Little Picassos
9-year-olds direct summer art group
Last Updated on 12/4/2008
Published on 8/28/2008
By Clayton Stairs
cstairs@gtowntimes.com
Nine-year-old cousins Logan Brown and Lainie Dancy, both in the fourth grade at Waccamaw Intermediate School, continued a family tradition this summer.
Just like Logan's mother, Kristen Brown, and her best friend had done at the age of 12, they decided to hold a week-long art camp for some of their friends. In all, they had eight "students," ages 4 to 7, participating in the group, which they call "Little Picassos."
"My grandmother showed Lainie and me a picture of the camp and we thought it was cool," Logan said.
Meeting each morning at 9 a.m., the girls completed three projects each day, then listened to a book that related to the theme of the day. Then, at the end of the week, they held an art show for their parents to show off their finished pieces.
"All the girls really enjoyed it," Logan said. "Mrs. Scully said her girls, London and Annabel, were up and dressed earlier than usual because they were so excited to come."
Of the many projects completed during the camp, Logan and Lainie say their favorite one was the giant Papier-mâché pigs made from balloons with recycled toilet paper rolls for the feet and the snout. The girls also enjoyed making tie-dyed T-shirts, American flags with glittery stars and macaroni art.
"They were very energetic," Lainie said. "Maybe we even have some future artists in the group."
Both of the girls say they plan to do it again next year. They may even extend the camp to two weeks.
Kristen Brown says that the whole experience has taught the girls a lot about being leaders. She even stated that this group was like a first business for them.
"I was proud of both girls because they had a positive attitude every day," Kristen Brown said. "They learned responsibility, how to be prepared and how to work together as a team."
Logan says she learned a lot through this experience.
"We had to do lots of work," she said. "We made an invitation flyer, we had to collect money, we had to go shopping at many stores to find our supplies and every day we had to be prepared and clean up."
She says she would only make a few minor changes for the group next year.
"We need to hire an assistant to help with cleanup," Logan said. "We are also going to research projects and ideas throughout the year in case some of the same girls come again."
