NIU Logo Northern Illinois University
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Office of External Programs

  1. Office of External Programs
  2. Summer in the Arts
  3. Visual Arts Camp

Visual Arts Camp

July 12-17, 2026 Grades 8-12 (grade completion)

About Visual Arts Camp

If you're excited about art, we invite you to challenge yourself in a variety of art media at our Visual Arts Camp. You'll experiment with new materials and techniques while producing portfolio-quality work.

You'll also experience:

  • Group art and recreation activities.
  • Performance art presentations.
  • Presentations by nationally known artists, art historians and studio artists.

You'll stay in Gilbert Hall during camp. Your experience will end with an art show open to your friends and family. All campers will receive a camp t-shirt!

What to Bring

  • Comfortable/sturdy walking shoes or sandals
    • Note: flip-flops should only be used in the residence hall.
  • Umbrella or rain gear
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Sweatshirt
  • Alarm clock
  • Water bottle
  • Sheets and pillowcase (standard twin size)
  • Towels, blanket, pillow
  • Small amount of money for souvenirs and snacks
  • Old clothes for studio work

Activities

You'll attend two studio classes each day. When you register, you'll indicate your choices for classes. The class content changes every year, providing new experiences for both new and returning students. There is limited space in each class, and classes with insufficient enrollment may be canceled.

In addition to studio classes, you'll enjoy presentations by accomplished guest speakers as they share their career paths in the visual arts. You will receive your studio assignments at camp check-in.

  • Drawing Realism – Becki Miller
    Using a variety of drawing materials, campers will build mixed media still-life drawings replicating realistic imagery that addresses both composition and concept. Techniques are explored that allow artists to render images expressively or precisely, using layers of ink, colored pencil and graphite. Mark making, visual texture and subtle gradations will be a focus.
  • Portraits in Acrylic – Tim Roloff
    Students will explore portraiture and personal narrative as they combine traditional and experimental painting techniques to create expressive self-portraits on canvas. Color and textures will be addressed specific to acrylic techniques.
  • Painting with Pastel – Ashley Martinez
    Students will be introduced to the responsive and subtle surfaces created by pastel. Using artist quality hard and soft pastels, this class will explore developing transitional layers of color to build smooth surfaces as well as expressive mark-making. Imagery options will include portraiture and still-life.
  • Creating with Color – Samantha Haring
    Explore unexpected and inventive uses of color in drawing. Students learn to build visually powerful surfaces with color in both representational and non-traditional ways. Using chalk pastels, we will play with a variety of color palettes to express different symbolic and personal ideas.
  • Figure Sculpting- April Macatangay
    Students will learn accurate human proportions and how to sculpt the human form with modeling clay. This class includes experimenting with sculpting muscle structures, clothing, textures and different postures to create figures that show depth and narrative.
  • Comic Art/Graphic Novels – Abigail Krodel
    Students will illustrate their own stories using drawing and design techniques associated with comic art. Illustration tools, techniques and materials will be introduced, practiced and applied as students create finished graphic novels or "zines".
  • Experimental Drawing Practices – John Zilewicz
    Exploring a multitude of media, methods and techniques, students will use unconventional approaches to drawing to develop creative and imaginative approaches to art making. Skill building as well as producing works based on chance will allow students to examine the possibilities of mark-making, space and surface.
  • Photography: Lighting – Amy Luerhs and Emma Vitalo
    Explore photography as an art form that tells stories and addresses concepts through lighting. Using personal phones or iPads, the photo assignments in this class will challenge students to create images that address composition and value scale as they progress from the photo shoot through the editing process. Students will gain experience using LED lights in the lighting studio.
  • Printmaking – Alexis Estrada
    Students will explore a variety of printmaking techniques and experiences. The focus of this class will be to develop a series of prints as students work in the NIU printmaking studio. Drawing and illustration techniques will be emphasized along with concept development.
  • Drawing and Design Exploration – Courtney Haugdahl
    This class is designed for individuals to explore design and drawing practices. Work is guided by student-driven ideas with step-by-step guidance. Developing existing skills or practicing new skills, students will create works based on student interests.
  • Acrylic Painting – Marisol Cervantes
    Learning traditional and expressive acrylic painting techniques, students will create dynamic and dramatic paintings that reflect technical excellence while experimenting with color and surface textures.
  • Dramatic Drawing Studies – Elizabeth Nache
    Students will use charcoal drawing techniques in the creation of dramatic personal narrative imagery. Emphasis will be on identifying tonal values, accurate scale and proportion while developing compositions that are visually dynamic and bold.
  • Life Drawing – Ailysh Cooper
    Students will learn to draw the human figure while being introduced to college-level life drawing concepts and techniques. A variety of materials will be used while working from a live model within an art studio setting.
  • Sketchbook Reimagined – John Zilewicz
    Benefits of a daily sketchbook practice include quick thinking, responsive drawing, sensitivity to visual stimuli and immediacy of response. Students will focus on idea development and experimentation within a sketchbook format. Using collage, drawing, painting and mixed media processes, students will concentrate on producing imagery reflecting their own personal voice.
  • Photography: Alternative Processes – Amy Flemming and Emma Vitalo
    Students will explore historical processes through photography. Stepping away from digital photography, students will learn cyanotypes, pinholes, lumen prints are just a few of the processes students will learn.

