Advanced Drawing & Painting Summer Program for Grades 6-8


Why Take Advanced Drawing & Painting

Drawing and painting are an artist's most foundational skills. In this program designed for experienced young artists, you'll engage in an advanced study of these fundamental media, honing the skills you need to succeed in a variety of styles and genres. Showcase your new works in an end-of-session exhibition.

What You'll Learn

The Advanced Drawing & Painting program is designed for students with previous drawing experience and established skills. At the heart of the program is the Advanced Drawing & Painting Studio class, where you'll focus exclusively on drawing and painting materials and techniques.

During your three weeks here, you will explore composition, proportion, perspective, and value, while building your observational skills. You will also be introduced to contemporary art practice and ideas and have the opportunity to create self-directed work. In the advanced drawing and painting studio, you'll work with graphite, ink, charcoal, and conté. The studio emphasizes various approaches to drawing and painting, from observation through still lifes, perspective, and portraiture.

You will have additional studio instruction in Sculptural Forms. These courses are paired to provide a deeper understanding of concepts and to allow for cross-disciplinary connections.

At the end of this three-week session, you will have an opportunity to exhibit your artwork. Returning Visual Arts students are highly encouraged to apply for this program, as it will build on the foundational skills they developed in a previous summer.

Portfolio Requirements

Apply

Program Snapshot
Program Length
3 weeks
Program Dates
  • SESSION 1: June 22, 2025 to July 12, 2025
  • SESSION 2: July 13, 2025 to August 3, 2025
Tuition
$6,985
Age Range
Intermediate (Grades 6-8)
Deadline
  • SESSION 1: January 15, 2025
  • SESSION 2: January 15, 2025

Meet the Faculty

In every studio, you will learn from instructors who have worked and exhibited extensively in the medium they teach. Our faculty are passionate about teaching young artists and bring decades of professional and educational experience to their roles as your instructors. 

Please note the gallery may showcase previous instructors.

All Faculty

Conor Fagan

Conor Fagan

Instructor of Visual Arts

Program Highlights

Dow Center for Visual Arts 

During your session, you will learn and create in the Dow Center for Visual Arts, one of the finest facilities dedicated to the study of the visual arts at the high school level. The 36,000 square-foot complex includes separate studios for drawing, painting, metalworking, ceramics, sculpture, photography, printmaking, digital arts, and fibers, as well as a gallery for student, staff, and faculty exhibitions.

Additional Opportunities

If you've never studied art formally, our three-week Visual Arts program is a great place to start. It also offers the opportunity to explore media not covered in this program, including three-dimensional and digital art. We also offer a Fashion program for aspiring designers in grades 6-8.

You leave Interlochen a different person than when you arrived. You can use your new skills in a better way—to help and to change the world.

Kai, Visual Arts

Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Camp with a free digital viewbook

Camp 2025 Viewbook Graphic

In our free informational booklet, you'll learn more about: 

  • Each of our seven arts areas 
  • Various programs 
  • Renowned faculty 
  • A day in the life of a student 
  • How to apply and financial aid information 
  • And more