Masterpiece Mashup: Teen Studio Week — Lake Charles Summer Art Camp

Branch Out: Masterpiece Mashup: Teen Studio Week places serious creative training in the hands of motivated teens in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Set in the museum’s bright studio space, this five-day camp (half-day and full-day options) is aimed at 13–18 year olds ready to refine technique and develop a personal voice. Instructors are professional artists who guide focused projects in pyrography (wood burning), press-free printmaking, and layered painting, finishing the week with a public Branch Out Art Camp Show where students hang and talk about their pieces. What makes the program special is its balance of craft and concept. Sessions move beyond “make-and-take” crafts into toolbox skills: controlled heat and burn patterns for wood panels, registration and texture tricks for printmaking without a press, color mixing and compositional exercises for painting. The studio itself is a practical feature — sturdy worktables, easels, dedicated ventilation for pyrography, and a gallery wall for critique and display — that mirrors a working artist’s practice rather than a schoolroom exercise. The setting in Lake Charles places the camp within a Gulf Coast arts community with Creole and Cajun visual influences, where local color and coastal light offer informal source material for young makers. Key features of the week include hands-on demos, daily technique drills, peer critiques, and a formal exhibit (July 30–August 8) that gives students real-world experience in presentation and audience feedback. Materials and safety protocols are emphasized: instructors maintain small class sizes (maximum 18) to keep close supervision during wood burning and printmaking processes. Families appreciate the program’s clarity: clear age limits (13–18), professional teachers, and options to choose half or full days to fit summer schedules. Practical benefits include a measurable skills lift—students leave with portable portfolio pieces and a sense of how to carry an idea from concept to finished object, and the confidence of showing work in a museum-style setting. If you’re planning a creative summer stop in Lake Charles, this camp is an efficient, skill-focused week that pairs technical lessons with creative exploration. It’s ideal for teens who already sketch, paint, or tinker with materials and want structured instruction and critique. Register early during Priority Registration in March to lock in lower tuition and secure a spot; class sizes are intentionally small to preserve hands-on guidance. On the practical side, families should note drop-off and pick-up through the museum’s side entrance. Priority registration in March guarantees member pricing and an early camp shirt. Students should bring a reusable water bottle, a sketchbook, and clothing that can tolerate paint or light scorch marks. The camp’s exhibit window gives friends and family a chance to see finished work in a real gallery setting, closing the week with public recognition and applause.