Creative Arts
Creative Arts Overview
The creative arts give you the opportunity to express yourself and to connect with others in new and fulfilling ways. At HKNC, you’ll have the chance to work with a therapeutic art education specialist and develop artistic skills that can lead to a lifetime of enjoyment.
Your instructors will work closely with you to identify the types of art projects that are best suited to you. Try your hand at painting, sculpture, macramé and more. You’ll learn adaptive techniques where necessary, acquiring the tools to reach your full artistic potential.
Photo credit: Laura Bollet, M.A., ATR EDS
Whether your personal artwork becomes a passion, a pastime or just a memory of your HKNC experience, your new skills and appreciation will enable you to take greater pleasure in the art that surrounds you in your everyday life.
Studio Time
Working in an open-studio setting, you’ll discover new talents and share ideas and experiences with your classmates and instructors.
You can explore fine arts:
- Drawing
- Painting
- Ceramics
- Sculpture
- Mixed media collage
Or delve into craftwork:
- Macrame
- Pottery
- Basketry
- Hook rugs
- Weaving
- Needlework
Adaptive Techniques
Whatever medium you choose, your instructors will introduce you to techniques that can enable you to work more independently.
We have an array of materials that can make your work easier and enhance your sensory experience:
- Oversized paint brushes, needles and crochet hooks
- Bulky yarn
- Needle threaders
- Portable work tables
- Spill-proof containers
- Air-dry clay
- Scented markers
- Sand, glitter and beads to texturize conventional materials
Medium: cardboard, acrylic paint, paper, chalk, pastel, yarn and tree branches.
Photo credit: Laura Bollet, M.A., ATR EDS
And sometimes it’s less about materials and more about strategy. Your instructors will show you different ways to approach challenging aspects of a project and will help you to figure out what will work best for you.
Safety is always a priority. Goggles, gloves and smocks always are available along with wet and dry paper towels for immediate clean-up.
Visiting Artists
Each year HKNC invites professional artists to campus to teach master classes. You’ll have the opportunity to work side by side with a pro, learning about different media and creating reflective pieces of your own.
Admissions
Programs are open to individuals who are deaf-blind as defined in the Helen Keller Act. Government funding often is available. Your regional representative can answer questions about admission requirements, transportation, funding sources and more.
Find Your Regional Rep