Drawn in: Children focus on imagination and creativity at summer ARTScool

How did you spend your summer vacation? That's a typical question asked when pupils return to school for a new year.

Imagine being able to answer, "I painted a watercolor of the animals living in my backyard pond, sculpted a clay mask featuring Seminole Indian designs and attended an exhibition and reception honoring my work."

What a great response. It's one the Naples Art Association hopes every budding artist in Collier County has the opportunity to give.

This summer the Naples Art Association at the von Liebig Art Center is hosting its eighth annual ARTScool program from June 5 to July 28 for children ages 5 to 15. ARTScool offers classes in photography, painting, drawing, sculpture and much more — all taught by professional artists and certified art instructors and conducted in professional classroom settings surrounded by professional artwork on the gallery walls. It's a great setting to inspire young minds and discover the up-and-coming talent of our growing local arts community.

New classes this year include Care of Magical Creatures, where pupils will get inspiration from the Harry Potter series and design magical, mythical creatures in different 2-D and 3-D media; Drawing Room Only, where pupils will make their own coffee table book; and Make Your Own Greeting Cards, where pupils will use software programs to create their own designs.

The weekly classes are held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., with both half-day and full-day sessions available. A late summer reception showcases the work created with some pieces juried into a show.

Each half-day class is $100 for Naples Art Association members and $115 for nonmembers ($60 and $80 respectively for the week of July 4).

Saturday summer classes for adults

Summer school isn't just for children this year. The new Summer Saturdays at The von Liebig series offers weekly morning classes from June 10 through Sept. 23 for students ages 17 and older. Tuition is just $35 per week for members and $45 per week for nonmembers, with a 15-percent discount when students take three or more sessions of any class.

Individual classes include Watercolor (beginning to intermediate), oil/acrylic painting, introduction to clay — hand building and wheel, mural painting, troubleshooting critique for artists, beginning drawing and beginning pastel.

"Many of our professional and student artists asked us to add Saturday classes this summer, especially for those members of our community who work Monday through Friday," said Taylor Wells, executive director.

The von Liebig Art Center is located at 585 Park St. in downtown Naples. For a full list of ARTScool and adult classes, visit naplesart.org or call 262-6517 x102 to register.