Summer Art and Design Camp
Join us this summer for an immersive Art and Design Camp tailored specifically for high school students! Our camp offers a unique opportunity for young artists and designers to explore their creativity, develop new skills, and unleash their potential in a supportive and inspiring environment. Through hands-on courses, expert guidance from experienced instructors, and exposure to various artistic mediums and design principles, participants will embark on a journey of self-expression and discovery.
From photography to digital art, and graphic design, our camp curriculum covers a wide range of disciplines to cater to diverse interests. Whether you’re a budding painter, aspiring animator, or future graphic designer, our camp promises to ignite your passion for art and design while fostering personal growth and camaraderie among fellow creative minds. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your artistic abilities and make lasting memories this summer!
For questions please contact: Robert Quinn quinnr@ecu.edu
Fees
All fees include a full week of courses (2 per day), all meals in an ECU dining hall, a camp T- shirt, all supplies and materials (unless otherwise noted for the course), all recreational activities, accident insurance, and a health care fee. Campers choose between resident and day camper options:
Resident Camper Fee includes a shared room in an ECU residence hall : $995
Day Camper Fee $850
Partial payment options are available upon paying a down-payment of $275 for a resident campers, or $250 for day campers.
Registration deadline is May 15th, 2026.
Format
| Day Campers | Overnight Campers |
|---|---|
| 2-Course Schedule | 2-Course Schedule |
| Full meal plan (Dinner not included) | Full meal plan |
| Summer Art & Design Camp T-Shirt | Summer Art & Design Camp T-Shirt |
| Afternoon/Evening Activities | Afternoon/Evening Activities |
| 5-Night Dorm Stay | |
| Total cost: $850 | Total cost: $995 |
Students will select one morning and one afternoon course as well as their second choices.
Summer of 2026 Classes
Camp Director
Robbie Quinn is taking over the reins as the Camp Director after having served as Co-Director for the first two years of the Art and Design Summer Camp. He taught middle and high school art before he began his 19-year stint as Professor of Art Education at ECU. He has been a youth soccer coach and is an active musician. He is married to a teacher, and they have two children and a rescue dog.
Check out the 2025 Summer Art and Design Camp Photos
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ELevrVUQkC57G2z36
WORKSHOPS OFFERED BOTH IN MORNING AND AFTERNOON
Papermaking and Book Arts
Workshop Description
In this workshop, offered both in the morning and afternoon, students will gain experience making paper and binding books. We’ll be sewing sketchbooks, using quick bindings, and will wrap up the week with simple pop-up structures. Throughout the week you’ll improve your hand skills, learn about narrative structure, and use paper in a new way. At the end of the week, you will have a journal and several small books ready and waiting to house all your stories.
Instructor Bio
Lisa Beth Robinson has practiced bookmaking for most of her life and is delighted to share the craft with new makers. In addition to her appointment as Professor of Art at East Carolina University for well over a decade, she has traveled around the world, taught workshops at the Penland School of Craft, and is currently working on a solo exhibition, Accelerations, for spring and co-curating a museum exhibition, H2O26, for the Greenville Museum of Art this autumn. Her books have been exhibited nationally and internationally.
Required Materials
All supplies and materials will be provided. Bring your curiosity, an open mind, nimble hands, and get ready to tell some stories!
Student Work
Michael Gaines
Logan Stevens
Serena Wale
2D Animation- The aftenoon section of this course is now completely full!
Workshop Description
Have you ever wondered how a simple drawing can feel happy, nervous, angry, or excited? In this fun, hands-on, digital 2D animation workshop, offered in the morning and the afternoon, students will explore how movement can turn drawings into expressive characters. We will begin with classic animation exercises like the bouncing ball, then build toward creating a short, animated scene that shows emotion and personality through motion alone. Students will design a simple character or object and bring it to life by experimenting with timing, movement, and expression. The focus is on creativity and exploration rather than perfection or prior experience. Throughout the week, students will sketch, animate, and try new ideas while learning how animation can tell a story without words. This workshop is welcoming to beginners and a great fit for students who enjoy drawing, storytelling, or creative problem solving.
Instructor Bio
Required Materials
All materials will be provided. No prior animation experience is required. Just curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to try something new.
