By Brady Talbert / Staff Writer

OAK MOUNTAIN – With each paint stroke, students at Oak Mountain Elementary School added vibrant water colors to their dragonfly sketches.

From July 9-13, elementary students had the “opportunity to be creative” with a variety of multimedia projects, according to OMES art teacher Carol Popwell. By utilizing “creative thinking,” attendees “enhanced” their motor skills in a “fun group dynamic” Popwell said.

The art teacher stated, summer comes with larger chunks of time, more time which students can spend learning “more concentrated” art styles. She said that some are unable to spend much time in the art room during the school year due to prior commitments like sports, but the summer provides everyone a chance to “express themselves.”

While drawing, mixing custom colors, painting, manipulating clay and marbleizing paper benefit students educationally, Popwell said, “it’s also just fun.” She expressed how much she loved hearing her students’ giggling as she watched them enjoy the course.

Popwell discovered her passion for art in college. After taking a few art classes, and helping her professors teach entry level courses, the biology major said she discovered her gift for teaching.  “I love working with the younger ones because they’re like little sponges,” who absorb information and are less “inhibited” in their creativity.

The art camp was put on by Shelby County Community Education, and will be back in action July 16-20, where attendees will once again complete five art projects in five days.