Drawing & Sculpture for Junior Artists

Our Visual Arts classes do not require any type of assessment or portfolio to get into the program. Instructors will work with your child at their level. Your child will improve and learn new skills whether they are a beginner or have been an artist for years.

-A refillable water bottle
-Comfortable clothes that can get messy
-Sturdy closed-toed shoes
-An apron or large, button up shirt to wear over your clothes

Drawing Materials
-Sketchbook (9″×12″, spiral-bound, medium weight paper—good for pencil and light ink)

-Drawing pencils (set of HB, 2B, 4B, 6B for value range)

-Kneaded eraser (for light lifting and highlights)

-White plastic eraser (for clean corrections)

-Pencil sharpener (manual, with shavings catcher for outdoor use)

-Black ink pens or fine liners (optional—introduction to line variety)

-Ruler (12″ for perspective and proportion exercises)

Phones and other electronic devices are not allowed during class time in Children’s Center. Day students should not bring a personal device. Residential students should leave devices in their dorm room, or will turn in their device to the teacher during instructional time.

Your student will be following this basic schedule each weekday:

Day students should be dropped off at Children’s Center between 8:15 – 8:25 am
(breakfast is not included for day students)

Residential Students will be walked to breakfast as a group and then to Children’s Center

8:30 am: Morning Sing/Greeting
9:00 am – 11:20 am: Morning Classes (snack provided)
11:30 am – 12:15 pm: Lunch in the Dining Hall (provided for residential and day students)
12:30 pm – 3:45 pm: Afternoon Classes (snack provided)

Day students should be picked up from Children’s Center at 4:00 pm.

Residential students will be walked as a group to afternoon activities with the RA’s.

Day students will be allowed to use the pool on Tuesday – Friday from 4:00 – 5:45 pm with the supervision of a parent or guardian. (Enrolled children only, please. No siblings or friends.) Lifeguards will be present.

Saturday classes are at the discretion of the teacher. Some programs will meet on the Saturday between the two week session. Please watch out for more information from the teacher. Sundays are off for everyone, with no mandatory classes held.

Stefania Ford is a ceramic artist and teacher living in the Coachella Valley. Originally from Michigan, Ford attended Washington University in St. Louis where she received her fine arts degree in sculpture. Ford then worked as a public artist around the country, creating large scale ceramic sculpture and tile installation art. Ford moved to California to work with non-profit arts organization Tools for Tomorrow, and then became the art director and ceramic instructor for Old Town Artisan Studios. After studying for a masters in education, Ford became a full time art educator within Desert Sands Unified School District, where she currently teaches high school art and ceramics. Ford has been a part of Idyllwild Arts Summer Program since 2009 and is thrilled to be back again for another wonderful summer of intensive arts education. 

Benjamin Morales is a community-based painter and teaching artist who believes in the power of creativity to inspire and heal. His work draws on cultural traditions and aesthetics as a way to encourage others to embrace their own heritage and artistic voice. With over 20 years of teaching experience, Benjamin is dedicated to engaging communities through the arts and fostering lifelong learners. Recognized with grant awards for his community-based projects, he continues to guide youth in Los Angeles through the mural-making process as part of the Mural Workforce Academy at the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, helping young artists build skills, confidence, and pride while contributing to their community.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs