Summer of Art Exhibition Showcases Talent of High School Artists and Designers

“Summer of Art motivated me to step further out of my artistic comfort zone.”

Summer of Art, Otis College’s month-long immersion experience for high school-aged artists and designers, recently presented an exhibition of student work that covered everything from paintings and sculptures to fashion illustrations and animations. The work was a testament to Summer of Art’s flexibility, which allows students to select a two-, three-, or five-day program to suit their creative pursuits. 

Drawing studios, which are attended two days per week, cover fundamental skills required of all art and design disciplines, including fashion, painting, photography, digital media, and others rooted in observational drawing. There also is a wide selection of three-day specialization courses in such disciplines as 2D and 3D animation, fashion design, game design, photography, ceramics, and toy and product design. The goal of Summer of Art is to help students develop their artistic skills as they explore specific art and design pathways. Its innovative structure and skilled faculty make it ideal for both experienced, young artists interested in deepening their skills as well as students with minimal or no formal art training.

“The exhibition was a testament to the program’s ability to foster not only skill development but also a genuine passion for art and design. It was evident that students were not just taught techniques but were also encouraged to think critically, experiment boldly, and express themselves authentically,” says Alicia Green, Director of Youth Programming at Otis Extension, which organizes SOA every summer. “The culminating exhibition was nothing short of extraordinary.”

Part of SOA’s success in nurturing this young talent lies with the award-winning instructors who are practicing professionals, many of whom teach in Otis College’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Contact with these instructors provides a glimpse into the working lives of professional artists and designers and introduces students to many career choices in art, design, and related fields. 

“The diversity and sophistication of the artwork on display clearly reflected the high level of instruction and the deep engagement students experienced throughout the program,” says Green.

Critique, Craft, and Community

Experiencing critique is another valuable part of Summer of Art. Ida Lasic, a mixed media artist who focuses on 2D and 3D design, taught animation in the program. When Lasic suggested a different musical choice for a student’s animation storyboard, she got pushback. 

“The student walked away with her shoulders slumped and I honestly thought she would ignore my feedback,” Lasic recalls. “However, the next class she showed up with an instrumental that worked perfectly with her story and helped her separate herself from her original taste and create something that was hers. This experience happened to a lot of the other students as well.  Art is such an emotional career because you’re creating stuff from your own experiences, your own thoughts, your own passion, so when someone critiques it, it can feel like a personal attack. However, once you learn how to take it—not as an insult, but as support—your work can really begin to thrive. This is what I saw in my students as they learned to take more and more of my and their fellow students’ critique.” 

Summer of Art student Maimouna Ndiaye was ready for the challenges the program offered. As a child she had attended the Loyola Performing and Visual Art Magnet Elementary School near the Otis campus, where Otis undergraduates, through a community partnership, often visited and taught art to the elementary students. Maimouna considered the Otis students her friends who had said she was welcome to visit them at Otis anytime. She took it to heart, and Summer of Art presented the perfect opportunity when she was a high school senior. 

“It would not only be a chance to be surrounded by like-minded individuals, but also an opportunity to improve at a craft that I love and learn new valuable lessons,” Maimouna says.

Summer of Art motivated me to step further out of my artistic comfort zone."

"Now that the program is finished there are so many new techniques and even mediums that I am no longer intimidated by because now I know that it’s not about perfection but development, skill building, and a deeper understanding of the craft.” 

This outcome was what Ndiaye’s mother, Diedra Floyd Ndiaye, was hoping for. “My expectations for Maimouna were that she would build her visual arts skills and her confidence as a budding artist,” Diedra says.

My daughter gained the understanding that her art pieces don’t have to be perfect, but instead they should reflect the ideas that she has in her mind and heart."

"I believe this is impactful because the desire to be correct or perfect before you translate your ideas can be paralyzing. It’s a huge lesson and I think that due to my daughter’s experiences at Summer of Art she has come to know that it’s important to trust the process and capture the big ideas, thoughts, and emotions instead of just creating a pretty piece of art.”

Diedra was especially thankful to the Otis students that encouraged her daughter when she was younger.  “I don’t know who the students were that left an impression on Maimouna when she was such a little girl, but I thank them and I thank Otis for committing to the community partnership they had with her elementary school. I am one grateful mom.” 

Alicia Green is in the enviable position to see the students’ growth over the month-long program: “Many students reported significant growth in both their technical abilities and creative confidence. I witnessed students who initially struggled with self-expression through art leave with a strong portfolio that showcased their unique perspectives.” 

Below are some examples of Summer of Art student work that was shown at the program’s culmination. 

More information about Summer of Art

You can join the mailing list to receive information about next summer’s program at the bottom of the webpage. 

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