Many parents tell us that Studio Arts is their teen’s home away from home. Our greatest achievements at Studio Arts lie in helping teens meet lofty art goals through serious study. For 25 years our studio has supported teens as they create individualized portfolios to successfully gain admission to Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, other local high schools and first-choice colleges and art schools. Pre-Portfolio is the class for seventh through ninth graders interested in pursuing Portfolio class in June for Booker T. hopefuls. In February, we offer Post-Portfolio class for those students who want to continue on with their Portfolio tribe. Our College Portfolio class continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Barley Vogel, Studio Arts director, has created a safe space that allows art students to gather as they build relationships and continue their transformation into creative, successful, young-adult working artists.
Teens
Drawing & Painting
Are you always drawn to pick up a pencil? Hey! Don’t brush off your painting skills! Draw from still life (but really COOL still life), clothed models (sometimes the studio dog, Wyatt), and work from your imagination while learning important stuff like proportion, perspective, composition and hatching/cross hatching to add value. Supplies and model fees included.
Wheel & Hand-build Clay
Making awesome stuff from mud is nothing short of miraculous. The process is as simple as you need it to be and the challenges are very exciting. Throwing on the potter’s wheel can really get you centered. Hand building sculpture and dinnerware is a perfect meditation. You will be amazed at how quickly your skills develop. Please note that all clay must be picked up within two weeks of the class end or find your clay in the clay garden!
No clay offered Fall 2026 semester.
The Portfolio Class - The Booker T Prep Class that works
The Portfolio Class at Studio Arts.
A prep class that works: for those willing to do the work.
Our famous Portfolio Prep Class for artists who want to build skills to ace the required timed tests in clay/drawing/design and create a knock out portfolio to present – for Booker T. HSPVA in February 2028.
Please visit the Art School Prep Page for detailed information / what to sign up for if not yet in 7th grade/ what to sign up for if you missed this year’s portfolio class – no worries – we got you, too – and more!
Be sure to email Barley NOW to get on the mailing list for upcoming class start dates/parent meetings/ etc.
Current countdown to a March 2027 start, when our next two-part year long Portfolio Class begins. That year begins in spring for 7th graders interested to enroll for new class that begins Spring of 2027.
The Portfolio Class Spring of 2027 for 2028 audition studioartsregistrar@gmail.com
The Homework Class
The Homework Class is open to any student attending or about to attend Booker T. who needs studio time and support completing assignments. We provide guidance, love, an assortment of future/current classmates and critique. This Independent Study course is open to any teen from Booker T. who needs studio time to work on independent projects / school homework in most mediums. Also fabulous EXTRA support for our studio kids as they prepare for the very competitive College Portfolio Review season! Please email Barley with any questions: studioartsregistrar@gmail.com We offer this year round, but you need to ask as we usually email folks to join.
Work from Observation
Work From Observation
This classical training program supports a student to learn to draw and paint like a pro! Working from life – be it portraiture / still life / interiors / or buildings and landscape – without screens or printed photos, but with our eyes, connects brain to hand for a satisfying outcome. This class offers of loads of demonstration and one on one support; also class group critique. We use traditional and non traditional mediums to explore mark making and painting ranging from useful exercises to beautiful completed work. Our studio philosophy is rooted in learning to work from observation – but this class is all eyes! Best for portfolio preparation for any level of student.
Art School Prep for College Portfolio Creation/support
Please visit the Art School Prep Page for detailed information!
Digital Art Exploration: Influencers and Animators
Digital Art Exploration Class: Influencers and Animators with Ms. O!
(Photography, Illustration, Editing, Procreate, Adobe)
Class Description & Objectives
This course is designed for students passionate about digital creation and eager to expand their skills in modern digital art platforms. Through hands on practice, learners will explore photography, digital illustration, photo editing, and creative software applicaitons such as Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, and other emerging digital tools. Bring a tablet/laptop to class with your favorite program.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Navigate major digital art platforms including Procreate, Adobe Creative Cloud, and other creative apps used in professional digital art workflows.
Apply digital illustration techniques such as layering, brush customization, color blending, and stylization.
Capture and edit photographs using digital cameras or mobile devices, focusing on composition, lighting, and post‑processing.
Create polished digital artwork through guided projects that integrate illustration, photography, and digital editing.
Develop a personal digital art style by experimenting with tools, techniques, and creative approaches across multiple platforms.
Build a digital portfolio showcasing completed projects, process work, and creative growth throughout the course.
Understand modern digital art careers including content creation, illustration, animation, graphic design, and digital media production.
This class prepares students to confidently create in a digital world and supports those interested in pursuing digital art professionally or as a creative passion.
Young Illustrator
The perfect class for budding cartoonists, super fans of animee, inventors of endless characters, and lovers of graphic novels. This class is a great choice for those artists who wish to make their own illustrative work with traditional / experimental mediums and for those digital junkies who need a bit of pencil to paper art class skills to support their goals and passion for digital art. Be sure to check out our newest class for this crowd: Digital Art Exploration!
