Page 95 - The Decorative Painter Spring 2018

teacher's corner
In the Teacher’s Corner
Teacher’s Tips - Part 2
NGet Ready (Development)
Donna Roskamp, Member of the Education Committee
ow that you have decided you want to run project. Here is an example; the younger children do a your own summer camp for children you will tropical landscape. We do a blue and white sky, darker need to develop your program. (See Part 1 of blue and white water, a sandy beach and very simple palm this series in The Decorative Painter, Issue 1.) tree. In the afternoon I want to do this same project with Of course there is more to it than just com- the older class. No problem. We paint a blue and white sky
ing up with a few projects. You didn’t think it was that easy, and we add clouds; we start the water just like the younger did you? This section will discuss all the different things to class, but now we add some shades of blue-green for deep
consider in this phase of your business.
You have decided how many students you will have. Now
you need supplies for those students. Decide what medi- ums you will work with. The focus of my camps is exposing the children to multiple mediums. Many schools have a limited art program so I try to incorporate new things for the children to try. The mediums we use are the same every year. The actual projects change. Projects involve watercolor pencil, acrylics, graphite drawing, fabric painting, watercolor paint, and even painting on glass.
I try to come up with useful project surfaces. The kind that parents don’t try to dump in the trash when the kids aren’t looking. We always paint a wood picture frame that you can get at the craft store for a few dollars. These are
our Mom presents and how I get the boys to paint flowers without a fuss. We may paint a glass plate and a matching drinking glass. The kids have their own luncheon set and the parents love it. The children bring their own t-shirt to paint on. This saves me money, and I don’t need to worry about size and colors. Canvases can be framed and hung. There
are two drawing times in the week. Then the children take home the drawing supplies to keep. It is just as important to impress the parents as it is the kids, so think about what is going to make them want to write that check again next year.
The standard camps, ages five to seven, and eight and up generally do the same medium and surface each day. This makes prep, set up and switching from one camp to another easier. Sometimes they may even do the same
water and white for more shallow water. We add shadows and sea grass on the beach. Our palm tree trunk is more realistic and we learn a couple ways to paint palm fronds and the kids decide which to paint. Set up and preparation were super easy for me and the project was made appropri- ate for each age group.
BASIC SUPPLY LIST
Paper towels
Foam plates to use as palettes
Rolls of table cover
Spray cleaner for messes
Large totes to carry supplies, one for each age group Watercolor brushes
Assorted acrylic brushes
Painter’s tape
Wax paper
Watercolor pencils
Watercolor paints
Paints for glass
Fabric paints
Acrylic paints
Hair dryer
Surfaces and special supplies for each project
Once you have chosen your projects and made a list of necessary supplies paint some samples, take some pictures and you are ready for the next step.
Stay tune for Part 3: Get Set - Promoting Your Program in The Decorative Painter Issue 3.
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