The museum has been offering summer art workshops for more than 10 years.
“We started with only a dozen students,” says Mike Bailey, education director for the museum. “It’s grown throughout the years, and last year we had between 400 and 500 attendees throughout the summer.”
Attempts to spread classes throughout the school year have not proven successful, however.
“We tried to do Saturday classes a couple years ago, and we didn’t have the response,” Bailey says.
With the changing demographics in the northwest Valley, however, Bailey felt it was time to try again.
“There has been so much growth out here, particularly with young families,” he says. “And we’ve spaced the classes out a little more, made them a little shorter and scheduled them in the afternoon. That way we won’t interfere too much with other commitments.”
The courses will be taught by Elayna Flodin, a teacher and illustrator whose book Sherman the Frog Meets the Snow Princess is available in bookstores.
“She does our summer classes as well. She developed the entire curriculum of the course, which range from simple drawing and basic concepts to classes on perspective and surrealism for older kids,” Bailey says.
And if your kids are familiar with the summer classes, there is still something to learn in these classes.
“We rotate the subject matter over several years. None of the classes (is) the same,” Bailey says.
The 10 classes run Saturdays through April 5. Kids can sign up for one or all of the classes, and discounts are available for multiple-class attendees. Materials for each class are provided, and pre-registration is recommended.
Young Masters Art Classes
When: 1:30 -2:45 p.m. Saturdays, starting Jan. 12.
Where: West Valley Art Museum, 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise.
Admission: Single classes: $9 for members, $12 for non-members. Four classes: $30 for members, $40 for non-members..
Details: 623-972-0635, www.wvam.org.
Class Schedule:
Jan. 12 Black, White, and Spaced Out All Over - Students learn about negative space using black and white markers.
Jan. 19 Dragon’s Many Funny Faces - Learn to draw colorful cartoon dragons.
Feb. 9 Teddy Bear Still Life - Use colored pencils to draw a still life of a teddy bear.
Feb. 16 Underwater Wonders - Learn to use watercolor to create fantastic paintings of sealife.
Feb. 23 Outback Expedition - Examine aborigine dot painting in drawings of life in Australia.
March 1 Dinosaur Safari - Learn about perspective while drawing dinosaurs with colored pencils.
March 15 Wild West Fun - Learn about life in the Wild West while creating your own Western art with your choice of materials.
March 22 Cubist Art Extravaganza - Learn about Picasso and mixed media.
March 29 Surrealist Adventure - Discover the work of Marc Chagall, using oil crayons.
April 5 Giant Shapes and Cityscapes - Create a cityscape and learn about perspective.
Loading ...