Focus on using colors, textures, and shapes to express emotions and tell personal stories.

Course Overview

This course helps youth discover how to use painting as a tool for self-expression. Participants will explore techniques, colors, and abstract methods to communicate their emotions, personal stories, and unique perspectives. The goal is to build confidence in their artistic voice while fostering emotional growth and creativity.

Course Structure

Duration: 6 weeks (1-2 sessions per week, 2 hours per session)
Target Audience: Youth ages 12-18
Materials Needed:

• Acrylic paints
• Canvas or heavy paper
• Brushes of various sizes
• Palette knives
• Sponges, rollers, and non-traditional tools (e.g., fingers, sticks)
• Aprons and table covers

Weekly Breakdown

Week 1: Introduction to Expressive Painting

• Topic: What is expressive art?
• Activities:
  • Icebreaker: Participants share one meaningful object or experience through a quick sketch.
  • Explore examples of expressive art from artists like Van Gogh, Pollock, and Basquiat.
  • Hands-on: Experiment with different tools to create textures and strokes on practice sheets.

Week 2: Color as Emotion

• Topic: Understanding color psychology.
• Activities:
  • Discuss how colors convey emotions (e.g., blue for calm, red for passion).
  • Practice: Create a “mood palette” by blending colors that represent individual feelings.
  • Project: Paint an abstract representation of a recent mood or memory.

Week 3: Shapes, Lines, and Movement

• Topic: The power of abstract design.
• Activities:
  • Study how lines and shapes convey energy (e.g., sharp lines for anger, curves for peace).
  • Practice: Create a series of quick paintings focusing on movement and flow.
  • Project: Start a painting inspired by a personal experience.

Week 4: Telling a Story Through Art

• Topic: Building layers to narrate personal stories.
• Activities:
  • Introduce layering techniques to add depth and symbolism.
  • Group discussion: What stories do they want to tell?
  • Project: Continue the personal painting by adding layers of meaning.

Week 5: Embracing Imperfection

• Topic: Letting go of perfectionism and embracing raw expression.
• Activities:
  • Practice: “Messy art” exercises to create without judgment.
  • Group feedback: Share progress and reflect on what the painting reveals.

Week 6: Final Showcase

• Topic: Celebrating individual voices through art.
• Activities:
  • Finalize projects with optional finishing touches.
  • Host an informal gallery walk where participants present their work and share their creative process.
  • Reflection activity: Write a short statement on what they’ve learned about themselves through painting.

Learning Objectives

• Understand how to use painting techniques to express emotions and ideas.
• Gain confidence in their ability to create art that represents their unique voice.
• Develop a greater awareness of their emotions and how to channel them into creativity.