Teens

Thursday, April 16, 5–6:30 pm (1 session) | VMFA Galleries
Meet in the Art Education Center for check-in 
RACHEL DEUTCH

Ages 13–17 | Use vanishing points and linear perspective techniques to sketch buildings and architectural elements, both indoors and out.

$20 (VMFA members $15)

Thursday, May 14, 5–6:30 pm (1 session) | VMFA Galleries
Meet in the Art Education Center for check-in 
RACHEL DEUTCH

Ages 13–17 | Cultivate your skills in drawing while observing nature-inspired art in the galleries and plants growing around museum grounds. 

$20 (VMFA members $15)

Friday, April 10, 5–7 pm (1 session) | Art Education Center, Studio 1 
CATHERINE PURDY

Ages 13–17 | The sky’s the limit—use color, texture, and perspective to paint luminous, layered skies filled with dynamic clouds.

$25 (VMFA members $20)

Friday, May 1, 5–7 pm (1 session) | Art Education Center, Studio 1 
CATHERINE PURDY

Ages 13–17 | Go big with bold brushstrokes and vibrant hues while painting stylized florals that burst with energy and personality.

$25 (VMFA members $20)

Saturday, April 11, 11 am–4 pm (1 session) | Pauley Center, Studio A
KENDRA WADSWORTH

Ages 13–17 | Reinvent the wheel—literally. Inspired by works such as Duchamp’s readymades and Rauschenberg’s combines, transform an ordinary bicycle wheel into a unique work of art. Use the wheel as a circular loom and weave through the spokes with repurposed fabrics of all different styles, textures, and colors. Please bring a nut-free bagged lunch from home.

$55 (VMFA members $50)

Mon–Fri, Jun 29–Jul 3, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Dive into the wonders of watercolors while painting from life, creating detailed studies, and experimenting with applications. Find inspiration in the galleries and outdoors and begin a watercolor journal (provided) to collect your notes, ideas, and paintings.

Instructor: Caroline Velazquez

Mon–Fri, Jun 29–Jul 3, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Through script writing, production, and editing, create your own short movie while also building connections with peers. This experience offers a unique setting and perspective with productions made on the museum campus, where the art and the environment spark storytelling and creativity. Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring a flash drive and wired headphones. All other equipment is provided.

Instructor: Todd Raviotta

Mon–Fri, Jun 29–Jul 3, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Build observational drawing skills through architectural illustration. Practice daily sketching on the museum grounds and learn to capture depth, details, and a sense of place using a variety of media including watercolor and ink.

Instructor: Catherine Purdy

Mon–Fri, Jul 6–10, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Discover the digital world of art and graphic design! Learn the basics of professional design tools and software to create a variety of projects including digital illustrations, graphics, and collages. Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring a flash drive.

Instructor: Anh Do

Mon–Fri, Jul 6–10, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Draw inspiration from figures and portraits throughout the museum! Strengthen your skills through guided exercises and observations, 
focusing on expressive features, anatomy, and proportion.

Instructor: Emmy Garcia

Mon–Fri, Jul 6–10, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | With tabletop role-playing games as inspiration for illustrations and design concepts, learn to develop characters, environments, and visual 
narratives. Explore how drawing supports world-building, storytelling, and pre-production for games, animation, and visual media.

Instructor: Anh Do

Mon–Fri, Jul 13–17, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | How does fashion show up in media within our homes and digital devices? Study different outlets that communicate style and fashion, while becoming an editor-in-chief of your very own fashion zine to share with friends!

Instructor: Jonathan Clarke

Mon–Fri, Jul 13–17, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Explore how artificial intelligence can support (and not replace) the creative process. Learn ethical, thoughtful ways to use AI for generating ideas, research, and visual development while focusing on personal goals, 
skill–building strategies, and artistic decision-making. Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring a flash drive.

Instructor: Anh Do

Mon–Fri, Jul 13–17, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Want to revamp old jeans or a jacket? Learn embroidery, embellishment, and hand-sewing techniques to transform your ordinary denim 
garment into wearable art! Discover how denim is infused within fine art and fashion history. Students can use our fabric samples but are encouraged to bring old jeans and denim items from home.

Instructor: Jonathan Clarke

Mon–Fri, Jul 20–24, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Make an artistic statement with graphic design basics! Apply digital tools to incorporate special effects and typography with confidence as you create your own online portfolio. Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring a flash drive.