MORNING WORKSHOPS
Screen-Printing
Making a Gig poster
Workshop Description
Screen-printing is used to print images and graphics on hats, shirts, signs, tote-bags and so much more – even coffee mugs and snowboards! During this morning printmaking workshop, get ready to design, print, and make your own gig poster using screen-printing. You’ll learn hands-on screen-printing techniques—from designing your image and cutting stencils to layering color and pulling prints. By the end of the week, you’ll walk away with a limited-edition poster you designed and printed yourself. Our theme will be a fictional gig for our favorite famous musical act. Perhaps it’s youown band?! We may even screen-print on a t-shirt if you bring your own. You’ll need an apron.
Instructor Bio
Matt Egan is a Professor in the School of Art and Design and has been teaching printmaking at ECU for 20 years. He has been actively showing his work in Canada, the United States, Europe as well as the Middle East where he taught prior to moving to Greenville. In his own studio work he mostly focuses on social images made using lithographic processes, as well as etching, relief and screen-printing. He studied at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada and at the University of South Dakota. You can check out his website at matthewjegan.com
Screenshot
Screen-printing examples by Matt Egan and Heather Muise
Materials Needed
A t-shirt and apron. All other materials will be provided.
Required Materials
None
Reductive Relief Printing
Workshop Description
This immersive workshop focused on an introduction to linocut printmaking and reductive image making. Conducted in the printmaking studio, this hands-on course will introduce participants to the tools, materials, and techniques essential for successful relief printmaking.
Throughout the week, you’ll gain first-hand experience using professional printmaking equipment and learn the step-by-step process of reductive linocut. You’ll explore how to transform your ideas into multi-layered, multi-color prints using a single linoleum block. Each session will guide you through sketching, planning image layers, carving, inking, and printing, with special emphasis on registration and problem-solving.
By the end of the workshop, you will have created your own edition of a multi-color linocut print. Whether you’re new to printmaking or eager to think about image making in a new way, this workshop offers the opportunity to learn, experiment, and connect with fellow artists in an exciting studio environment.
Instructor Bio
Katya Hutchinson worked as a camp counselor, nanny, and smoothie slinger before she entered the world of teaching. After almost 7 years in various capacities at East Carolina University, Katya is thrilled to work with first-year college students as they enter the School of Art and Design. A printmaker at heart, Katya is excited to have a group of fantastic young artists ready to apply their creativity to a new technique.
Required Materials
An apron or spare shirt- Plan to get a little messy!
All other materials will be provided.
Poster Design
Workshop Description
In this morning workshop, students will gain experience learning about design aesthetics, typography, an overview of Adobe Illustrator and will ultimately design a show poster for a topic of their choice, such as their favorite band, movie, sports team, clothing brand, or real or fictional event, just to name a few! Creativity and collaboration will be encouraged among the students. At the end of the workshop/week, students will be able to take home a framed print of their design project.
Instructor Bio
Joshua Vaughan is a multi-award-winning graphic designer and creative based in Eastern North Carolina. A proud graduate of East Carolina University, he serves his community as a volunteer designer for the Greenville Museum of Art, freelance designer with local organizations and businesses, supports Nash Community College in the role of Marketing & Communications Coordinator and proudly serves as Chair-Elect with the ECU Friends of the School of Art and Design. He is married with two kids, three cats, and four dogs (and a pepper garden).
Required Materials
All materials will be provided.
Digital Photography
Workshop Description
This morning photography workshop will introduce students to the creative possibilities of our Digital Darkroom, where photography and imagination meet. Participants will learn the fundamentals of Adobe Photoshop, using essential tools to refine their images and bring out their full visual potential. The workshop also includes a brief introduction to shooting with a DSLR digital camera, covering key settings and techniques to ensure strong source images for editing, as well a brief introduction to studio lighting. From there, students will dive into the world of composite photography, learning how to seamlessly blend multiple images to create magical, surreal scenes that make viewers look twice and question what they’re seeing. Finally, students will learn how to properly prepare their images for high-quality printing, including color management, file setup, and export workflows. By the end of the workshop, participants will have sharpened their technical skills, expanded their creative toolkit, and produced imaginative digital artworks ready for display.
Instructor Bio
Required Materials
All materials will be provided.
