Creating Characters, Worlds & Stories Through Art

Program Details

Meet the Instructor

A Week of Creativity, Connection, and Self-Discovery

Over seven full days, your child will explore their personal mythology through developmentally appropriate craft projects, group processes, and unconventional creative prompts designed to both identify and express their unique creative essence. They will create a guardian character, a symbol that's truly theirs, and an imagined world that reflects who they are at their core.

Through drawing, painting, puppet-making, and storybook creation, they will spend a week exploring this inner world, relating with their peers in a meaningful way, interacting with art materials mindfully and immersing themselves in empowering personal symbolism.

This is more than just crafts - it's a guided journey inward, held in a safe and joyful container — taught by a professional artist with over 10 years of experience and a teaching style built on technical skill-building and relational, emotionally attuned creative exploration.

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Across the seven days, students move through a guided arc from self discovery to self expression.

Group reflections, movement/embodiment breaks, and collaborative activities and art games will be woven through out.

day 1: Entering the Inner Kingdom

All stories begin in a setting - a landscape. For the MythMakers, that setting is their own internal worlds. Students will begin by creating an immersive mixed-media landscape that serves as the setting for their personal mythology. Through collage, drawing, painting, and sculptural elements, they will build an imagined world filled with meaningful places, symbols, and stories unique to them.

day 2-3: Designing Mythic Companions

Students are guided to imagine their internal guides, allies, creatures, protectors, or guardians. These mythic companions inspired by qualities they admire, challenges they are navigating, and strengths they are discovering within themselves. Through drawing and painting, they will bring these symbolic allies to life. They will create character cards with mixed media to bring these characters to life.

day 3-4: Puppet Creation

It’s time to bring our mythic companions to life. Students will transform one of their original characters into a three-dimensional puppet using fabric, paint, found materials, and mixed-media construction techniques. As their characters come to life, students will explore storytelling, imagination, and collaborative play.

day 4-5: Symbol Design & PrintMaking

Students will create a personal crest, a symbol that represents something meaningful about who they are. Using beginner-friendly printmaking techniques, they will transform their symbols into custom stamps and create a series of printed artworks that can be shared, traded, and incorporated into their story worlds.

day 5-6: Storybook Creation

Using the worlds, characters, and symbols they have developed throughout the week, students will create an illustrated storybook that weaves their creations into a unique narrative. Through writing, drawing, and design, they will become both artist and storyteller. By the end of camp, they will still have plenty of blank pages left in their storybooks. This is a take home keepsake which they are encouraged to add on to as life goes on.

day 7: MythMakers Gallery

On the final day, students will curate a mini exhibition featuring their world maps, prints, storybooks, and puppets. Family and friends will be invited to celebrate the creativity, courage, and imagination that emerged throughout the week. Snacks will be provided, and the students will put on a puppet show.

At the end of the week, each student leaves with a Identity Collage, A Handmade Puppet, A Personal Symbolic Stamp, And a Keepsake Sketchbook, and an experience of what it feels like to fully commit to a creative process from beginning to end.

Children learn not only through self-expression, but through witnessing and being witnessed by others. Throughout the week, participants will engage in collaborative activities, group reflections, storytelling, and creative play that foster connection, empathy, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

In a supportive and emotionally attuned environment, the group becomes a container for creativity, courage, and authentic connection—allowing children to develop meaningful relationships with both themselves and their peers.

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Hi, I'm Amanda — you may know me from my art name, Mae Wolf.

I've been a professional artist for over 10 years, with experience in painting, murals, illustration, and community-based art projects. I'm currently an Art Therapy and Marriage & Family Therapy graduate student at Dominican University. I have dedicated my life towards using creativity to support emotional growth, self-discovery, and healing.

My teaching style blends real technical skill-building with relational, emotionally aware exploration. I love helping young people render visions from their imagination into reality. I'm equally passionate about using art as a tool for self-understanding, confidence, and joy.

Please note: while I am a current Art Therapy student, I am not a licensed Art Therapist, and this workshop is an educational/enrichment experience — not art therapy or clinical treatment.

View My Resume + Qualifications

Instruction From a

PROFESSIONAL ARTIST of 10+ YEARS

My various professional experiences in leadership positions have given me the ability to confidently lead people of all ages through art processes that are developmentally appropriate.

I have experience working and volunteering with children, leading groups, curating art galleries, public speaking, managing teams and doing arts based education.

In addition, I am currently learning about how art interplays with developmental psychology in my Art Therapy Graduate program. Please note that I am not yet a licensed Art Therapist, as I am a current student.

Resume

lead instructor on community youth mural

ENGLEWOOD, CO, 2022

Project Description: Led a group of 20 middle and high school students in a large scale mural installation as a part of the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Englewood, CO.

Worked with students to bring their unique visions to life, foster collaboration, and build technical mural skills. Met with students on a weekly basis for 2 months leading up to final mural installation.

Age Range: Middle-High Schoolers

View My Art Portfolio

“We hosted a multi-generational paint by numbers event with Amanda in our neighborhood. Amanda was fantastic to work with. From kids to seniors, everyone had an amazing time. We would highly recommend working with her!”

— Genna & Teddy Yarkin-Kramer

Art-making plays a vital role in healthy cognitive, emotional, and social development. Through drawing, painting, building,storytelling, and imaginative play, children strengthen fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, focus, and flexible thinking. The creative process encourages curiosity, experimentation, and resilience by teaching children that mistakes are not failures, but opportunities for discovery.

I have learned about the developmental stages of art and the multidimensional impacts of creativity on child development through my Art Therapy program at Dominican. Though I am still a current student, and am not a licensed Art Therapist, this program is deeply inspired by my studies and my passion for using art for processing emotions, formulating identity, and expressing the authentic self.

Art also provides a natural pathway for emotional expression and self-understanding. As children create, the art itself becomes a safe container within which to communicate ideas, feelings, and experiences that may be difficult to express through words alone.

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My Mission

My mission in life is to foster healing, connective, and empowering experiences through the creative arts.

My personal art practice has enriched my life with depth, self awareness, passion, and meaning. Through teaching and mentorship, it is my mission to share this tool with others.

This program is designed for ages 8-13. If your child is outside of this range, and you think they would be a great fit anyways, reach out below and we can discuss it.
Not at all. This workshop is designed for all skill levels, from total beginners to kids who already love to create.
I've been a professional artist for over 10 years, with experience in painting, murals, illustration, and community-based art projects. I have run an art gallery, taught workshops, led community youth murals, and volunteered with youth. I'm currently an Art Therapy and Marriage & Family Therapy graduate student at Dominican University.
I go by Amanda, though my online art name is Mae Wolf! You are welcome to call me either.
A lunch, a water bottle, and a willingness to get a little messy! All art materials are included in tuition.
Yes! Please visit maewolf.com/teaching to view my other art lesson offerings.
No. While my approach is informed by my current Art Therapy training, this workshop is educational and enrichment-based, not clinical art therapy or mental health treatment.
Location details will be shared upon registration.
Student safety is a top priority. Parents will complete emergency contact and medical information forms before the program begins. Clear check-in and check-out procedures are used, and all activities are age-appropriate and supervised.
Tuition is $695 for one child, or $1,280 for two children (15% discount on the second child)
Yes. I will be offering 2 seats in this class at a discounted rate. Please indicate a desire to apply for a scholarship position in your application!
Simply reach out through the contact form below to apply for the program.