At the Deco Arts Camp, the awesome art camp for elementary-aged artists, we’ve added a new project this year: landscape painting. It’s an opportunity for young artists to explore the beauty of historic landscapes at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. Through the art of painting, we travel back in time to the Chautauqua Era of Glen Echo and discover the fascinating history of the stone tower building, one of the original structures at Glen Echo Park. We will also delve into the golden age of the park’s amusement era, where amusement-filled Deco buildings once thrived. Our young artists learn essential drawing and painting techniques, color mixing, and texture creation as we capture the essence of these historic structures on canvas.
Before we head outside to sketch and paint each Monday morning, we take a moment to learn about Glen Echo Park’s rich history. This park, which dates back to the early 20th century, was initially developed as a Chautauqua assembly ground. The stone tower building, standing tall and proud, serves as a testament to this era’s architecture. Before we sketch this magnificent structure, we discuss how Chautauqua gatherings promoted education, culture, and entertainment for communities. Similar to what the park offers today!
With the historical context fresh in our minds, we venture outside. Our young artists are encouraged to start with large, simple shapes, gradually refining their drawings to include medium-sized details, and finally, adding the smaller intricacies that make these buildings unique. This process teaches patience, observation, and attention to detail.
When we return to the classroom, we discuss the magic of color mixing. To challenge our young artists’ creativity, we provide only primary colors, black, and white. This limitation encourages artistic experimentation and a deeper understanding of color theory. With a palette full of blended colors, our young artists embark on painting their historic landscapes.
At this point in th activity it’s usually time for lunch so we pause with our paintings and set them aside until Tuesday morning when campers can resume their awesome painting work.
The next day, we concentrate on the subtle nuances that bring texture to their artwork. We discuss different painting techniques to create the illusion of stones, trees, and the playful art deco design of the Candy Corner building. By mastering texture, our young artists learn even more about the painting process.
I love this new addition to the list of projects we cover at the Deco Arts Camp. It’s been an amazing and welcomed addition. My hope, as always, is that the memories of Glen Echo Park and the skills they’ve acquired will continue to inspire their artistic pursuits!
