ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” - Pablo Picasso.

And for the 110 first-sixth graders participating in an Art Camp at Robertsdale Elementary School this week, they are getting to spread their artistic wings as they create and learn how to make their imagination come alive through different mediums.

This free camp sponsored by the City of Robertsdale started on Monday and will conclude Thursday. From 8 a.m. to noon, Gabrielle James, RES art teacher, along with Cathryn Sypert and Stephanie Laughman, provide different materials and techniques to aid the students in creating their own masterpieces.

“This is the first year we have done this camp. The mayor asked if I would be interested in doing it and I was really glad to be able to do it. I am able to do some things here that I wasn’t able to do during the school year and give the kids tips and techniques on some more creative projects. They all seem to be having a great time and love art or they wouldn’t be here,” James said.

The supplies for the art projects are provided by the city and so far in the three days they have been at camp, they have done a lot of different projects including paper beads, Mandalas (intricate circle drawings), yarn art, Picasso self-portraits, foil art, bleach drawings, scratch boards, dyed sand pictures and more.

Not giving the kids any specifics on what to draw, James just explains what the project is and hands out supplies.

“They aren’t really sure what to do with that and are so used to a teacher telling them what to do and how to do it, they have lost the ability to think for themselves and have to rediscover their imagination. I purposely don’t tell them what to draw because I want to see what they can come up with on their own. Once they get over the fear of making mistakes or comparing themselves to other kids and let their creative juices start flowing, they come up with some really good stuff,” James said.

And even if it doesn’t come out exactly how they want it, it’s okay, James said. “There is no right or wrong in art. Sometimes what they think are mistakes make the piece even better than what they were hoping to accomplish.”

On Monday, each student made a portfolio to keep their finished projects in and on Thursday, they were able to take it all home with them. They will also get a camp t-shirt as well, James said.

James said this camp gives her and the kids more flexibility to have fun in a more relaxed atmosphere and try some things they never could have done throughout the school year. If time permits, she said she would like to try to incorporate some of these projects into the school year.