Saugatuck Center for the Arts’ unique two-day Paint-a-Thon West Michigan art summer camp invited campers to slow down and find inspiration from the world around them. Guided by our summer exhibition artist, Bryanna Manning, campers walked through her exhibition, Mother Lake, before grabbing paper to create artwork of their own. From the SCA gardens to the Lake Michigan shoreline, Paint-a-Thon reminded us that every landscape has a story worth exploring.

Painting en plein air with Bryanna Manning

This West Michigan arts summer camp started inside the gallery, with a walkthrough of Bryanna Manning’s exhibition, Mother Lake. As campers viewed the exhibition together, Bryanna shared how growing up around Lake Michigan continues to inspire her work today. Her paintings reflect a deep appreciation for the places that shape our memories. Bryanna celebrates the beauty and familiarity of the natural world. She invites viewers to slow down and notice the atmosphere found in places they might pass every day. The same sense of observation became the foundation for the campers’ own work.

Rather than simply looking at finished paintings, young artists were welcomed into Bryanna’s creative process. She talked about revisiting familiar places along Lake Michigan and emphasized the importance of paying attention to the environment when making decisions about what inspires her paintings.

Taking Art Outside

Paper in hand and watercolor palettes ready to go, campers moved into the SCA garden. They practiced painting en plein air–a French phrase meaning “in the open air.” Flowers, trees, shadows, and changing light became the subjects as campers filled pages with their observations.

In the afternoon, campers took those same observational skills to Oval Beach. Here, Lake Michigan became both the classroom and the inspiration. Sitting along the shoreline, they watched the rhythm of the water and the movement of the landscape before diving into their paintings. Some focused on specific details, while others captured the feeling of the lakeshore. Painting outdoors doesn’t always go exactly as planned. Brushes slipped, water splashed, colors mixed differently than expected, and ideas changed as campers created. No one seemed bothered. Instead, campers shared laughs and asked for guidance in order to keep going. 

The Joy of Making at a West Michigan Art Summer Camp

Throughout both sessions, campers tried watercolor, tempera, and acrylic paint. They practiced color mixing and tested new ideas. Many campers found themselves completely absorbed in the process. 

When I mess up, I don’t quit because I am a true artist,” said one camper. Another looked up from their painting and proudly announced, “I LOVE art!”

As painting continued, campers became comfortable encouraging each other. New friendships formed as they painted side by side, and many overcame challenges together. Several campers were so inspired by Bryanna’s artwork that they asked if they could buy prints from the exhibition to take home.

Finding Inspiration Everywhere

By the end of Paint-a-Thon, it had become about much more than painting techniques. Campers made paintings inspired by gardens and the landscapes West Michigan has to offer. Most importantly, they learned that inspiration can be found almost anywhere.

Whether they were painting flowers at the SCA or the Lake Michigan shoreline, campers experienced what makes art special: creativity, curiosity, and the joy of creating something that’s completely their own. 

Looking for summer camps that combine hands-on artmaking with time outdoors and opportunities to learn from multidisciplinary artists? Explore the many West Michigan art summer camps offered at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts.