Cameron University summer art camps provide fun, develop skills and creativity

The Cameron University Department of Art, Music and Theatre Arts will host a pair of summer art camps next month, offering multiple sessions that enable youngsters to explore creative expression through the visual arts.

"Creative Expressions: Art in the Afternoon 2026" is geared toward children ages 6-12, and the Fine Arts Summer Art Institute is for teens ages 13-18. Co-sponsoring the camps with Cameron is VSA Arts of Oklahoma.

Comprised of four two-week art workshops, the "Art in the Afternoon" summer art camp helps students explore their creative expression through visual art. Each session is unique, featuring a variety of creative opportunities.

Participants will attend three art classes daily, covering traditional art media such as painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture and paper and bookmaking. The workshop also has sessions that develop creative expression through the computer by learning how to translate an idea into digital art.

The projects are designed to develop technical skill in the handling of art media and thinking skills in decision-making and composition. All art supplies are provided. Each child will design an art portfolio to collect artworks from each class throughout the session and digital artwork will be printed.

Families interested in Creative Expressions can select from these dates: Session I runs from June 1-4 and June 8-11; Session II is June 15-18 and June 22-25; Session III runs from June 29-July 2 and July 6-9; and Session IV is July 13-16 and July 20-23. Each class meets from 2-5 p.m. Youngsters are grouped by age: 6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12.

Enrollment is open throughout the summer. The cost is $135 per session for the first child, and discounted 20 percent for each additional child, or $108 per family. The workshop takes place in the Art Building on Cameron's Lawton campus.

The Fine Arts Summer Art Institute 2026 will have two sessions for teenagers 13-18. Session I, covering Drawing and Portfolio Development will meet Thursdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25 in the CU Art Building. Session II, covering Digital Art, will run Thursdays, July 2, 9, 16 and 23 in Room 1029 in Nance-Boyer Hall. Each class meets from 9 a.m. until noon. The fee for each session is $40.

During Session I, students will participate in a variety of drawing assignments under the direction of professional artists. These workshops are specifically designed to increase student's perceptual observation skills through various drawing techniques with traditional media including graphite, charcoal and conte'. Areas of artistic development will include drawing (the merits of a sketchbook), traditional subject matter (still life and figure), interaction of drawing and design, and abstraction and thematic variations. Drawing materials that will be provided include a spiral bound sketchbook; drawing paper; ebony, graphite, charcoal pencils and kneaded erasers.

In Session II, students will be introduced to several graphic software programs. They will learn the tools of Photoshop and Illustrator and produce computer-generated imagery. Computer graphics and image enhancement, aesthetics and technology will be emphasized.

To register, contact Edna McMillan at 580-581-2452 or 580-581-2450, or by email at [email protected]; or contact Susan Furtado at 580-581-2346, or email [email protected].

PR#26-058