Instructor: Tiffany Ferreira

Mon–Fri, Jul 20–24, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Curious about your fashion footprint? Experiment with the possibilities of upcycling your garments and repurposing materials to create your own wearable art with sustainable style!

Instructor: Jonathan Clarke

Mon–Fri, Jul 20–24, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Explore the world of fashionable textile art! Using fabric scraps and sewing notions, blend collage, hand-sewing, and embroidery techniques to create new applications, surface designs, and exploration in this studio!

Instructor: Jonathan Clarke

Mon–Fri, Jul 27–31, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Teens looking to apply to a specialty center or a college art program will spend the week getting organized, photographing works, and digitally compiling a portfolio. Receive valuable feedback and a clear overview of best practices.

Instructor: Lindsay Steele

Mon–Fri, Jul 27–31, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | From personal junk journals to functional art objects fueled by ideas from expressionist art, explore design principles, self–expression, and 
artisanship. Create works of art with practical use while intentionally conveying mood through form, texture, and design.

Instructor: Lindsay Steele

Mon–Fri, Jul 27–31, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Wheel throwing is a challenging, yet rewarding, experience that teaches not only artistry but also discipline and self-awareness. Learn to center clay, make basic forms, and paint pots with colorful slips and underglazes.  Finished pieces will be clear–glazed and fired by staff; they will be available for pickup when complete. 
Pottery Pickup:  
Pauley Center, weekdays,  
Aug 12–20, 8:45 am–6 pm

Instructor: Steven Glass

Mon–Fri, Aug 3–7, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Learn the history, style, characteristics, and culture of Japanese Manga and anime. Discover different ways to develop drawing skills. Then apply these methods in exercises to illustrate the Manga cartooning style.

Instructor: Anh Do

Mon–Fri, Aug 3–7, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Stroll through the endless beauty of botanicals through expressive watercolor painting, cyanotypes, and quilling. Experiment with watercolors and layering techniques on high-quality cotton paper and discover creative connections to plants in art and nature.

Instructor: Catherine Purdy

Mon–Fri, Aug 3–7, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | See T2 for class description. Teens are welcome to register for either camp—or both—to increase proficiency in the medium. A personal flash drive and wired headphones are recommended. All other equipment is provided.

Instructor: Todd Raviotta

Mon–Fri, Aug 3–7, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Create your own soft-sculpture plushy or a fandom character you adore. Combine needle felting with basic sewing techniques to sculpt, assemble, and stitch soft and cozy creations.

Instructor: Lauren Bleam

Mon–Fri, Aug 10–14, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Get a basic introduction to different software and digital tools that can be utilized in the creation of animation. Learn how to animate through exploratory exercises using shapes, text, and images from the museum’s collection. Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring a flash drive.

Instructor: Anh Do

Mon–Fri, Aug 10–14, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Study the anatomy and features of different animals while practicing observational drawing and painting techniques. Focus on the artistic 
process, from making detailed studies to creating a finished composition of a realistic animal portrait.

Instructor: Catherine Purdy

Mon–Fri, Aug 10–14, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Develop skills in photography! Learn how photographs are made, from camera basics to digital editing. Explore what makes a strong image, experiment with editing tools, get to know the darkroom, and take part in outdoor shoots and gallery visits. DSLR cameras are available for use, but students are welcome to bring their own cameras or smartphones; flash drives are also recommended. 

Instructor: Tyger Belton

Mon–Fri, Aug 10–14, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Explore collaborative painting at a larger scale. Learn how mural artists plan, design, and execute shared compositions while working together to create bold, cohesive imagery across expansive surfaces.

Instructor: Catherine Purdy

Mon–Fri, Aug 17–21, 9 am–noon

Ages 13–17 | Benefit from using tools of the trade—including professional–quality ink markers, archival pens, and select digital tools—to illustrate stylish clothing, textures, and accessories.

Instructor: Morgan Swank

Mon–Fri, Aug 17–21, 1–4 pm

Ages 13–17 | Spend the week honing your drawing skills—from daily doodles in the galleries to plein air sketches in the Sculpture Garden. Learn about color, composition, and more through the art and nature that surrounds you. 

Instructor: Ivy Walbert