Ten Reasons Why An Art Major is a Great Choice
Are you considering majoring in art? If so, you’ve made the right choice! Art can be a very rewarding and stimulating field of study, and...
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Upper Elementary Art Program
The mission of our upper elementary program (ages 9-12) is to encourage creative problem-solving, fostering artistic exploration and experimentation, and for students to develop critical thought and to support their interpretations and opinions as they respond to art.
Courses are eight weeks long, and the first five weeks are guided lessons to exercise or hone techniques, where students focus on both process, techniques, and product based work. Once they have learned the techniques or materials, they are encouraged to brainstorm, problem-solve, research, explore and experiment to make individual and innovative works of art. In these last three weeks, teachers provide guidance and support as students use the tools and lessons that they have learned to create their own art. What emerges from the courses is a technical skill, but also a confidence in their own art-making and creativity.
We end each class with a “group share” or critique experience. Here students practice the language of art and design, have a sense of community, and receive positive reinforcement for their work. Students may share a larger piece they are working on, a piece from home, or a sketchbook exploration.
Sketchbooks are given to each student to collect and store ideas that will become starting points for works of art in the future. These visual journals allow students to enhance their skills of observation and image-making in order to process more detailed information. Some examples of sketchbook activities are illustrating poems and short stories, designing and illustrating commercial advertisements, observational drawings, photo collages, and mixed media experimentation.
A goal for the (9-12) program is to have three group trips each year; one in the fall, winter, and spring. Branching out to explore the city and connect our lessons with the outside. Group trips may be at a community garden, the James C Veen Observatory, Rosa Parks Circle, or other in and around the Grand Rapids area. The trips are thematically designed to engage children in art/science/nature beyond the classroom walls, and we will practice art skills like urban sketching or plein air painting.
Occasionally, a guest artist will come to visit the classroom to demonstrate a unique craft or skill. Some ideas of artists may include a video game designer, regionally exhibited printmaker, interior designer, museum curator, or fashion designer. This experience further develops their understanding that art is everywhere, and expands their horizons of art as a career.
Classes are very small, with 12 students to 1 teacher.
Classes are 60 minutes long, run for 4 week sessions, and are weekly.
Current Courses for Upper Elementary
Weaving Fun
In this class, we invite children ages 9-12 to experiment and make different forms of weavings! Each week will explore different forms of weaving using a variety materials.
Kids will create their own weaving work to feel proud and successful. They will start with simple practices and expand to include beads, chunky yarn or fibers, embroidery floss, or items from nature! We will also gain inspiration from texture and fiber artists who are making beautiful work today.
Schedule: Wednesday, 4-5pm.
Course Starts: January 11, 2023
Course Ends: January 25, 2023
Intro to Comics
In this class, students age 6-12 will make or do various elements of comic book and graphic novels. From lettering, panel design, drawing, and coloring, the kids will understand and do it all! We will look at different styles of drawing - whether that is anime, manga, or stylistic choices when an artist or illustrator uses pencil, marker, or even paint to make their books. Understanding these styles better, we will then practice them ourselves.
Schedule: Thursdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: January 12, 2023
Course Ends: January 26, 2023
Intro to Art
In this class, students ages 9-12 will have an introduction to a variety of art mediums, styles, and skills. The mission of this class is to provide students with a foundation of visual arts knowledge, a confidence in skill, and provide an exploration of mediums and materials. This course emphasizes the development of observation and seeing like an artist, mistake-making, and creative expression. The learning sequence progresses from simple forms and skill levels toward more complex compositions. Basic elements such as line, proportion, perspective, composition, texture, and the study of light and shade are investigated through various perceptual and conceptual approaches. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced courses.
Schedule: Thursdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: February 1, 2023
Course Ends: February 22, 2023
Characters for Comic Books
In this class, students age 6-12 will understand shape concept and line as they learn how to draw characters! We will gain understanding of a variety of tools, tips, and tricks to create and think critically about movement, personality of characters, and color tones to shape their stories. We will look at different styles of drawing - whether that is anime, manga, or stylistic choices when an artist or illustrator uses pencil, marker, or even paint to make their books. Understanding these styles better, we will then practice them ourselves.
Schedule: Thursdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: February 2, 2023
Course Ends: February 23, 2023
Intro to Painting
In this class, students ages 9-12 will explore a wide range of painting mediums and techniques! The mission of this class is to provide students with an opportunity to practice a wide variety of painting skills. Students will exercise painting techniques including acrylic paint, and watercolor paint, as well as foundational skills of color theory, mixing, brush care, preparation and setup, and move into basic concepts, and finish with a work of their own idea! We will explore contemporary artists who utilize these mediums, and, inspired by their work, make traditional and more contemporary work. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced courses.
