At Digital Art Camp, everyone learns how to use the camera, take good pictures, download their images, and print them. But most importantly, they learn how to edit the photographs. Two lectures at the museum for high school students and adults are restricted to photographic manipulation. “I get a good response from that; the adults like it,” said Renata Lara, teacher. “It’s immediately useful to them, such as getting rid of the red-eye, and how to make yourself look younger.”
Different approaches are used for the two-week classes. The younger children learn how to make lines with the mouse, and then draw more complex shapes. The 9-12 year olds learn to edit, add images from other photos, and ultimately create their own artwork. The pre-teen girls show people what they like through the photographs. A typical theme is, “This is my best friend.” The artwork is more biographical, as opposed to the younger children who like objects like a chili pepper. Pre-teen boys are segued from computer games to art making - they create science fiction landscapes.