We’re four weeks into Summer Art Camp at The Art League, with six weeks still to come and open for registration! Whether they’ve been before or it’s their first time, art campers ages five and up and budding teenage artists can find fun new activities at our day camps and workshops scheduled weekly throughout July and August.

New this summer: a Jewelry Workshop for Teens taught by Whitney Staiger, where teens will make their own sterling silver ring, and a Photo Camp for 8- to 11-year-olds — covering things like the darkroom and pinhole photography — previously only available for teenagers. See below for the full list of this summer’s upcoming camps and teen workshops:

Jump to:

Day Camps:

• Basic Art Camp (ages 5+)
• Drawing Camp (ages 8–11)
• Cartooning Camp (ages 8–12)
• Painting Camp (ages 8–12)
• Photo Camp (age 8–11)
• Ceramics Camp (ages 10–13)
• Sculpture Camp (ages 5–11)
• Jewelry Camp (ages 9–12)
• Fiber Camp (ages 7–11)
• Clay Animation Movie Camp (ages 8–12)

Teen Workshops:

• Manga Comic Workshop for Teens
• Painting & Drawing for Teens
• Photography for Teens
• Life-Size Paper Mache
• Ceramics Workshop for Teens
• Jewelry Workshop for Teens

Basic Art Camp (ages 5+): each day brings a new project, and each week is different. Basic Art Camp is split by age group and time of day (morning, afternoon, or all-day). Camps meet one week, Monday through Friday, and you can create your own all-day camp by combining a basic camp with a specialty camp (see below). All our camps take place at the newly renovated Madison Street Annex at 305 Madison Street in Old Town Alexandria.

Basic Art Camp dates (click the links for the registration pages):

• Ages 5–7:
  • July 15–19: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • July 22–26: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • July 29–August 2: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • August 5–9: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • August 12–16: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • August 19–23: morning, afternoon, or all-day
• Ages 8–11:
  • July 15–19: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • July 22–26: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • July 29–August 2: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • August 5–9: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • August 12–16: morning, afternoon, or all-day
  • August 19–23: morning, afternoon, or all-day
• Ages 12 & up:
  • July 29–August 2: morning camp only

Drawing Camp (ages 8–11): Students learn the concepts, skills, and fun of drawing. Drawing camp is appropriate for all skill levels and teaches the basics of line, perspective, gesture, and form in a relaxed and imaginative environment.

• Drawing Camp dates: July 15–19 (morning or afternoon) and August 12–16 (morning or afternoon)

Cartooning Camp (ages 8–12): Campers learn the techniques to create their own comic strips and comic books, focusing on the basic principles of visual storytelling and the cartoon art form.

• Cartooning Camp dates: July 15–19 (morning) and August 5–9 (morning or afternoon)

Painting Camp (ages 8–12): Campers build their painting skills (acrylics or watercolors) in a relaxed and creative environment, suitable for all levels. Students learn about value, perspective, and color mixing.

• Painting Camp dates: July 22–26

New! Photo Camp (ages 8–11): In this camp, happening for the first time this summer, students will learn about cyanotypes, photograms, the black and white darkroom, and pinhole cameras. Campers need to bring a 35mm film camera (contact the School for information about loaner cameras).

• Photo Camp dates: July 22–26

Ceramics Camp (ages 10–13): Students learn pottery skills in a fun environment. In Ceramics Camp II, campers work on the potter’s wheel.

• Ceramics Camp dates: July 22–26, July 29–August 2,
• Ceramics Camp II: Wheel Techniques: August 5–9

Sculpture Camp (ages 5–11): These campers focus on the third dimension in clay and other media. There is one camp for ages 5–7 and one for 8–11.

• Sculpture Camp dates: July 29–August 2 (ages 5–7 or ages 8–11)

Jewelry Camp (ages 9–12): The Art League’s jewelry instructor, Nick Barnes, takes campers through an exploration of materials and techniques to create jewelry projects.

• Jewelry Camp dates: August 12–16 (morning or afternoon)

Fiber Camp (ages 7–11): Campers learn something new each day: weaving, surface design, basketry, felting, and more.

• Fiber Camp dates: July 22–26 or August 5–9

Clay Animation Movie Camp (ages 8–12): Students go through all the steps the pros take, from character creation to construction, using real animator’s clay and working in small groups to make a short movie.

• Clay Animation Movie Camp dates: August 12–15 or August 19–22

Manga Comic Workshop for Teens: In this fun workshop, students explore methods, design, and techniques for creating engaging heroes with expressive eyes, unique hair, and awesome costumes.

• Workshop dates: July 22–26

Painting & Drawing for Teens: With an emphasis on composition and design, students strengthen their art skills in traditional and abstract subject matter.

• Workshop dates: July 29–August 2 (morning or afternoon)

Photography for Teens: Students will learn about cyanotypes, photograms, the black and white darkroom, and pinhole cameras. Students need to bring a 35mm film camera (contact the School for information about loaner cameras).

• Workshop dates: July 15–19 or July 29–August 2

Life Size Paper Mache: Students delve into the realm of realism, fantasy, or the whimsical in creating 3-dimensional, life-size figures out of paper, chicken wire, paint, and miscellaneous objects.

• Workshop dates: July 22–26

Ceramics Workshop for Teens: Students learn both hand building and pottery wheel skills, with an emphasis on creativity and having fun.

• Workshop dates: July 15–19

New! Jewelry Workshop for Teens: Students learn how to pierce, roll press, stamp, solder, and finish their way to a one-of-a-kind sterling silver ring.

• Workshop dates: August 5–9