After-school art clubs return to Albany Museum of Art

ALBANY ─ Students can enjoy enriching afternoons of learning different art media and techniques during the school year at the monthly meetings of the After School Art Clubs at the Albany Museum of Art.

“This is the third year for our art clubs, and I love watching the kids develop and expand their artistic skills,” AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem said. “The clubs are a great way for young artists to gain confidence, hone their skills, and try new things while building their portfolios.

“The courses focus on building fundamental skills in drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics and more. Each class focuses on a discipline, allowing students to explore media and techniques they may not have encountered.”

The meetings are divided into two age groups. Middle and high school students usually meet on the last Monday of the month, and elementary school students typically meet on the last Tuesday. Sessions are 90 minutes, with middle and high school students meeting 4-5:30 p.m. and elementary school students 3:30-5 p.m.

“We always start the year out covering the basics to make sure everyone has a strong foundation upon which to build,” Vanoteghem said. “During the eight courses, we introduce the students to various media and techniques as they develop their skills. We also work to incorporate current exhibitions into the sessions so that students can see the practical applications of what they are learning.”

At the first classes on Aug. 26 (middle and high school students) and Aug. 27 (elementary school students), young artists will view works by David Lanier in the exhibition “Beauty in the Humble Places,” which is a retrospective of his work. An Albany artist, Lanier is known nationally for his realistic paintings of south Georgia landscapes, sporting dogs and wildlife.

“We will take a peek at Lanier’s works, discuss his realism, and then work in the classroom, creating in three styles: realism, art that depicts objects and people in realistic ways; abstract, art that depicts objects and people in a semi-form creation, and non-objective, art that does not depict any form, just design, and expression,” Vanoteghem said.

Registration is open for the four 2024 classes. Middle and high school students will meet on Sept. 30, Oct. 28, and Nov. 18. Elementary students will meet on Sept. 24, Oct. 29, and Nov. 19. There are no December classes.

The sessions in the second half of the season for middle and high school are on Jan. 27, Feb. 17, March 24 and April 28. Elementary classes are on Jan. 28, Feb. 18, March 25 and April 29. Registration for the second half will be open on the AMA website later this year.

The cost per session for both clubs is $12 for AMA donors or $15 for non-donors.

“The fee includes materials the students need for each class,” Vanoteghem said. “If we have a session for which the students need to bring items from home, we will let them know ahead of the class.”

Students are not required to attend every class in the series, but Vanoteghem encourages it.

“We may do a project in November that calls for a technique we covered in September,” she said. “Consistent attendance helps the student as we move farther along the school year.”

The registration links for the clubs can be found online at www.albanymuseum.com/ama_programs/art-club/.

Special Photo: Albany Museum of Art