session ongoing
Learn to create your own original Cartoon Character. Students will discover the different characteristics of drawing a dynamic character of your own. Starting by drawing their faces in a “cartoon style”, simplifying them into shapes and paying attention to depth while giving them a 3 dimensional look and drawing them from every imaginable angle. Once you have learned to render, you will be well on your way to creating your own dynamic cartoon character.
Class fee does not include materials.
Please email us for the materials list. info@wethersfieldarts.org
Deposit / Cancellation Policy
Deposits are required for all classes and workshops in the amount of half the tuition to secure limited spots. Full payment is due two weeks before the start of the session. All cancellations must be made 2 weeks before the start of a class or workshop. We are not responsible for issuing refunds, credits or transfers for classes/workshops missed due to illness, emergencies or events beyond our control. If a workshop is cancelled by us, all money will be promptly refunded.