Registration

2026 registration will open in late October. 

Early bird registration fee: $995 (received May 1 or earlier)

Registration fee after May 1: $1095

Registration deadline: June 10, 2026

Call 815-753-1450 to inquire about late registration.

Camp fills quickly, so register early! You'll pay a $100 deposit when you register. The remaining balance is due by June 15.

Need-based scholarship assistance is available!

Camp Staff

Our Visual Arts Camp staff includes talented NIU faculty and students, alumni, guest artists and award-winning area art teachers. The ratio of campers to staff members is about 12 to one. Staff members are assigned to each residence hall floor and accompany campers to all meals and activities.

Lynn Stockton (camp director) Lynn Stockton is a high school art teacher with over 40 years of experience in education. A National Board Certified Teacher, she was honored as the Secondary Art Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association in 2008. Throughout her career, Mrs. Stockton has mentored countless students who have earned awards and scholarships at local, state, and national levels.
She has played a key role in reshaping visual arts programs in two Illinois school districts, including the successful implementation of Advanced Placement Studio Art. Her contributions extend beyond the classroom as she was appointed to the National Prismacolor Advisory Council in June 2011. Currently teaching at Rockford Jefferson High School, Mrs. Stockton leads the Advanced Placement Studio Art program and serves as the teacher leader of the Business Academy. Since 2001, she has also directed the Visual Arts Camp, offering young artists an opportunity to hone their craft in a nurturing and creative environment.
Marisol Cervantes (acrylic painting) Marisol Cervantes is an Illinois-based artist. Currently an art instructor at Northern Illinois University and Fine Line Creative Arts Center. She received her M.F.A. (2022) in painting from Northern Illinois University. Through her work, Marisol is exploring human interactions through large-scale abstract paintings. She often explores personal narratives within her work with a range of mixed media, particularly oil paint. When it comes to oil paint, Marisol uses vibrant colors and unique shapes to revive memories and conversations that include: grief, progression and change.
Ailysh Cooper (life drawing) Ailysh Cooper grew up in Oswego, IL and attended the Summer in the Arts at Northern Visual Art Camp for four years when she was in high school. She has been an art camp counselor since 2018. Ailysh has a bachelor's degree in art and design education from NIU and received her master's in Art Education from NIU in 2024. She currently teaches art at Oak Lawn Community High School, runs an art tutorial YouTube channel, and is on the Illinois Art Education Association Board. She is the Illinois Art Education Association Art Educator of the Year 2022. At Oak Lawn Community High School, she sponsors National Art Honor Society, the knit and crochet club, stage crew for theater and the Alliance Club. She enjoys crocheting, spending time outside and hanging out with her family and cat.
Alexis Estrada (printmaking) Alexis Estrada is a multi-disciplinary Chicago-based artist. Alexis had received her B.F.A (2023) in Drawing at Northern Illinois University. Her mediums of choice are film photography, painting, and printmaking. Her work has recently been shown at Agitator Gallery in Chicago, IL and has been featured nationally by Lomography. Her studio is currently with Cleaner Gallery in Humboldt Park, Chicago.
Amy Luerhs (photography) Amy is a photographer and artist who is currently based in Sycamore, IL. In May of 2021 she graduated with her M.F.A. in photography from Northern Illinois University. She currently is a visiting adjunct instructor at NIU where she teaches photography.
Samantha Haring (creating with color) Samantha Haring is an artist and educator from Des Plaines, Illinois. Haring earned her MFA from Northern Illinois University and her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They spent a summer in Italy at the International School of Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture; it was there that they fully developed their commitment to light, color and observational painting. Haring was one of the 2015-16 artists-in-residence at Manifest Gallery. She teaches drawing and design courses in the School of Design at the University of Cincinnati, and she has been a resident instructor at Manifest Drawing Center since 2016. Haring's work is published in issues #119 and #123 of New American Paintings, as well as in several recent Manifest INDA and INPA publications. They have work available with Gallery 19 in Chicago, Southside Gallery in Oxford, MS and Kathryn Markel Fine Arts in New York. Her studio practice is currently based in Cincinnati, where she spends an inordinate amount of time staring at the color of dust.
