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Summer Art Workshops

Join us for these guided art workshops

Join us for these guided art workshops for preschoolers and school-aged kids, presented by staff from the Decatur Area Arts Council. Each will focus on learning special techniques for creating your own art that you can take home from the program.

Plan to wear "paint clothes" -- clothes you don't mind getting a little messy. All programs will be upstairs in the Children's Auditorium.

Space is limited, and programs require advance registration. If you register and find you cannot attend, please let us know as soon as possible, so we can open your spot for another child. You can call the Children's Desk at 217-424-2900 ext. 5, or email us at childrens@decaturlibrary.org.

Thanks to the Friends of the Decatur Public Library for sponsoring this program!

Registration for summer programs opens at 10 a.m. on May 13. Summer workshop dates are:

For Pre-K (3 years old up to entering Kindergarten in the fall)

Workshops are 45 minutes in length, with an additional 15 minutes for those who want to do a bit more on their projects.

Tuesday, June 4, 9:30 a.m. OR 11 a.m.

Donut Delights! We will look at the book The Donut Chef by Bob Staake, and we'll explore color, shape, pattern, and texture as we create our own plate of potato-stamped donuts!

Tuesday, July 9, 9:30 a.m. OR 11 a.m.

Beach Days Collage! We will layer sand paper castles on blue ocean backgrounds, then decorate with sea shells as we explore the fascinating shapes and textures of the seashore.

Tuesday, August 6, 9:30 a.m. OR 11 a.m.

Bugs and Butterflies! After looking at Peter Horáček's book Butterfly, Butterfly for inspiration, we will use colorful tempera paint and sponges on folded paper to create symmetrical bugs and butterflies.

For School-Aged (completed Kindergarten through 12 years old)

Workshops are 90 minutes in length.

Wednesday, June 5, 10 a.m. OR 1 p.m.

Pop Art Donuts. We will take a look at the work of artist Andy Warhol, then we will draw, paint, and decorate four color-popping donuts in Andy's Pop Art style.

Wednesday, July 10, 10 a.m. OR 1 p.m.

Tricky Tessellations. We will look at the mind-bending mathematical art of M.C. Escher and have fun creating and coloring tessellating patterns of our own.

Wednesday, August 7, 10 a.m. OR 1 p.m.

Cardboard Castles Assemblages. We will create cardboard castles decorated with color and pattern in the style of Disney Small World designer Mary Blair.