Making a masterpiece; The Austin ArtWorks Center tries something new this year

Published 10:08 am Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Children gathered their art supplies at a table, stirred together different colors of paint and started painting their portraits at the Austin ArtWorks Center Tuesday afternoon to recreate famous art by Andy Warhol.

About 20 children took part in the first day of the Kids Art History Camp at the Austin ArtWorks Center.

“It’s a lot of fun to get little kids excited about some thing like this,” said Beth Hamilton, the camp’s art teacher.

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Each day of the camp will center on a different artist and a different piece of his or her art for the students to focus on.

“I think the most important part is getting them to hear artists names,” Hamilton said.

Sarah Gonzalez, 6, paints a portrait of herself during the week long Kids Art History Camp.  Jora Bothun/jora.bothun@austindailyherald.com

Sarah Gonzalez, 6, paints a portrait of herself during the week long Kids Art History Camp.
Jora Bothun/jora.bothun@austindailyherald.com

After learning about the artist, the kids will make their own of art of that kind.

The first day of the camp focused on Warhol and his colorful abstract prints.

In its first year, the Kids Art History Camp will run 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Friday. For Hamilton, it’s her second year teaching art classes at the center.

“I’m just really happy the community is letting me teach,” she said.

Austin Area Commission for the Arts Executive Director Jennie Knoebel said the commission has worked to start a kids are camp since the ArtWorks Center opened. She described it as a chance for children to have a more in-depth experience with visual art forms.

— Jason Schoonover contributed to this report.