Jewelry- This course is now completely full!
Workshop Description
Join Metals Design program instructor, Timothy Lazure, for a week-long exploration of jewelry and small-scale metalwork. Students will explore hands-on fabrication techniques such as sawing, texturing, filing, soldering, and adding color to copper and brass. Through guided projects, students will design and create their own jewelry and metal objects. The class also introduces enameling, a process that adds color to metal by fusing powdered glass to its surface. Working in a studio environment, students will develop technical skills, creative problem-solving, and safe studio practices while producing ornaments or pendants, bracelets, and earrings.
Instructor Bio
Timothy Lazure is the Coordinator of the Metals Design program at East Carolina University. He received his BFA at Rochester Institute of Technology and his MFA at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. Tim shows his jewelry, silversmithing and furniture in both national and international exhibits. He has pieces in the permanent collections of the Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte, NC, Gallery of Art and Design in Raleigh, NC, and the Racine Art Museum, Racine WI. Images of his work has been published in 1000 Rings, 500 Brooches, The Art of Enameling, and The Craft of Silversmithing (Lark Books).
Required Materials
All materials will be provided.
AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
Logo & Brand Design
Workshop Description
In this afternoon workshop, students will gain experience learning about design aesthetics, typography, an overview of Adobe Illustrator and will ultimately design a set of logos for a real or ficitonal entity, such as a business, venue, musical act, etc. Creativity and collaboration will be encouraged among the students. At the end of the workshop/week, students will be able to take home a framed print of their design project.
Instructor Bio
Joshua Vaughan is a multi-award-winning graphic designer and creative based in Eastern North Carolina. A proud graduate of East Carolina University, he serves his community as a volunteer designer for the Greenville Museum of Art, freelance designer with local organizations and businesses, supports Nash Community College in the role of Marketing & Communications Coordinator and proudly serves as Chair-Elect with the ECU Friends of the School of Art and Design. He is married with two kids, three cats, and four dogs (and a pepper garden).
Required Materials
All materials will be provided.
Line etching and Aqua-tinting
Workshop Description
Rembrandt and Goya meet the animals of North Carolina! During the afternoon printmaking workshop, we’ll explore fascinating methods of creating images from metal plates and print the way Rembrandt and Goya did! We’ll explore traditional line etching and aqua-tint by grounding metal plates, drawing into the ground and etching them to make the surface hold ink. We’ll pull several prints from the same plate and make an edition to share. We’ll make the prints from start to finish in a way that is practical for a beginner and expand your experience if you’ve done it before.
Instructor Bio
Matt Egan is a Professor in the School of Art and Design and has been teaching printmaking at ECU for 20 years. He has been actively showing his work in Canada, the United States, Europe as well as the Middle East where he taught prior to moving to Greenville. In his own studio work he mostly focuses on social images made using lithographic processes, as well as etching, relief and screen-printing. He studied at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada and at the University of South Dakota. You can check out his website at matthewjegan.com
Student Work
Screenshot
Students’ examples of stage bite line etching with aqua-tint made at Summer Camp 2025.
Example of stage bite line etching with aqua-tint by Matthew Egan
Required Materials
All materials will be provided.
Film
Workshop Description
The Film Workshop will provide campers opportunities to be in front of, and behind the camera as they create short films throughout the week. From pre-production script writing to location scouting, casting, and post-production editing, campers will get an understanding of the filmmaking process and will come home with video projects produced at the camp. These hands-on creative activities will inspire and challenge young filmmakers to experience all aspects of videography, grow in their storytelling and technical abilities and will enable them to zero in on their interests and strengths for future careers, if they choose to pursue filmmaking.
Instructor Bio
Writer and Director BJ Emerson is an award-winning media innovator and published author passionate about creating flourishing storytellers. BJ currently leads a group of rockstars at Buzzadelic, the Greenville, NC-based digital marketing and advertising agency he founded in 2013. His experience in film and video production spans both non-profit and commercial client work. BJ also serves as a Teaching Instructor at East Carolina University in the School of Art and Design.
Required Materials
Campers will use their own mobile devices for recording. Supporting equipment will be provided for those who don’thave their own mobile devices. Supplemental lighting, environmental equipment, and editing software will be provided.
