Bowdoin Summer Art Camp

Ages 6-7

9:00am- 12:00pm Draw / Paint / Print! 

Come on a 2D making adventure as we explore drawing, painting and printmaking! In this workshop, we’ll explore a variety of mediums (including graphite, pastel, watercolor, and acrylic paint) and surfaces (paper, fabric, maps, found and recycled objects). We will experiment with different techniques (including monoprints, relief printing, and homemade cyanotypes) to investigate line, color, pattern, shape, space, and scale. We’ll create a variety of individual and collaborative projects, both indoors and out. Join us as we dive into portraits, landscape painting on-site, creating our own installations to paint from life, and abstraction. We’ll take inspiration from the natural world, other artwork, and our own lives to create an exhibition of artwork for families to experience at the end of the week.

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Imaginary Worlds

In this workshop we will create imaginary worlds and the creatures, plants and beings that live within! For inspiration, We will explore picture books and artists who have created creatures, plants and worlds in their work as well as the natural world around us. Through drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and sculpture we will make representations of our imaginary worlds and what lives within them. At the end of the week, artists will share their creations with friends and family through an art show. 

Ages 8-10 

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Imaginary Worlds

In this workshop we will create imaginary worlds and the creatures, plants and beings that live within! For inspiration, we will explore picture books and artists who have created creatures, plants and worlds in their work as well as the natural world around us. Through drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and sculpture we will make representations of our imaginary worlds and what lives within them. At the end of the week, artists will share their creations with friends and family through an art show.  

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Wax Paper Nature Art

Have you ever dipped paper in melted beeswax? It’s fun! In this camp, artists will draw inspiration from nature to create 2-D and 3-D objects such as wreaths, chandeliers, wall ornaments, and installation, enhanced by the unique, visually engaging texture of beeswax. Artists will also create mixed media art books to document their creative process.

Ages 11-13

9:00 am-12:00 pm Miniature Mania 

Learn a variety of 3D paper techniques, from creating cylinders and boxes, to adding textures with paper. Then we will learn how to adapt these techniques into recognizable objects in order to create our own miniature scenes.

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Draw / Paint / Print! Explorations 

Explore the world of 2D image-making through drawing, painting and printmaking! In this workshop, we’ll explore a variety of mediums (including graphite, ink, charcoal, pastel, watercolor, and acrylic paint) and surfaces (paper, fabric, maps, found and recycled objects). We will experiment with different techniques (including monoprints, relief printing, and homemade cyanotypes) to investigate line, color, pattern, shape, space, and scale. We’ll create a variety of individual and collaborative projects, both indoors and out. Join us as we dive into portraits, landscape painting on-site, creating our own installations to paint from life, and abstraction. We’ll take inspiration from the natural world, other artwork, and our own lives to create an exhibition of artwork for families to experience at the end of the week.  

Ages 6-7

9:00 am - 12 pm Artist as Muse 

During this adventure-filled week, young artists will create a series of works inspired by great artists. Mark Rothko, Ed Ruscha and Wendy Red Star are a few of the artists we will learn about. Every day we will focus on a different artist, and play with various media to build our appreciation for art history and art practice and the relationship between the two

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Color and Collage

In this workshop, students will integrate painting, collage, songs, poetry, and games into a week of creativity.  Young artists will make hand-painted, textured paper with watercolor on wet paper.  They will use salt, sponges, Plexiglas, plastic wrap, straws, and marbleizing techniques to create a variety of nature settings illustrating water, sky, various lands, and times of day.  These papers will be the raw materials for creating collages that tell picture stories.  Collage themes will be self-directed, but the collage illustrations of Leo Lionni, Lois Ehlert, Steve Jenkins, and Eric Carle will be shared for inspiration.

Ages 8-10

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Color and Collage 

In this workshop, students will integrate painting, collage, songs, poetry, and games into a week of creativity.  Young artists will make hand-painted, textured paper with watercolor on wet paper.  They will use salt, sponges, Plexiglas, plastic wrap, straws, and marbleizing techniques to create a variety of nature settings illustrating water, sky, various lands, and times of day.  These papers will be the raw materials for creating collages that tell picture stories.  Collage themes will be self-directed, but the collage illustrations of Leo Lionni, Lois Ehlert, Steve Jenkins, and Eric Carle will be shared for inspiration. 

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Woven World 

Get ready to explore color and the natural world through weaving! In this camp, children will learn how to build their own tapestry loom and tools. Using organic materials found in nature, recycled fabrics and a variety of wool, we will make woven masterpieces inspired by the landscape and our hearts! 

Ages 11-13

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Crankie Camp: Storytelling Scrolls

In this camp week we will focus on making crankies! You may be wondering- what is a crankie? A crankie is not just a nickname for a cranky person; in fact, a crankie is an old storytelling device that uses an illustrated scroll to demonstrate a story. Think: a moving panorama, or a really old school TV! The outside structure involves a box that contains two spools on either side. A scroll (or a long piece of paper) is attached to the spools, and when the spools turn, the scroll moves. Crankies can be used to tell all kinds of stories. You can even make up a song to accompany a crankie. In this week of camp, we will learn how to build our own using recycled cardboard for the box, and paper for the scroll. We will decorate them with a chosen theme, and each camper will have the opportunity to decide for themselves what kind of story they would like to tell with their very own crankie. 

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Paper Castles 

Explore how to build expansive castles and villages in this week of paper craft and storytelling. We will start by learning simple forms of 3D paper sculpture to make our structures and then experiment with the possibilities of these techniques alongside collage to bring them to life. Paired with storytelling and the history of castles, our castles will come alive with those who may have dwelled within. 

