Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University

Imagine More

Youth & Adults

Youth Classes Brochure

For full information on all youth classes, download the Continuing Studies brochure.

Ages 8-12

Kendall Youth Classes: Ages 8-12

These courses feature exciting, media-specific programs created to help students ages 8-12 explore their creative talents and to challenge them to think, design, build and create.

Following is a list of classes Kendall offers for ages 8-12. Check schedule of classes to confirm date, time, and availability.

AFRICAN SAFARI

Go on an imaginary safari! Sketch African animals with a variety of drawing materials. Learn to observe and create the textures and patterns of various animals using charcoal, pencil, and marker.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

From sea to shining sea, you will learn to draw and paint the people, landscapes, and animals of America. You will focus on building foundational drawing and observation skills while learning sketching, shading, design, composition, color, and vocabulary.

ANIMALS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM

This class will explore animals that are very colorful! Learn how to draw and color them using a variety of materials.

ART ACROSS AMERICA

From sea to shining sea, create your own landscape masterpieces about places in America. Use basic design and color techniques to paint and draw compositions of mountains, oceans, deserts, farmland, famous sites and cities.

ART OF THE AZTECS

Discover the art and mythology of the ancient Mexican Aztec civilization. Create an Aztec calendar, a warrior column, a ceremonial mask, and more!

ART PIECES

Use examples of famous artwork to inspire your own two and three-dimensional masterpieces. Work with paper, paint, clay, wood, wire, fabric, and more.

ART TREASURES ADVENTURE

Explore the area around Kendall, both in and out-of-doors, looking for “A-Z” treasures. Then learn about how artists have depicted these objects with paint and other materials. End each day by making your own artistic creation.

BASKET AND WREATH MAKING

Make a variety of baskets and wreaths, each uniquely different in size, design and technique. Basic weaving fundamentals using natural and dyed rounds and flat reeds will be demonstrated.

BOOK AND PAPER MAKING

Learn the art of making paper, with fun and natural materials like dryer lint, dried flowers, and onion skins. Transform your handmade paper into book pages that you will decorate and bind together.

BRAIN TEASER BLOCK PUZZLES

Design and create a brain teaser block puzzle that is also a work of art. You will use paint, pencils, collage, and more to create this unique and functional masterpiece. Develop your artistic skills by using a variety of media, grid and pattern studies, and fine detail to create six different pieces for this project.

THE BUGS THAT BUG US

Get your inspiration from the world of bugs and insects. You will create both two and three-dimensional works of art by studying nature and camouflaging your bugs in their habitat. Spiders, beetles, flies, ants, and other weird insects will be your subject matter.

CAMERA-LESS PHOTOGRAPHY

Discover how to transfer images onto paper or fabric with a non-traditional camera that you will design and build. Add the elements of color to these images with a variety of materials and techniques.

COLLAGE-A-COMPOSITION

Create exciting compositions through the implementation of mixed media, including papers, markers, crayons, oil pastels, glue, etc. You will learn to create harmony and balance through the use of pattern, texture, line, and color. Projects include outer space landscapes, self-portraits, and hot and cold abstraction.

CONTINENTAL ART

Use drawing, painting, printing, collage, and mixed media to explore the styles, designs, and artists from six continents. Create your own artwork from countries around the world including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Netherlands, Italy, India, Japan, Egypt, Ghana, and Australia.

CREATIVE EXPLORATION

Let your imagination run wild using different mediums to explore design. Learn about color, design and composition while creating 2 and 3 dimensional works of art. You’ll need to bring a small wooden box for the last project.

CUT, PASTE, PAINT: COLLAGE

See how creative you can become with collage! Works will be based on dream images, stories, and observed subjects. Experiment with a variety of materials, including decorative paper, cardboard, pencils, charcoal, and paint.

DOLLHOUSES

Bring your imagination and join the fun of dollhouse making. Create your own dollhouse with everyday materials such as cardboard and construction paper. Pick your favorite colors and design rooms that are your own creation. Design wallpaper, furniture and floor patterns. Paint your new house any color and watch it come alive with a very personal touch.

DRAWING ADVENTURE CHARACTERS

Use line, shape, and color to create cartoon adventure characters based on movies, books, and television.

DRAWING PEOPLE AND PLACES

Expand the way you see and draw people and places, through direct observation and using photo reference. Try your hand at drawing people in specific settings and surroundings.

DRAW WITH COLOR PENCILS

Experiment with color pencils to blend, mix, and layer colors. Use still life, landscape, and imagination to create finished works of art.

EGYPTIAN ART

Discover the wonders of ancient Egypt. Decode hieroglyphics, make paper, make your own version of Egyptian jewelry, and construct a replica mummy.

EQINE ART

Explore man’s earliest observations of the horse, and those created by later cultures including modern interpretations of this stately animal. Paint, draw, or sculpt your own equine creations.

EXPLORE PAPIER MACHE!

Explore techniques for papier mache construction, then finish your pieces with acrylic paint and other materials.

FABRIC ART

Study several cultures and the techniques they used to create colorful designs and patterns on fabrics. Experiment with cloth weaving, tie-dying, and batik.

FAIRY TALES

Use your imagination to travel into the fascinating world of fairy folk! Learn how fairies have developed over the centuries, and what they are like in different cultures including Ireland, France, and England. Listen to tales and adventures while keeping a sketchbook of your findings, doodles, and observations. You will be composing paintings and drawings of these intriguing and tricky creatures.

FASHION ILLUSTRATION FOR YOUNG DESIGNERS

Learn to put you fashion ideas on paper. Using fashion figure templates, render a variety of fabrics. You will also learn some of the basic elements of garment design.

