CHILDREN USE SUMMER CLASSES TO HONE ART SKILLS

Approximately 280 children are taking advantage of the opportunity to develop their artistic abilities in summer art classes sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts Inc.

The classes began Monday and will last for four weeks. They are being held in the art department at Southeast Missouri State University.

The cost is $30 a week for 15 hours, which includes supplies. The classes are available to students 6 through 16.

All children are welcome, and no art experience or ability is required.

Ginny Keefer, 11, who is enrolled in the art classes for the first time, said: "I like drawing, and I wanted to learn new ideas. I take private art lessons, but I thought the summer sessions might help me learn more about art."

Beverly Strohmeyer, director of the Council on the Arts, said a different program is planned for each week. The first week's program is drawing; second week is painting; third week is printmaking; and the fourth week is sculpture.

The students are allowed to go either for one week or all four weeks, Strohmeyer said.

Instructor Carol Horst, who has been teaching in the summer art program for four years, said the students focus on different areas every day.

For example, she said, during the drawing segment the students learn about still life, portraits and figures, landscapes, and perspectives.

The objectives of the program are to teach art history, provide hands-on exploration and an arena for art criticism, and to explore aesthetics.

Elizabeth Green, 13, said: "I really like to draw, and I want to keep learning more. This is my fifth year to take the art classes, and I've learned about such things as perspective, shading and proportions."

Strohmeyer said the classes are divided into two age groups: one for children 6 to 10 and the other for those 11-16.

"The students are encouraged to work at their own pace," she said. "They aren't required to complete work at the same time."

Strohmeyer said the length of each session is a positive aspect of the art program. The morning sessions last from 8:30 until 11:30 and the afternoon sessions are held from 1 until 4.

"Since the classes last three hours a day," she said, "the kids have the opportunity to spend more than just a few minutes a day developing more of their artistic abilities."

Due to limited space, only 15 children are allowed per class per teacher, she said.

Horst said several of the students participate in the summer art program year after year. "Most of the children like art and have some artistic experience," she said. "They are self-motivated and feel comfortable and confident with their work."

She said the students often become so involved with their art that they keep working through break time.

Mitchell Warhim, 12, said he enjoys the art classes because he likes to draw super-heroes. "This is my third year to be in the summer art classes," he said, "and I think they're interesting."

Strohmeyer said 9,000 handbills were sent to all area schools so that every student would have a chance to participate in the summer art program.

She said the Council on the Arts offers financial scholarships for students who cannot afford the classes.

The council pays 50 percent of the cost for children who qualify for the free lunch program at school, and 25 percent for children who qualify for the reduced lunch program.

She said the Council has sponsored a summer art program for 20 years.

"Most of the children really like the classes," Strohmeyer said. "Many of the parents encourage their children to experience art, but often these children are those who don't enjoy softball or baseball."

On Sept. 6, each student enrolled in the classes will have at least one piece of art exhibited at Art Gallery 100 in Cape Girardeau.

The deadline for enrollment for the classes was June 1, but 10 openings are left for an extra drawing session during mornings of the week of July 20-24, Horst said.