Southeast offers art classes during summer months for aspiring artists

The summer months generally are a time for students to take a break from their studies and enjoy themselves before another school year begins. At the 2013 Art Academy workshops at Southeast Missouri State University, students enrolled in the large-scale drawing workshop are learning from -- and enjoying -- the instruction designed to improve their budding art skills.

"I'm working on a large-scale drawing of a flower and making it three-dimensional," said Kasity Twaddell, a senior at Dexter High School in Dexter, Mo. "I want to take what I've learned here and apply it to my artwork."

Brandi Bertrand, a junior at Cape Girardeau Central High School, said because of scheduling conflicts, she wouldn't be able to take third-year art classes at Central High School.

"But I don't want to stop," said Bertrand, whose project is a drawing of a winter-horsetail plant. "I'm keeping in practice with this class."

The artwork created by students in the large-scale drawing workshop begins with a small picture of an organic, rounded shape that they will turn into a 2 1/2-by-5-foot three-dimensional drawing. The students use pencil and black charcoal to bring the shape to life.

Kasity Twaddell, 17, receives help from Kathy Smith, assistant professor of art and foundations coordinator, on a charcoal sketch she is working on during a large-scale drawing class Tuesday. (ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.com)

"We go from using pencil to trace the shape to using charcoal to flesh out the 3-D image," said Kathy Smith, workshop instructor and an art professor at Southeast. "We think that's the best way to introduce students to drawings this size."

According to Smith, the lessons are derived from an art class she teaches at Southeast.

"In a normal semester, a student would have four weeks to work on their drawing," Smith said. "But for this class, we're only hitting the high notes."

Smith said the four students she is working with all possess the basics of being good artists.

"Their work has been stunning," she said.

Carol Horst, coordinator of the Art Academy and an art professor at Southeast, said the workshops provide something different for art students -- and those just interested in taking an art course -- to do during the summer.

"The workshops being offered this summer are really great," Horst said. "We have a great budget and our younger students will be able to do projects that aren't being presented in the public schools."

Art supplies set out on a stool during a large scale drawing class Tuesday, June 18, being held as part of the 2013 Art Academy workshops at Southeast Missouri State University. (Adam Vogler)

Horst said seats are available in five other Art Academy workshops being offered in July, which include "Prints Galore!" where children ages 6 to 9 will create stamp, stencil and relief prints from July 8 to 12; "Fabulous Fairy Tales and Fables," where children ages 10 to 15 will use colored pencils, inks and watercolors to create illustrations of their favorite fairy tale, fable or legend from July 8 to 12; "Portable Paintings," where students ages 16 to adult will focus on modern graffiti and street art from July 8 to 10; "From Cover to Cover: A Hand-Stitched Book," where students ages 16 to adult will create a 6-by-9-inch hand-stitched book or journal on July 15 and 16; and "Sculpture," where children ages 10 to 15 will investigate multiple-sculpture techniques using a variety of media to create 3-D artwork from July 22 to 26.

"People interested in taking one of the classes or putting their child in a class should hurry," Horst said.

For more information or to register for the Art Academy workshops still available, contact Carol Horst at 651-2143 or visit semo.edu/art/art_academy.htm.

Some businesses in Cape Girardeau and Jackson also offer art workshops. Check SemoEvents.com for more art class listings.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

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