Courtney Haugdahl (drawing and design exploration) Courtney Haugdahl is an art education student at Northern Illinois University, an honors student, and a member of the honor society, Phi Kappa Phi. Courtney's favorite art medium is painting, and she enjoys reading and making art in her spare time. Art has been a way for Courtney to challenge herself inside and outside the classroom and she hopes to always continue to learn more about it beyond school. She has worked at the Visual Arts Camp for several years.
Abigail Krodel (sculpture) Abigail Krodel graduated from NIU in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in art and design education. She has worked with a variety of media. She is currently working as a painting and drawing teacher at Glenbard North High School.
April Macatangay (figure sculpting) April Macatangay received her bachelor's degree in art education from NIU in 2005 and earned her bachelor's degree in fine arts from NIU in 2007. She has been an artist-in-residence in Poland, as well as the Philippines, where she learned to make traditional clothing from pineapple fiber. Her work has been exhibited widely and she currently teaches in the Chicagoland area. April has worked with the Visual Arts Camp for several years.
Ashley Martinez (painting with pastel) Ashley is a recent NIU Studio Art graduate. She is currently working as a commissioned pastel portrait artist and bilingual elementary teacher in Rockford Public Schools.
Becki Miller (drawing realism) Becki Miller is currently a local and freelance artist. She has long-term plans for a career in art education. She has been involved in the camp since 1998 as a camper and became a counselor in 2002.
Elizabeth Nache (dramatic drawing studies) Nache holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and design from Iowa State University (2005), with a minor in Spanish. She furthered her education at Northern Illinois University, earning a Master of Science in art education in 2012. With 11 years of experience, Elizabeth is a dedicated educator at Moline-Coal Valley School District #40. She remains an active artist, showcasing her work within the Quad Cities community. In 2024, she joined the faculty of the NIU Summer Visual Arts Camp.
Timothy Roloff (portraits in acrylic) Tim Roloff graduated from NIU in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in art education. He has been teaching high school art for six years and is currently at Belvidere North High School. Tim has been a counselor at Art Camp since 2014.
Emma Vitalo (photography) Emma is a multimedia artist and photographer. She received her B.F.A. in photography from Northern Illinois University.
John Zilewicz (experimental drawing practices, sketchbook reimagined) John Zilewicz is an artist and educator in the Chicago area. He has an M.A. in painting and drawing and holds a BA in Two-Dimensional Studio Art. With over 20 years of teaching experience, Zilewicz is an instructor with an entertaining style of teaching art and he brings thoughtful and colorful enthusiasm to the classroom discussion. He currently teaches AP and Advanced Studio level courses at Niles West High School where he's been since 2006. Each year, his students are recognized at local, state and national competitions for their excellence in the visual arts. Zilewicz himself was recognized for his contributions to art education and received the Illinois Secondary Art Educator of the Year Award in 2016. He is also the Creator of the Illinois High School Art Exhibition (IHSAE), an exhibition program that has gained national recognition around the country from top art schools, colleges and universities. He currently serves as the organization's executive director. In his personal artistic practice, Zilewicz explores several different themes, but mark-making, intuitive painting and found object assemblage are among his favorites. Zilewicz works from his home studio in Arlington Heights. He exhibits his artwork regularly and has been featured in various exhibitions and local galleries.

Schedule

A general overview of the camp schedule is below.

Date and Time Activity Location

Sunday
1:45-3 p.m.

Check-in

Check in at Gilbert Hall lobby and pick up camp materials. Free parking is available in front of Gilbert Hall and in parking lot 3 south of the Music Building

Sunday
3:15 p.m.

Orientation

Jack Arends Hall, room 100
Parents are welcome at this orientation session with the camp director and staff.

Sunday to Friday

Camp activities

Jack Arends Hall

Friday
5 p.m.

Closing ceremony/art show

Jack Arends Hall
After the show, pick up your luggage from Gilbert Hall .

Contact Us

College of Visual and Performing Arts
Office of External Programs
Music Building 132

Kristin Sherman
815-753-1450
ksherman2@niu.edu

Online Office Hours

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
(lunch from noon – 1 p.m.)

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