TEEN Art and Social Club

In this social art club, teens can gather in a relaxed, loosely structured setting to chat, interact, and create together. Each week, we will have a special focus (for example, depicting light or creating lively eyes), but overall, students will be free to create artwork of their choosing. Throughout class, students will be able to show their work, teach their techniques, and ask each other for help.

This class will be entirely student-led. I will provide the prompt/focus each week, but I will not be giving art instruction. Students will learn new techniques by creating and sharing with their peers. Each week, students will have ample time to work independently while still being able to socially interact in a safe, professionally-facilitated environment. 

The general structure of one class will be as follows:
First 20 minutes: Show and discuss current projects
Last 30 minutes: Timed challenge based on the weekly theme
Free discussion is encouraged during both segments of the class. 

This class is a good fit for students who work in any medium: paint, pencil, digital, clay, etc. Most of my artists draw with pencil or create in digital art programs, but any medium is great for this class. All artistic styles are welcome: abstract, realism, anime, etc. 

Below you will find a list of our focuses each week: 

January 30- February 5: Facing Adversity- How do artists depict objects or tasks to be daunting? How does perspective affect the difficulty of a trial? Depict a person or animal faced with adversity. ex. A student studying for a big test, a kitten trying to jump onto a tall object, etc. 
February 6-12: A Noble Quest- Discuss some of the famous quest-driven stories from around the world. Create a piece of art that depicts the journey of a famous hero. 
February 13-19: Nature as a Comforter- Throughout history, nature has often been referred to in comforting, even maternal, terms. ex. “Mother Nature” In what ways is nature comforting or helpful? 
February 20-26: Training for Success- In order to be successful in an endeavor, training is often required. What are the different ways humans train themselves? Create a piece of art that conveys the journey of physical, mental, or psychological training. 
February 27-March 5: Character tropes- What are some of the most common character tropes in art and literature? Are tropes good or bad. Create a work of art that depicts a classic character trope.
March 6-12: Nature as an Antagonist- In What Ways is Nature Unwelcoming or Dangerous? Create a piece of art that demonstrates the antagonism or dangers of nature. 
March 13-19:  NO CLASS THIS WEEK! If your student remains enrolled, your spot will be saved, but you will not be charged! :) 
March 20-26: Adult Animals vs. Baby Animals- What are the structural and aesthetic differences between adult and baby animals. What are some ways we as artists can differentiate different ages of animals in art? 
March 27-April 2: What are some examples of artistic expressions of perseverance? What are the elements necessary to create a depiction of perseverance? 
April 3-9: Fluffy- What are some things that are fluffy, and how do we as artists depict fluffy textures? What emotions and reactions are elicited when looking at "fluffy" art? 
April 10-16: (Easter) NO CLASS THIS WEEK! If your student remains enrolled, your spot will be saved, but you will not be charged! :) 
April 17-23: A Splash of Color- Why do artists sometimes create monochromatic art with just a splash of color? What are some famous examples of color splashes? Create your own splash of color artwork. 
April 24- 30: Angles- How do artists manipulate angles to force perspective? Choose a piece of art you've already created or create a new work that depicts a familiar image from an unusual angle. 
May 1-7: Nighttime- How do artists create visibility in a nighttime depiction? What are some tricks and tips for creating light sources or depicting an image that is in total darkness? 
May 8-14: Name That Tune- Create a piece of art that alludes to a famous song. 
May 15-21: Reunited- How do artists use a single image to depict reunification? What are some contextual clues that artists incorporate to create a sense of reuniting? 
May 22-28: Symmetrical- What is the purpose of symmetry in art? Does symmetry create a feeling of comfort or uneasiness in the audience? What are some classic examples of symmetry in art? 
May 29- June 4: Another World- What are some common features of "new worlds"? Create your own world in a piece of art.  
June 5-11: Unknown Creatures- Create a piece of art that depicts a fictional creature that you've invented. This can be a creature that lives in the world you've created or one that could survive on Earth. 
June 12-18: Water- What are some techniques artists use to create the illusion of water? How does color affect the portrayal of water? Create your own art that depicts a primarily water-based scene. 
June 19-25: Utopia- What is the ideal place or destination? Is it perfect? Create a depiction of your idea of a utopia. 
June 26-2: Sweetness- What are the various meaning of "sweet"? How can sweetness be depicted in art? 
July 3-9: NO CLASS THIS WEEK! If your student remains enrolled, your spot will be saved, but you will not be charged! :) 
July 10-16: Outer Space- What might life be like in outer space? How do artists depict extra-terrestrial environments? Create your own depiction of presence on the moon or some planet other than Earth. 
July 17-23: Windows- What emotions are elicited in artistic depictions of windows? What do windows often symbolize? What new ways can windows be used to enhance art? Create an original piece of art that features at least one window. 
July 24-30: Wrong- What are some ways that artists create unease or discomfort for their viewers? What slight variations in placement, proportion, or context create an unsettling aesthetic? Create a class-appropriate piece that depicts an image of topsy-turvy "wrongness." 
July 31-August 6: Clouds- How can we depict the depth and texture of clouds? How do clouds affect the overall mood of a work of art? Create an original piece of art that features clouds.
August 7-13: Shadows- What purposes can shadows serve in art? How do we as artists create the illusion of shadows? 
August 14-20: Welcome- What images and artistic tropes are often considered welcoming? How can you depict the concept of "welcome"?