(Above and below) Students take part in the camp organised by Odisha Modern Art Gallery in Bhubaneswar last year

Bhubaneswar, April 17: Children will learn to be at their creative best this summer as the Odisha Modern Art Gallery has announced an annual art camp to be held in May.

The camp will be held in two phases. The first batch of the camp will be conducted from May 1 to 15 and the second batch from May 16 to 30 at the Forest Park-based gallery. Schoolchildren will get to learn over a dozen forms of art at the camp titled Fine Heart.

Into its eighth edition this year, the camp will help children be confident to give expressions to their creative thoughts. The guidance of well-trained resource persons, all of whom are artists and craftsmen, will allow the learners to get a hold of art forms offered at the camp.

“The two-week camp will benefit the kids as it will not only explore their inborn creativity, but also allow them to build self-confidence and enjoy the freedom of playing with colours while creating objects that will be exhibited at the end of the camp,” said Tarakant Parida, a well-known artist and founder of the gallery.

The art and crafts, children can learn at the camp, include canvas painting, glass painting, marble painting, sand art, terracotta, pottery, making wall hangings, pen stands out of waste and discarded items.

The young artists will also be trained in collage painting, flower making, greeting card designing, tribal painting, patta painting and palm leaf engraving.

“Children have a unique insight into the things they see around them. Sometimes, we see kids paint the sun green or the sky yellow. But usually, parents and guardians restrict them to follow the conventional ways. At this camp, we will encourage them to follow their hearts and express their imaginations freely. This will build their confidence,” said Arun Pallur, young painter and a resource person, who will train the kids in canvas painting. Among other resource persons are Madhumita Barik for crafts and glass painting and Saroj Rout for terracotta.

“Six artists will train the participants at the camp,” said Parida.

Parents have already started enrolling their children for the camp.

“For those who have attended this camp earlier, the resource persons are ensuring that thay impart training in the next level. My daughter was here last year and she enjoyed very much. The camp has helped her pursue drawing with passion. So, I did not want her to miss it this year,” said Manorama, mother of a nine-year-old girl.

Students over the age of five will be imparted training at the camp.