Drawing & Painting

Is your child drawn to pick up a pencil? Hey! Don’t let them brush off their painting skills! Build abilities upon traditional basics. Even the youngest students can explore the challenges of figure drawing, simple perspective, composition, and expressive mark making. We believe drawing from observation is the most important tool in opening the world of art. Your child will work with a choice of professional materials such as acrylics, watercolor, pen and ink, pastels, and charcoal. Draw from still life, costumed models, and work from imagination while learning important stuff like proportion, perspective, composition, and hatching/cross hatching for value. Our still-life collection is guaranteed to surprise and inspire. They might even see Wyatt, our Studio dog! Supplies and model fees are included. This is our most requested class!

The Art Class

This is the class that put Studio Arts on the map. It’s the ideal environment for making art because it supports kids’ creativity, builds self-esteem, and rewards parents with art work created by their children that they’ll treasure forever. In this project-based class, kids use a variety of professional artist media balancing 2D and 3D to explore classical art techniques and traditions. Clay, mixed media, drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, weaving, bookmaking, illustration ideas and experimental fun is had in this class. If you can keep coming each semester, you may get to try it all. We rotate projects and mediums as the classes move along. Such a good foundation/intro to find your passion in art. GREAT for beginners who aren’t quite sure where their art mojo lies – also great for those who like creative variety – or those stuck in one medium who wish to expand and play.

Young Illustrator

Does your child enjoy drawing in pen and pencil? In fact, are they pretty much addicted to it? Then they might be headed for a career in illustration. We will offer projects to learn to express characters/action/place/style. These exercises could turn into either an entire comic or several illustrations (like for a book/ or an advert / a poster design / etc), depending on student’s interest. We also support future advertising artists, game creators, and manga masters here. Illustration, you know! We love supporting comic / manga in this class and often focus on new ways to approach a finished piece. This class really helps your digital work!

Wheel & Hand-build Clay

This class is fantastic for kids for so many reasons. Developmentally, working in clay assists hand-eye coordination. Give a kid a lump of clay and their brain slows down to allow inspiration to manifest. Our projects are designed with fun and learning in mind. Kids 8+ will have expert instruction in hand-building that will support their experience on the wheel. All materials included. Please note that all clay must be picked up within two weeks of the end of class end. Look for your clay on the back table outside.

Drawing & Painting

If you are always drawn to pick up a pencil, don’t brush off your painting skills! Draw from still life (but really COOL still life), clothed models (sometimes the studio dog) 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!

Young Illustrator

Do you LOVE drawing in pen and pencil? In fact, are you pretty much addicted to it? You might be headed for a career in illustration! Take any good book as your subject matter and discover new ways to express characters/action/place/style. This class is sort of a book club for drawing geeks. We also support future advertising artists, game creators, and manga masters here. Illustration, you know! We love supporting comic / manga in this class and often focus on new ways to approach a finished piece. This class really helps your digital work!

Art School Prep and Portfolio Classes

The Portfolio Class, Pre and Post Portfolio Classes, for Admission to Booker T. Washington HSPVA, and Art School Portfolio Prep for College and High School classes are all available. For 30 years our studio has supported teens as they create individualized portfolios to prepare to audition for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, other local high schools and first-choice colleges and art schools. Pre-Portfolio starts in February – it’s the class for seventh through ninth graders interested in pursuing Portfolio class which begins 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.

Please visit our Portfolio Preparation page for detailed information! Email Barley Vogel at Studioartsregistrar@gmail.com for more info.

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 porfolio preparation for any level of student. Pictured above is the continuous line work or a 10 year old.