Cartoon Critters & Creatures Art Camp

Cartoon Critters & Creatures Art Camp
Dates: June 9–13
Time: 1:00 PM–4:00 PM
Ages: 7–12
Location: Magpie Art Center, Sedalia, CO

Let your imagination run wild! In this afternoon camp, kids will create their own cartoon-style critters, pets, monsters, and favorite animals. We’ll explore how to draw expressive characters using simple shapes and forms, then bring them to life with pencil, markers, and color. Campers will learn about facial expressions, body language, and storytelling through character design.

Each day includes guided drawing lessons, fun prompts, and creative freedom to explore their wildest ideas. Great for animal lovers, aspiring cartoonists, and kids who love to draw and invent.

No experience needed—just a big imagination!

Day 1: Cartoon Critter Basics

• Theme: What makes a cartoon character?
• Warm-up: Shape practice – turning circles and ovals into animals
• Lesson: How to draw faces and eyes with personality
• Activity: Draw your own pet or favorite animal as a cartoon character
• Creative Challenge: Turn a real animal into a superhero or sidekick

Day 2: Silly Pets & Wild Animals

• Theme: Drawing from life and exaggerating
• Warm-up: Draw a pet doing something funny (jumping, hiding, etc.)
• Lesson: Using body shapes to show movement and personality
• Activity: Create a “weird zoo” full of custom creatures
• Creative Challenge: Invent a new species by mixing two animals

Day 3: Monsters & Mythical Beasts

• Theme: How to draw imaginary creatures
• Warm-up: Doodle-a-monster (group sketch game)
• Lesson: Combining real animal features into monster designs
• Activity: Design your own monster and give it special powers
• Story Prompt: Draw your monster’s home or habitat

Day 4: Expressions & Emotions

• Theme: Telling stories with faces
• Warm-up: Draw a critter showing 4 emotions (happy, mad, scared, silly)
• Lesson: Face shapes, eye positions, and emotion tricks
• Activity: Create a comic strip or short scene with your creature
• Creative Challenge: Team drawing: pass the paper, build a creature together

Day 5: Final Projects & Character

• Theme: Show off your star character
• Warm-up: Quick sketches of everyone’s favorite critter from the week
• Activity: Final poster or trading card of a favorite character
• Bonus: Design a name, bio, and backstory