Ages 6-7

9:00 am - 12 pm Freeform Textile Art

Think grandma’s old sewing box or a great big treasure chest of scraps! In this camp we will use those old scraps of fabric, leftover yarn, extra buttons to form art big and small. Imagine woven wall hangings, finger puppets, fabric landscapes and wearable art. Artists will be encouraged to use their creativity while drawing inspiration from prints, patterns, and textures. Textile materials will be provided, however students are welcome to bring in their own pieces (old clothing, socks, ribbons, etc.) to add to their art. Students will sew with needles and see a sewing machine in action. Come join the fun! 

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Color and Collage Craft

This workshop will utilize the same techniques as those in Color and Collage but will offer an opportunity for an alternative exploration. Using the paper making and collage technique students will create collages of different sizes and fashion functional items such as journals, refrigerator magnets, key chains, bookmarks, and craft paper boxes. Students do not need to have taken Color and Collage Sing to sign up for this session. 

Ages 8-10

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Color and Collage Craft

This workshop will utilize the same techniques as those in Color and Collage but will offer an opportunity for an alternative exploration. Using the paper making and collage technique students will create collages of different sizes and fashion functional items such as journals, refrigerator magnets, key chains, bookmarks, and craft paper boxes. Students do not need to have taken Color and Collage Sing to sign up for this session. 

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Crankie Camp: Storytelling Scrolls 

In this camp week we will focus on making crankies! You may be wondering- what is a crankie? A crankie is not just a nickname for a cranky person; in fact, a crankie is an old storytelling device that uses an illustrated scroll to demonstrate a story. Think: a moving panorama, or a really old school TV! The outside structure involves a box that contains two spools on either side. A scroll (or a long piece of paper) is attached to the spools, and when the spools turn, the scroll moves. Crankies can be used to tell all kinds of stories. You can even make up a song to accompany a crankie. In this week of camp, we will learn how to build our own using recycled cardboard for the box, and paper for the scroll. We will decorate them with a chosen theme, and each camper will have the opportunity to decide for themselves what kind of story they would like to tell with their very own crankie. 

Ages 11-13

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Sustainable Sculpture 

Find fun and exciting ways to repurpose common materials we often find ourselves with. We will learn how to use cardboard’s structure, and other recycled materials and repurposed supplies to our advantage to create 3D cardboard letters, freestyle sculptures and more during this weeklong camp. 

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Textile Art Camp 

Embroidery, soft sculpture, and natural dyeing are some of the techniques artists will explore in this camp. Artists will develop skill in hand sewing and embroidery, conceptualizing 3-D fabric art and installation, creating one-off textiles and working with upcycled and remnant fabric to produce a vibrant textile portfolio.

Ages 6-7

9:00 am - 12 pm Cardboard Universe 

What universes can we imagine and create together? Together we will take inspiration from the natural world around us, and the built environment, to build our own cardboard worlds– forests, houses, undersea coral reefs, castles, cities, glaciers, jungles– based on the interests and imaginations of the group. We will consider elements of ecosystems and architecture, form, texture, scale, function and color to create structures of various scales, and perhaps even other inhabitants of our created worlds. Flora and fauna, from delicate flowers to large trees, walk-in interiors, furniture and tall skyscrapers can be built out of cardboard, paper, found and recycled containers and materials (oatmeal containers, cereal boxes, and egg cartons), through folding, cutting, assembling, and painting.  Paper casting with mulberry paper and methylcellulose, other forms of paper maché, and paper folding can add techniques of building texture and form. What world will you build? What size will it be? Who will live there? How will they live? How do the parts of your world interact? An exhibition of artwork will be created throughout the week for families to experience on the last day of camp.

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Beyond Bookmaking 

What’s the wildest book design you can imagine? Artists will explore a variety of bookmaking techniques including accordion books, cut out books, books with secret pockets and puppets, and sculptural books that inspire original pathways to communication. Our bookmaking practice will incorporate paint, print, illustration and collage. This camp will engage early literacy skills through visual storytelling, blurring the line between art and book.

Ages 8-10

9:00 am - 12:00 pm Knot Just Yarn and Collage 

In this workshop we will explore the different uses of yarn through knotting techniques, basic crochet, and collages. Through this process, we will learn to incorporate other art materials like paint, glue, and beads and understand the various ways in which yarn can be manipulated. We will use our imagination and inclinations to manifest our creativity, ending the workshop with a yarn portrait or abstract clothing article

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Miniature Mania

Learn a variety of 3D paper techniques, from creating cylinders and boxes, to adding textures with paper. Then we will learn how to adapt these techniques into recognizable objects in order to create our own miniature scenes. 

Ages 11-13

9:00 am - 12:00 Comics, Zines and Story Books 

Telling a story from start to finish can be a big job. Learn how to create characters, come up with an exciting plot, and illustrate your stories in a variety of ways in this workshop. We will write our stories and then follow the processes to become our own authors. 

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Art & Nature Lab: Landscapes Reimagined 

In this workshop, we will investigate the natural and built environment, and three-dimensional form. Through a variety of materials– including cardboard, paper, and recycled and found objects– we will imagine and build new or reimagined structures, installations and environments in space. From the small– detailed miniatures– to the large (human-scale spaces we can inhabit), we will explore scale and shape, pattern, repetition, interaction of parts, and site. We will work both inside and outside, taking inspiration from the natural forms, plants, animals, habitats, ecosystems, and man-made architecture around us, re-imagining landscapes and built environments of our own. Sculptures and installations will be created for families to experience on the last day of camp.