Schedule: Wednesdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: March 1, 2023
Course Ends: March 29, 2023
Comic Book and Graphic Novel Design and Writing
Take your comic book and graphic novel drawing and work to the next level!
In this class, students ages 6-12 are invited to take a deeper dive into comic book and graphic novel creations! Together we will explore more advanced elements of comic book and graphic novels. Students will learn from story arcs in their favorite movies and stories, how different stories are memorable, and then write their own simple stories. Learning to storyboard and make impactful panel design, they will start with a simple panel and move into more complex finished work from their own imaginations!
Please note: the images featured are just ideas for inspiration.
Schedule: Thursdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: March 2, 2023
Course Ends: March 30, 2023
Painting and Mixed Media
In this class, students ages 9-12 will explore the field of mixed media and painting! The mission of this class is to provide students with an opportunity to develop their drawing, painting, and mixed media skills in a highly creative and expressive environment. Students will use painting techniques including acrylic paint, watercolor paint, gel and gesso paint, plaster painting, charcoal and water practices, as well as incorporate found objects and textures into their work. We will explore contemporary artists who utilize these mediums, and, inspired by their work, make traditional and more contemporary work. Students will start with basic concepts, and finish with a work of their own idea! Through learning basic elements such as layering in paint and a variety of media, drawing shape and form, students will hone their spatial, technical, and creative abilities. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced courses.
Schedule: Wednesdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: April 12, 2023
Course Ends: April 26, 2023
Superhero Drawing
Learn how to draw your favorite Superheroes in this character drawing course for ages 6-12! In this class, students will learn how to draw their characters! Students will share their favorites in the first class, and then we will move step by step to learn how to draw them! Students will gain understanding of a variety of tools, tips, and tricks to create and think critically about movement, foreshortening, perspective, color, and and color tones to understand these characters. We will look at different styles of drawing and deconstruct how the artists made their characters! Understanding these styles better, we will then practice them ourselves.
Please note: the images featured are just ideas for inspiration.
Schedule: Thursdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: April 13 2023
Course Ends: April 27, 2023
Introduction to Water Paints: Watercolor and Gouache
In this class, students ages 9-12 will explore the wonderful world of water-based paints! The mission of this class is to share an introduction to waterpaint techniques and practices! Delving into this world, we will gain more skill and fluency as we experiment with techniques and make our own reference guides. Students will exercise creative art making, as well as practice problem-solving and patience as we wait for our work to dry and start new ones. They will move through both guided demonstrations as well as works of their own imagination! Through learning basic elements such as layering in paint and a variety of media, drawing shape and form, students will hone their spatial, technical, and creative abilities. Open to beginning students as well as those who want to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced courses.
Schedule: Wednesdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: May 3, 2023
Course Ends: May 31, 2023
Guided Course - Make a Complete Comic Book
Take your comic book and graphic novel drawing and work to the next level! In this class, students ages 6-12 will start and finish a full comic book. Sharing in the art making and writing process, students will create characters and their story arcs, design and draw the comic book panels, and finish an entire book! This is one of our most popular and most fun classes, as the students learn from and inspire each other. We add professional touches to these books, as we encourage the students to add "about the author" and "acknowledgments" pages. We will publish the finished comic books and on our last evening, we will invite families/caregivers to join us for a special reading and presentation of our books. Our famous creators will be available for autographs, of course.
Schedule: Thursdays, 430-530pm.
Course Starts: May 4, 2023
Course Ends: Ma4 25, 2023
Art Classes at East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation
We are proud to share fine art classes at East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation.
Sharing our courses for ages three to adult, we offer easy going introductions to art for preschoolers, lower elementary, upper elementary, teenagers, and adults, including month-long courses, spring and summer camp opportunities, and more. Young Artist Series, art classes for
Registration for the East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department classes is done so through their website. If you would like to see, or register for our courses there, please follow the link below. If you have questions in the registration process, please email education@cultivategrandrapids.org
"I LOVE photography! I always took pictures with my phone, but didn't know anything like this. I want to do every class!"
- Twelve-year-old student after learning film photography
"I didn't know art could BE like this!"
- Nine-year old student
"Thank you! My daughter walked away from this class with a new confidence in herself and in art. She's been showing us her work every day and is drawing all the time now!"
- Parent of nine-year-old student
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