Summer Art Camp 2026

Unleash Your Creativity This Summer!

Join us for three weeks of hands-on, imaginative art adventures at PAAL! Our Summer Art Camp offers a safe, fun, and inspiring space for kids and teens to explore a wide range of artistic techniques, discover new skills, and create bold, one-of-a-kind projects.

What to Expect

PAAL Summer Art Camp is all about hands-on creativity and fun!

  • Explore a variety of media: painting, sculpture, printmaking, collage, textiles, and more.

  • Small, supportive classes with step-by-step guidance from experienced teaching artists.

  • Project-based learning: campers create original, take-home artwork each week.

  • Age-appropriate challenges: 6–8, 9–11, and 12+ classes designed to inspire imagination and skill-building.

  • Fun & community: make friends, share ideas, and unleash creativity in a playful environment.

Campers leave with unique artwork, new skills, and a big boost of confidence!

Ages
Best for children aged 6-12+

Date(s)
June 9th - June 26, 2026

Time
10:00am - 2:00pm EDT

Location
7 E Old St, Petersburg, VA, 23803

Age Group: 6-8

Young artists will explore hands-on, imaginative projects:

  • Sculpt magical creatures and playful animals with paper mâché and clay

  • Experiment with printmaking using bubble wrap, nature, and LEGO stamps

  • Paint, decorate, and add fun details to bring creations to life

Register

  • Magical Creatures: Sculpting Fantasy & Whimsy
     Design and build your own dazzling creature using paper mâché, paint, and sparkling decorations. Kids will sculpt, paint, and bring their imagination to life!

    Drip & Splatter Self-Portraits
     Get messy with colorful splatter painting, then collage your self-portrait on top for a bold, expressive masterpiece.


  • Creative Textures Printmaking
     Experiment with bubble wrap, nature stamping, and squeegee painting to create colorful layered artworks full of texture.

    Pinch Pot Animals
     Sculpt adorable clay animals using hand-building techniques, then paint and decorate them with fun embellishments.


  • Paper Mâché Animals with Personality
     Build colorful animal sculptures using recycled materials, then paint and transform them into fun, functional art.

    Architectural LEGO Prints
     Create vibrant cityscapes using LEGO stamps, paint, collage, and layered printmaking techniques.


Age Group: 9-11

Campers will build skills and express themselves creatively:

  • Make comics, Op Art, and expressive mixed media portraits

  • Construct 3D letters, fairy houses, and animal portraits using recycled materials and oil pastels

  • Learn techniques in drawing, painting, sculpting, and collage

Register

  • Create Your Own Comic Book
     Design characters, develop a storyline, and illustrate a two-page comic using watercolor, markers, and ink.

    Mixed Media Portraits
     Combine painting, collage, printmaking, and 3D elements to create a textured, layered portrait full of personality.


  • Mind-Bending Op Art
     Create eye-catching optical illusion drawings using bold black-and-white pen and ink patterns.

    Paper Mâché Letters + Zentangle Designs
     Build a 3D initial and decorate it with intricate patterns to create a bold, personalized sculpture.

  • Recycled Garden House Sculptures
     Design whimsical fairy or gnome houses from recycled materials — complete with glowing solar lights.

    Animal Portraits with Oil Pastels
     Create large, expressive animal portraits using blending and layering techniques with oil pastels.


Age Group: 12+

Older students will tackle advanced, experimental projects:

  • Create bold self-portraits, large-scale sculptures, and layered printmaking

  • Design functional mixed-media bags, pillows, and kinetic cube sculptures

  • Explore color, texture, abstraction, and mixed-media techniques

Register

  • Expressive Self-Portraits
     Transform your selfie into a bold, colorful portrait using grid drawing, abstract color, and contrast.

    Big & Bold Paper Mâché Sculpture
     Think BIG! Build a large-scale sculpture using armatures and paper mâché.


  • Nature’s Palette: Watercolor & Gouache
     Explore nature-inspired painting using layered watercolor and bold gouache techniques.

    Creative Paper Mâché Cubes
     Design colorful hanging cube sculptures with texture, movement, and dynamic patterns.


  • Mixed Media Bags or Pillows
     Design and decorate a custom tote bag or pillow using painting, cyanotypes, stamping, and stitching.

    Experimental Printmaking & Cyanotypes
     Combine photography, gelli plate printing, and sun-developed cyanotypes to create layered mixed media art.


Scholarships & Accessibility

PAAL is committed to making summer art accessible for all children. We offer need-based scholarships for families with limited financial resources, helping campers explore, create, and grow through hands-on art experiences.

  • 6 scholarships available each week (2 per age group: 6–8, 9–11, 12+)

  • Scholarships are awarded based on household income and need

  • Each scholarship covers full tuition for Summer Art Camp

  • Families complete a simple application form to be considered

Our goal: Every child who wants to create should have the opportunity to experience the joy of summer art camp!

Where to Find Us:

7 E Old Street

Petersburg, VA

23803