Youth EcoArt Camp with Cynthia Robinson

For the third summer, local EcoArtist, Cynthia Robinson, led a creative and talented group of children in a week-long workshop exploring nature and art. The group started each morning with a warm-up exercise to get their creativity flowing. One morning the children created group animal drawings, where each child drew an animal body part as instructed, and then rotated one seat to the right to draw another body part on a drawing started by another child. The resulting artwork was titled “Unidentified Flying Animals” and is on display at the Rey Center - you should come check it out!

After their warm-up exercise, the group would typically head outdoors to create art in, and inspired by, nature. The young artists used the patch of woods near the new wedding arbor adjacent to Corcoran’s Pond as their outdoor studio. In these woods you can find small houses built for a variety of creatures ranging from slugs to butterflies to kangaroos! The children also built a giant nest big enough to snugly fit all eight kids.

Throughout the week, the children were working together to write a story. The story will be published into a book, and each child will receive a copy. We will have a copy at the Rey Center as well, please come by and ask to check it out! The story will be illustrated by photos of the children's artwork, done both indoors and out. Each child created an animal character based on their nature name (your nature name includes your first name and the name of a plant or animal that starts with the first letter of your name, for example: Elizabeth Eagle); the characters they created became the characters in the book - and boy, did they go on one wild adventure. I won’t spoil the ending - you will have to come read the book for yourself! I’ll just give you a hint: mad scientist and super powers!

At the end of the week, the children had an art exhibit reception attended by parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Refreshments were generously provided by Lynn Landa (Thanks Lynn!). The reception was enjoyed by all.

Thanks to Cynthia Robinson of Eco Art a la carte for another wonderful week of White Mountain Art TrailWorks!. We look forward to next summer!