Arts, crafts and
much more

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

If you can’t take your kids telling you they’re bored one more time this summer, Ludmila Makarova’s art camp might be the answer for both of you.
Makarova is an accomplished artist with degrees in fine arts from Russia and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Her works can be found in collections in the United States, Russia and throughout Europe.
Weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., children of different ages and talents can usually be found at the Ludmila Makarova Art Studio Palette, at 11026 Rennard St., wrapped up in their latest project.
Much more than just arts and crafts, Makarova gives the 20 to 25 boys and girls in her summer day camp true art lessons in drawing, painting, sculpting, composition, pottery, using polymer clay, jewelry making, art concepts and history as well as international culture.
Though she is supportive of what her students have accomplished, she guides them to reach the next level.
Karina Arkadyev, 10, did a fantastic painting of a tall ship on a blue sea.
Makarova complimented her student but pointed out that if she kept the center of the sails white and painted a little bit of light gray closer to the edge, it would make the painting three dimensional.
Three-dimensional painting can be seen in an underwater kingdom mural that flows around three walls in the front room of the studio. Students created it as part of a group project.
Last week, Jane Goisinsky, 11, and Simone Nirenberg, 9, were kind enough to give a tour of the underwater kingdom that they helped to create.
The young artists pointed out schools of coral, fish, a tiger turtle, a flying fish, a funky fish, a sunken ship, a treasure chest, a dolphin, a big purple octopus and people bubbles — air bubbles with pictures of the camper/artists in them.
"We did the sand and water first and then split up with half (of us) to make the paper fishes and half to paint. In the end, everybody came together," Jane explained.
The camp also brings together boys and girls with disabilities in an inclusive environment.
In fact, the camp has been a collaborative effort between Makarova and Bucks County-based Program Hope, an advocacy organization that serves children and adults with disabilities and abused and exploited women. It also works to promote economic and social justice.
Part of the program’s mission is to provide art lessons as therapy for its clients, according to Program Hope spokeswoman Lauri Narita.
The camp helps to show that "disability can’t stop you from (doing) anything you want to do," she said.
The studio holds a large array of works created by the campers — from mugs they made out of pottery, clay pencil holders, paintings, pinatas and pillows.
The art camp also takes the boys and girls outside the studio to visit farms, museums, bookstores, libraries and the Churchville Nature Center. An upcoming field trip will take the children to Home Depot, where they’ll learn to do something.
"Nature is explained, and we teach them about the beauty of the surroundings," said Narita. "At the library and bookstores, we see the books on artists."
On a visit to a farm, the children left with wool, which they later rubbed into balls with their soapy fingers. They dyed it with some food coloring and made necklaces out of their sheep souvenir.
The first summer of the camp has proved successful so far, and the women hope to start an after-school program that will engage the students and not have them just do homework and watch television. ••
The summer camp costs $165 per student. For more information, call 215-677-4470.
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com