Category: Art

Teens – ever want to learn more about photography? Want to go beyond what your cell phone can do? Potomac Arts Academy offers two different types of Photography Summer Studios for the budding young photographer: Traditional and Digital.

The Traditional Photography Studio, July 10-14, begins with students making their own working cameras out of an oatmeal can! They’ll work with alternative processes and learn how to create photographic prints in the darkroom. Digital photography elements will also be introduced.

In the Digital Photography Studio, July 17-21, students will spend time learning the basics of Photoshop. Students will use digital cameras and the professional lighting studio at Mason to stage photo shoots and edit the images on the computer. Students will learn the basics of good composition, lighting, and printing.

 

 

Both programs are for ages 13-18 and will be taught by experienced Mason alum. Each workshop will end with a “gallery” exhibition of all the students’ work for family and friends.

Make your summer “flashy” – and sign up today!

 

GET FULL DETAILS AND REGISTER

 

Imagination meets education at Mason’s vibrant summer visual art camps for kids ages 6-12, including Creative Discoveries, Art Around the World and STEAM Studio – all of which take place in the university’s School of Art classrooms!

Program director Justin Sutters, who also happens to be the Director of the Master of Arts in Education program at George Mason University, has assembled a great team of Mason alumni art instructors for this summer.

 

 

Art Around the World for Ages 6-8
July 17-21, 2017
“This camp is the perfect summer getaway for your young explorer,” exclaimed instructor Arthur Reinaltt. “Through various art media projects, we will learn about different cultures across the history of civilization!” These cultures include Mayan, Incan and Aztec cultures of Central and South America, along with the Greek, Roman and Celtic mythology of the ancient times. “We will also learn about the legends behind some of the most beloved films, such as Hercules, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast,” said Mr. Reinaltt. Arthur has gained a loyal following of young artists by teaching multiple years of art classes to children through the Academy.

Get Full Details and Register

 

 

Creative Discoveries for Ages 6-8
June 26-30, 2017
Energetic instructor Lori Eshbaugh reprises her role as artistic guide to help young students explore drawing, painting, collage, bookmaking and more! Insightful lessons in art history inspire and inform the various art projects that build technical skills and encourage self-expression.

Get Full Details and Register

 

 

STEAM Studio: Stop Motion Animation for Ages 9-12
July 10-14, 2017
Mixing the arts with STEM subjects, STEAM Studio instructor Casey Shannon will help students explore the art of stop motion animation, as well as sound and set design. “Students will have the guidance, tools, and freedom to create amazing stop motion animation films that are the basis for all modern animation,” explained Mr. Shannon. “This class will be fun for the curious tinkerer and ambitious filmmaker alike!” Casey is a Project Based Learning teacher working in the local school district.

Get Full Details and Register

 

 

Parents always enjoy attending the Student Showcase on the last day, where the students are given the opportunity to present and discuss their works to the public. Sign your child up for one of our summer art programs, and see the difference the university experience can make!

 

SEE ALL VISUAL ART SUMMER PROGRAMS

 

The JumpstART Advanced Summer Studio is intended to supplement and/or add new art experiences to high school students’ prior art education and to guide them in building a well-rounded, exemplary personal portfolio.

“The rationale is to provide participants opportunities to work with materials and processes that are not often available in public school settings due to space or access to certain technologies,” explains Program Director and instructor Justin Sutters. “The School of Art facilities at Mason allow us to explore some of those genres.” Dr. Sutters is the Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in Art Education at George Mason University.

To achieve this scope of learning, we are offering two separate weeks of JumpstART, the first week focusing on two-dimensional works (or 2-D), and the second week focusing more on three-dimensional works (or 3-D). Students can sign up for either or both weeks!

 

 

July 24 – 18, 2017 : 2-D Course
Students will explore various printmaking processes that take advantage of what a college studio has to offer, including large presses. Students will engage in carving and completing an edition of relief prints through a reductive process. Students will also explore various monotype and drypoint processes that combine drawing, painting and printmaking. Opportunities to experiment with other materials that result in mixed-media outcomes will also be encouraged.

July 31 – Aug 4, 2017: 3-D Course*
Students will begin with an exploration of the clay medium and create a slab construction that will eventually be bisque-fired and then painted. Students will also explore other constructive processes by making wire armatures and covering them with various molding materials for a free-standing sculpture. The students will be encouraged to think critically about their entire process from initial sketches to documenting their final work through photography.

*This second week also has a “Residential” option (for an extra fee), which includes on-campus housing, meals and special evening activities for the full university experience!

 

 

“I recently had the fortune of being a juror for the Regional Scholastic Art Awards and viewed over 100 art portfolios of local high school junior and seniors,” said  Dr. Sutters. “I was amazed at both the breadth and depth of their work. As such, JumpstART is intended to assist students that are interested in exploring new media and creating pieces that could eventually be included in various portfolio review processes, especially college admissions.”

Both of these one-week summer intensives are designed to guide students towards college preparation, but are open to all creative teens regardless of college intentions. We look forward to having you join us on the Mason Fairfax campus. Register now and get a “jumpstart” on your art!

 

GET DETAILS AND REGISTER

 

Our visual art classes for kids and teens, presented in collaboration with George Mason University’s School of Art, place a strong emphasis on art learning, art making and art history by utilizing Masters in Art Education students and alum as instructors.

Our Spring session of art classes starts soon – February 18th to be exact – and runs for 10 weeks. Classes are divided by age group, and each group will learn about multiple topics and get hands-on experience with several art media, including drawing, painting, sculpture and more. Themes and projects are rotated each semester so that students can take the class multiple times and still learn knew things. Sometimes we also change instructors as a refresh too!

 

 

The instructors create the curriculum for the classes by drawing on their experiences in the Masters in Arts in Teaching (MAT) graduate level program at Mason’s School of Art, along with their own artistic history and ideas. Parents are often surprised by both the quantity of topics covered and by the quality of projects produced.

Help harness your child’s vivid imagination into an expressive and empowering applied skill. Our art classes are the perfect combination of creativity and education. Sign up now to reserve your spot!

SEE ALL VISUAL ART CLASSES