Summer in the studio- making prints, basic embroidery and fun clay sculpture

Our summer session may be short and sweet—just 5 weeks—but it’s been packed with incredible artwork and joyful, creative energy. Students explored printmaking techniques, embroidery, drawing, and collage. With just a couple weeks left, we’re soaking up every moment of our time together!

Stick Figures & Printmaking on T-Shirts

Our youngest artists (ages 3–5) took inspiration from Keith Haring’s energetic figures and created their own stick figures using popsicle sticks.

We continued exploring gesture and movement by practicing how to draw human poses in a playful way. Then, the students created stamps from foam sheets and used them to print their own T-shirts!

This project was a fun and engaging way to introduce the basics of figure drawing. The kids discovered how expressive stick figures can be—and how many different ways our bodies can stretch, move, and pose!

Basic Embroidery

Our Little Explorers got a hands-on introduction to basic embroidery using big plastic needles and burlap. It was a bit challenging at first, but a wonderful opportunity to strengthen fine motor skills as they threaded needles, added colorful beads, and practiced hand-eye coordination. To personalize their creations, they painted wooden frames and added stickers, hangers, and other decorative touches.

Clay Wire Sculpture

And of course—clay never fails to delight!

Over the years, I’ve learned that kids love clay in any form. This time, we gave them a ball of clay, some beads, and wire, and let them dive into a sensory-rich experience.

They explored textures, balance, and structure while shaping their own whimsical sculptures—full of creativity and personality. Through this open-ended activity, they practiced planning, spatial awareness, and creative problem-solving… all while having a blast!