This past week at Earth Arts Summer Camp, we stepped into a world of wonder and whimsy, and what a magical adventure it was!
We kicked things off by bringing trolls to life! After designing their personalities, habitats, favorite snacks, and secret powers on paper, campers glazed ceramic trolls with vibrant colors and bold patterns. Each troll became a unique character, straight from a storybook.
Next, we dove into clay work, sculpting pinch pot cauldrons with added coils, darting techniques for form, and whimsical feet attached using scoring and slip. Once painted in bold magical hues, we brewed up our own glittery slime potions to stir inside.
On day two, we crafted dragon eye amulets using white model magic clay. Campers learned how to stain their clay using markers, blend colors, and create stunning marbled effects. We added coiled eyelids, horns, and textured scales, layering detail to give each eye its own fierce personality.
Later, we explored the dazzling world of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known for her polka dotted, color-rich work. Inspired by her bold style, we designed and painted our own fairy mushrooms, some looking sweet and storybook perfect, others wild and wonderfully poisonous!
For our grand finale, we were inspired by The Secret World of Arrietty, a beautifully hand illustrated Japanese film about tiny Borrowers who live in hidden corners of the world. Campers practiced colored pencil techniques like hatching, stippling, gradient blending, and burnishing as they illustrated and assembled glowing 3D fairy houses, each lit from within with a twinkle of fairy light.
It was a week filled with storytelling and magical transformation, and we are so grateful for the imaginative little minds that brought it all to life. We can't wait to see where our next adventure takes us!