Kids get creative at HHS art camp

By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer 

HELENA – A boy dips his paintbrush into a vibrant green pot and confidently sweeps the color across the page. Meanwhile, two young girls chatter away as they weave friendship bracelets, and another child presses marker to paper, brow furrowed in deep concentration.

This scene of controlled chaos represented the culmination of a week full of lessons and techniques at the Helena High School art camp which ran from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26.

The art camp catered to two different age groups that met at two different times. In the mornings, children aged 6-11 completed several fun projects while kids aged 12-18 gathered in the afternoons for more in-depth instruction.

According to HHS art teacher Sommer Simpson, teaching both age groups was very different, but she enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many young artists.

“It’s exciting for me to get to meet kids in the community that are interested in art,” Simpson said. “Hopefully, when they get up to be high school aged, I’ll have watched them grow up and get better at their art.”

The younger age group completed two to three projects a day, with some being indoor projects such as watercolor landscapes and some being outdoor projects such as a sidewalk chalk art competition.

Simpson shared that the most popular project was the pet portrait painting, while her favorite was bubble painting, featuring dyed bubbles that create interesting patterns when blown on the page.

Meanwhile, the afternoon classes with the older kids operated very different. Unlike the morning group which had structured lesson plans, the older students were given the space to pursue their own artistic interests.

“I’m just trying to teach (the younger kids) different techniques and get them exposed to different types of materials,” Simpson said. “The older kids, I’m trying to get them prepared for taking an AP class one day, so I’m teaching them a little bit about what is involved in creating a portfolio like being creative, thinking outside the box.”

After going over a few different techniques, Simpson would allow the students to try and implement those techniques in whichever kind of project they desired.

At the end of the week, both age groups returned home with a small portfolio of all their work over the week.

Those interested in learning more about the summer camp offerings at Helena High School can visit Podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/hlhs-athletics/summer-camps.

SportsPlus

280 Main Story

Week 11 Predictions: Pair of county battles headline last week before playoffs

News

Bulls continue strong start with wins over Evansville, Pensacola

News

Pelham fights hard but falls in state finals to Spanish Fort

Alabaster Main Story

Students learn about the dangers of impaired driving through VR simulation

News

Kim Kiel promoted to assistant superintendent of PCS

280 Main Story

Shelby County Football Show: Week 11

280 Main Story

Thompson moves up two spots, Vincent drops out, Spain Park holds in Week 10 rankings

280 Main Story

Chelsea’s magical run ends in first-ever Class 6A semifinal appearance

News

Pelham books spot in 6A title game after sweep of Gulf Shores

Alabaster Main Story

Alabaster plans for traffic signal improvements on Highway 119, sets hearing for water leak ordinance

Columbiana

Cornerstone scores school-record 88 in shootout at Macon-East, enters playoffs undefeated

Calera

Calera to host inaugural Nerd Fest

Business

Big Bad Breakfast to open Pelham location at Canopy

News

Pelham sweeps Jasper to punch ticket to 6A semifinals

280 Main Story

Chelsea dominates Cullman in sweep to advance to 6A semifinals

280 Main Story

CASA of Shelby County to hold second online silent auction

Alabaster Main Story

‘A huge success:’ Alabaster hosts 2024 Fall Fest, Jubilee #4

Alabaster Main Story

Columbiana police identify husband as the suspect in murder of Charity Lea Snow

280 Main Story

John Shoemaker wins Last Chance Classic as Oak Mountain, Chelsea finish regular season

Alabaster Main Story

Helena’s Austin Lewis, three Thompson Warriors named to North All-Star Team for North-South Classic

Helena

Coroner identifies victims of fatal collision in Helena

280 Main Story

Shelby County sex offender database keeps residents informed

Columbiana

Nicholas Turner and Joe Lay win Alabama Bass Trail Championship at Lay Lake

Helena

Two declared dead at Helena motorcycle collision on Hwy 95