Kids’ eye-popping pop art

Before Monday, Amanda Clay, 8, and Gabriela Calderon, 9, did not know each other. The two Huntington Beach girls attend different elementary schools and live on opposite sides of the city. But this week they became great friends in the heart of Surf City’s downtown.

Spring is officially in the air and Huntington Beach students are able to roam the streets in the daytime during their seasonal break this week. Amanda and Gabby met at the Huntington Beach Art Center’s Art at the Beach spring-break camp, where they joined 18 other budding Picassos in learning about and creating works of art.

“She [Amanda] made a friend, and that friend was me,” Gabriela said with a grin during the students’ outdoor snack break.

For the last eight years, the Art Center has offered the camp for children ages 6 to 12. The brainchild of a museum volunteer, the classes are designed so each day has a different theme and the instructors then expand on the themes with different visual and artistic activities they create.

This year students explored such themes as “Pure Imagination,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Beyond Primary” and “Snap, Crackle, Pop.” The kids examined optical illusions on the first day and will do various projects including making a color wheel and studying pop art. The last day’s theme is Surfin’ USA, when the kids get to go to the beach in the afternoon and create a final project, weather permitting.

“Their favorite thing is ? always when we go to the beach,” said art instructor and program coordinator Lindsey Cornell. “They also make a lot of friends.”

Amanda and Gabriela weren’t the only friendships drawn from the camp experience. The kids whispered to each other at the art tables and played tag outside on the lawn across from the Art Center during breaks. Although some did know each other from school, many came to have fun, make new friends, and learn how to become a better artist.

“I love art,” said Brandon Persall, 11, of Huntington Beach, who had never attended the camp before this week. “I wanted to learn how to get more better in art and try something new.”

On Monday, the students learned how to make a cityscape where the buildings were three-dimensional. At first, they struggled with the drawing of a three-dimensional cube that connected to a horizon line and vanishing point ? concepts that Cornell admitted to the students were difficult even for high school students to grasp. But eventually most of the students at least somewhat understood how to draw the figure, which led to drawing buildings along a street. They then were able to create their imaginary city however they saw fit. Some drew butterflies or cars or people on the street. Others drew more fanciful depictions with a volcano or buildings made out of giant Skittles.

“I love Skittles,” said Connor Dore, 7, of Huntington Beach.

Parents can sign up their kids for a half-day session in the morning or afternoon or for a full-day of activities, which lasts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with three breaks for the kids to let loose and run around.

“It’s more than just a recreation program,” Cornell said. “It’s more structure and the kids are actually learning while having fun.”hbi.13-onbreak-jf-CPhotoInfoHF1PS9MM20060413ixkjgtncJAMIE FLANAGAN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Emily Barbuto, age 6, looks for inspiration while learning how to illustrate depth in a two-dimensional drawing.