Analog Darkroom Photography
Workshop Description
This afternoon photography workshop introduces students to the magic of traditional Black-and-White darkroom photography and hands-on alternative processes. In the darkroom, participants will create photograms which are camera-less images formed by placing objects directly onto light-sensitive paper and exposing it to light, producing bold black-and-white silhouettes. Students will also learn how to make a traditional silver-gelatin print using images from their own phones, bridging digital capture with analog printing techniques. In the Alternative Process Studio, students will explore the historic cyanotype process, creating vivid blue prints on a variety of materials. By the end of the workshop, participants will gain foundational darkroom experience, experiment with expressive alternative techniques, and leave with a collection of unique, handmade photographic prints.
Instructor Bio
Required Materials
All materials will be provided.
Register / Make a Payment Here
Camper Information
School of Art and Design Main Office – 252-328-6665 // The Main Office is open Monday through Fridays, 8 am to 5 pm
Campers and families will be given an after-hours contact upon arrival.
Camp Director: Robbie Quinn quinnr@ecu.edu
Map
2026 Summer Art and Design Camp Schedule At-a-Glance
Sunday Schedule – June 14, 2026
1:00PM-4:00PM Registration & Check-in, Jenkins Fine Art Center
1:00PM-5:00PM Dorm Check-in and free time at Dorm
5:00PM Welcome Meeting & Pizza Party, Jenkins Fine Art Center
6:00PM Jenkins Fine Art Center Tours and Orientation
8:00PM Dorm Meeting
9:00PM Campers remain on floors and get prepared for lights out at 10:15 PM
Monday – Thursday Daily Schedule – June 15-18, 2026
8:00AM-8:30AM Breakfast, West End Dining Hall
8:30AM-11:00AM Morning Workshops
11:00-11:30AM Freshen-up, Dorm
11:30PM-1:30PM Lunch & Down-time, West End Dining Hall & Dorm
1:30PM-4:00PM Afternoon Workshops
4:00PM-5:30PM Freshen-up & Down-time, Dorm
5:00PM-5:30PM Dinner, West End Dining Hall
5:30PM- 9:00PM Evening Activities
9:00PM Campers return to the dorm and get prepared for lights out at 10:15 PM
Friday Schedule – June 19, 2026
6:00AM Early Wake-up
8:00AM Check-Out of Dorm
8:00AM-8:30AM Breakfast, West End Dining Hall
8:30AM-11:00AM Morning Workshops
11:00PM-1:30PM Lunch & Down-time
1:30PM-4:00PM Afternoon Workshops
4:00PM-5:00PM Installation of Works in Gray Gallery
5:00PM-5:30PM Gallery Showcase and Reception
What to Bring
PLEASE BRING YOUR COMPLETED MEDICAL AND LIABILITY RELEASE FORMS.
TOILETRIES: Towels, wash clothes, toothbrush and tooth paste, comb, deodorant.
CLOTHING: Pajamas, casual clothes that can be used in messy art studios, COMFORTABLE close-toed shoes, coat hangers if desired. Jenkins Fine Arts Center can be cool in the summer, so please bring a sweatshirt or warmer layer just in case.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING SKATEBOARDS OR OTHER LARGE NON-PORTABLE EQUIPMENT OR DEVICES. THESE ARE PROHIBITED.
FAQ:
How will I know if I get to take the workshops I want to take?
Once registered, we will contact you in few days to confirm your final schedule of workshops, based on your requests. We cannot guarantee that you will receive your first choices, since most workshops are limited to 12 campers.
How do meals at the dining hall work?
All participants will be issued a meal card at check-in. Participants will be required to have their cards to enter the dining hall. All meals must be eaten in the dining hall, we do not have a “to-go” option. The dining hall is all-you-care-to-eat.
Parents and Students: Please Notice
Students will not be permitted to ride in cars while at camp. Students driving themselves to camp will turn in their keys to their dorm counselor for the duration of camp. Keys will be returned on Friday at checkout.
The use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and/or vaping is strictly forbidden. Additionally, while students are encouraged to have a cell phone in order to stay in communication with camp counselors as well as family, any inappropriate texting or online bullying will not be tolerated. A VIOLATION OF THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION FROM THIS CAMP.