Summer Art Factory Recap: July 2024
“Pieces, Parts, and Pure Imagination — Picasso Takes Over!”
Our second month of Summer Art Factory was filled with bold shapes, fractured faces, and flying colors—all thanks to the wild and wonderful world of Pablo Picasso! Held in two creative volumes, our July 2024 camps welcomed preschool through 7th grade artists into a playful exploration of Cubism, color theory, sculpture, and abstract design.
Over two dynamic 2-day sessions, each age group dove into hands-on projects that turned Picasso’s revolutionary ideas into kid-powered creativity!
Volume 1: Cubist Color & 3D Creativity (2-Day Camp)
In this session, we focused on Picasso’s early Cubist works, emphasizing shape, form, and bold expression. Each age group had the chance to build from flat paper to full 3D sculpture:
Cubism Collage Portraits: Students cut and layered abstract facial features to create fragmented, stylized portraits in true Cubist fashion. No two faces were alike—and that’s just how Picasso would want it!
Cardboard Clown Masks: Drawing inspiration from Picasso’s circus-themed Rose Period and theater designs, older students built colorful Cubist clown masks with dimensional features and expressive eyes.
Paper Mâché Hot Air Balloons: Students sculpted imaginative balloon forms, layering paper mâché and painting them in wild Picasso-inspired patterns and color palettes.
This volume focused on how Picasso saw the world in pieces—and put it back together in art. Our students did the same, learning how breaking the rules can lead to something even more beautiful.
Volume 2: Insects, Prints & Pattern Play (2-Day Camp)
We shifted gears to Picasso’s playful, nature-loving side—inspired in part by the real-life Picasso Bug! Students explored pattern, abstraction, and mixed media while studying insects and nature.
Wearable Butterfly & Beetle Wings: Each student designed a set of colorful bug wings using collage techniques and symmetrical patterns—perfect for fluttering around the classroom.
Pastel Insect Studies: Students looked closely at beetles, butterflies, and dragonflies, using chalk pastel to render bold lines, vibrant color blocking, and Cubist-inspired shading.
Insect Paper Sculptures: Using layered cardstock, pipe cleaners, and 3D folding techniques, younger artists built their own imaginative insect characters—some realistic, some surreal.
This volume was buzzing with energy—just like a summer meadow! Every student left with multiple artworks and a deeper appreciation for how art can take flight from observation and imagination.
If you are interested in created these projects on your own, please check out the below lesson plans. Complete with directions, supplies, how-to videos and much more!
Picasso once said, 'Every child is an artist.' That was absolutely true this month. From wild winged creatures to paper-mâché dreams, our campers embraced creativity with courage and joy. I couldn’t be prouder!
With joy and paint-splattered aprons,
Sara
The Summer Art Factory