FIESTA LATIN AMERICA

It’s fiesta time in Latin America! Fiestas are full of music, games, costumes, fireworks, and parades. We will participate by making rain sticks, piñatas, fiesta mats, and more. Come and celebrate, with a surprise on the last day of class.

FLOORCLOTHS

Design and paint a canvas floorcloth together for your hardwood or tiled floor. Working with your own color choices, you will learn the techniques of surface preparation and paint application. Instruction will be given on protective finishes.

FUN WITH PHOTOGRAPHY

Begin this class with a photo shoot around the building looking for images that represent every letter of the alphabet. Learn basic composition techniques, and ways to “fool” the eye with trick photography. Making your own pinhole camera and solargrams are just a few of the added projects in this lively class. Any type of camera is accepted, including disposable. Film and processing are not included in the supply fee.

HORSES IN MIXED MEDIA

Explore man’s earliest observations of the horse, and those created by later cultures including modern interpretations of this stately animal. Paint, draw, or sculpt your own equine creations.

JEWELRY CREATIONS

Use beads, old jewelry, paper mache, clay, and wire, to create necklaces, bracelets, rings, and other jewelry of your own design.

KINGS, QUEENS, KNIGHTS, AND THEIR CASTLES

Hear ye! Hear ye! Experience the world of royalty, heraldry, and chivalry! You will create 3-D dragons, sand castles, stained glass, weapons, armor, coats of arms, and more. Explore drawing, design, and sculptural form!

KITE CREATIONS

Learn about the tradition of kite making around the world. Design your own kite, and spend a day in the park flying your masterpiece!

MAKE IT, PLAY IT

Have fun while designing and making your own 3-dimensional games and then enjoy them in class. Games such as chess, ring toss, card games, and more will be explored, using materials such as clay and papier mache.

MASK MAKING

Make a variety of colorful and decorative masks using unique materials while learning about the cultures that inspired them.

MEET THE ARTISTS

Ever wanted to meet Alexander Calder or Vincent van Gogh? It’s the next best thing. In this class you will study two and three-dimensional works by many different masters, and then create your own works in that style. Study landscape artists, nature artists, Harlem artists, portrait artists, and more!

MOSAICS

Design mosaic art to be used alone as a decorative object or to embellish a piece of furniture in your room. Use tiles, stones, beads, and more as you let history guide with this ancient art form.

NATIVE AMERICAN ART

Learn about the Native American culture. Design and construct a totem pole, mask, clay pot, and much more.

NATIVE AMERICAN ART II

Continue to explore various art techniques used by the Native American Culture. Projects will include weaving on a loom that you build, as well as shield making and basketry.

PAPER DOLLS

Make creativity stand-able and simply outstanding! You will learn to draw, paint, and develop paper doll characters. Then design paper costumes, accessories, backdrops, and even paper pets! By using unique reusable templates which you will make yourself, you can create a fabulous paper doll world by the end of class.

PAPER SCULPTURE

Paper is such a wonderful thing and you can do so much with it! Make all sorts of paper based projects, including mobiles, paper dolls/figures, crowns, stuffed paper animals, origami, pop-up scenes, and much more.

PAPIER MACHE JEWELRY

Make bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more using basic papier mache and decorative mixed media techniques. Collage materials, found beads, feathers, and various strings, fabrics, and cardboard will be used. You will gain experience with 3-dimensional design in terms of jewelry, and facility in working with design details.

PAPIER MACHE PETS

Using 3-D techniques, create fun and unique depictions of animals and your favorite pets in papier mache.

PASSPORT AROUND THE WORLD

Explore art created in countries around the world. Learn both 2-D and 3-D design and construction techniques.

PATTERNS AND DESIGNS

Study the reactions of different painting materials and techniques on painting surfaces. Color mixing, texture, marbling and airbrush will be some of the mediums you will explore. Then incorporate all your examples into one larger piece.

PICASSO PLATES FOR KIDS

Assemble a whole array of awesome tableware. Use Picasso’s ceramics in the Art Museum’s Decorative Arts Corridor as a starting point, and construct hand-built clay masterpieces of your own.

PUPPET MAKING

Design and create your own puppets. You will learn to work with a variety of materials and techniques to give each puppet its own personality.

SCRATCH THAT

Scratch on copper to learn the art of repoussé. You will also work on scratchboard to develop other unique works of art.

SUMMER WATERCOLOR

Learn to paint the colors of summer, spring, winter, and fall in this summertime watercolor class. Using photo reference, and if weather permits on-site painting, students will create a landscape scene in the season of their choice.

TILEMAKING

Design your own tiles to personalize your room or give as gifts. Explore different techniques, from relief tiles to carving, mold making, impressions, and slip trailing. Let your imagination run free! Use clay, plaster, and paint.

T-SHIRT ART

Tie-dyeing is not the only way to create unique T-shirt designs. Learn techniques like rubbing-out, marbling, stamping, photography on fabric, and more! Six shirts will be completed and are included in the supply fee.

WATERCOLOR WARRIORS

Create your own illustrated fantasy character. You will learn drawing techniques and then complete your illustration with several layers of watercolor and ink. Previous comic drawing experience required for this class.

WATERCOLOR WONDER

Using your own watercolor palette, discover how to create unique compositions on paper. Experiment with a variety of techniques while composing abstract and realistic paintings of still lives and simple subjects.

YOUNG ARCHITECTS

Try your hand at being an architect. Study examples of architecture throughout history from the Egyptian pyramids to skyscrapers and work on drawings and models of some of the buildings. In the last two classes you will create a scale model of your own design.

Questions?

If you have problems or questions, contact us at 616.451.2787 ext.2012.