This fall, the Cincinnati Art Museum buzzed with youthful energy as young artists ages 9–12 gathered for our new drop-off program: Saturday Morning Art Classes.  Over two four-week sessions in October and November, students explored the fundamentals of portrait drawing and acrylic painting with the guidance of instructors from the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Each monthly session began with an interactive, docent-led tour, where students engaged directly with inspiring works from CAM’s collection. These encounters with original artwork encouraged close looking and conversation. In October, students viewed works including The Two Sisters by Kehinde Wiley and The Whistling Boy by Frank Duveneck, investigating the artists’ use of expression and character. November’s gallery session found a student favorite in Rock Pond by Helen Frankenthaler, an abstract exploration of nature through poured acrylic paint.

Back in our ground-floor classrooms, students translated their gallery experiences into hands-on art making. October focused on portraiture, with young artists practicing how to capture likenesses through line and proportion. In November, students shifted to acrylic painting, where they learned to build depth and texture through color mixing and brushwork. Throughout, the emphasis was not only on building students’ technical skills but also on fostering their creative confidence and appreciation of art.

If you missed out this fall, do not fret! We have more fun in store for this upcoming winter and spring. Registration for monthly sessions January–May will open at noon on December 9. Topics include Illustration, Printmaking, Watercolor Painting, 3-D Artwork, and Textiles. We hope your young artist can join us!

Limited scholarships are available based on financial need. For questions or more information, please contact [email protected].