Bhubaneswar, April 25: Tiny hands will be busy making colours on canvas come to life this summer at an art camp that will begin next week at Orissa Modern Art Gallery. The annual camp — Fine Heart — will enter its seventh edition of letting child artists explore their imagination in more ways than one.

With professional resource persons guiding the young artists, the art camp that will begin from May 2, will let the participants run riot with colours on canvas at the painting classes.

“It is usual for parents and guardians to underestimate the creativity of their children. But it is a fact that their imagination knows no bounds and they are not afraid of experimenting, said artist and camp director Tarakant Parida.

“We want to encourage this natural artist in the children by allowing them to express their thoughts on canvas, something that even well-trained, grown-up artists think twice about,” said Parida.

Apart from building self-confidence in the little campers, Fine Heart will also provide training in palm leaf painting, marble painting, glass painting, terracotta, papier mache, pottery, tribal painting and pattachitra, each of which will be taught by an expert. Since the camp focuses on school children above the age of five years and summer vacations have already begun, many have already enrolled for the unique fortnight-long workshop.

“I have been attending the camp almost every year since it began and every time there are a number of new art forms that are taught. I get to make lots of new friends with whom I can create beautiful artefacts. I really enjoy the camp,” said Jyotika, a Class VII student.

“Often teachers advise us to let our children be trained in something that they enjoy, rather than pressuring them to do something they do not like. Colours and art can be a great stress buster for children. Also, it makes them articulate and allows them to convey their thoughts freely,” said Manorama Prusty, mother of an eight-year-old art enthusiast at the gallery.