Our High School and College Portfolio Preparation classes continue to garner exceptional results. Barley Vogel, Studio Arts director, has created a safe space that allows art students to gather in comfort to work to achieve their dreams and continue their transformation into creative, successful, young-adult working artists.

For 30 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 in this country and abroad.


Portfolio Class, Part 1

Mid-February-May

Starting every Spring semester and continuing twice a week until summer in June when The Portfolio Class, Part 2 begins. This class helps us all determine if charting a course for Booker T. is a wise investment for your family. Students learn classical basics in many mediums. They begin to work on assignments at home after working on techniques in class to acclimate to future school demands and because art takes time. Like practicing scales in music, art must occur at home also to meet portfolio application requirements at Booker. Another marker for continuing in Part 2: we introduce instruction with feedback (class and teacher critique) to achieve a specific goal and also introduce student participation in group and self critique. We highly advise making this class a priority to achieve your teen’s goal to attend Booker T. Don’t miss this important pre-requisite to The Portfolio Class, Part 2. We accept students 7th grade to 9th grade in this class.


The Portfolio Class, Part 2

June – February

Begins in early June and continues through late January or early February. The Portfolio Class, Part 2 offers a completely unique opportunity to young artists who wish to audition for admission to Booker T.  Over the past 30 years, we have coached more than 500 students who landed one of the few coveted spots in the visual arts conservatory at the prestigious Dallas Arts Magnet. If a student does well at Booker T., they will find many opportunities for scholarship to the great art colleges and universities in this country and abroad.

We have come to understand The Portfolio Class as one of the most important offerings in our teaching practice. This class provides a private tutorial experience in a classroom setting. Please understand that this class is only for the art student who is serious about building an audition-ready portfolio. Our student placement success rate is fantastic, and for these 30 years we are the only prep class recommended by most of the art teachers at Booker T.

The numbers: At Booker  – 1/4 to 1/2 half the freshman class spaces are filled each year with Studio Arts Portfolio Class graduates. Close to 100% of in-district freshmen that complete our coursework/homework have portfolios polished enough to enter their freshman class. It isn’t easy to become one of the sixty or so visual arts conservatory freshmen accepted.

We prepare students on many levels. We teach them to draw correctly from life. We get them ready for the rigorous audition. Our students develop confidence in their own visual language which allows them to excel as artists as they mature.

To request detailed information on this class and to get on the list for the introductory parent meeting, please contact Barley Vogel, Portfolio Class lead instructor at studioartsregistrar@gmail.com. For testimonials, click here.

If you are not able to attend Portfolio Class Part 1, please set up an interview with us to join Portfolio Class Part 2.

Please note: If you miss a good part of the Summer during The Portfolio Class or join us late, expect to make up this missed time with private lessons.

We currently offer a Zoom version of the exact same Portfolio 2 course. You can join this class at any point in time.

For a sampling of student work please visit our Instagram hashtag, #satheportfolioclass

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Post-Portfolio Class

February – May

So, you just auditioned for BTW and miss everyone! Post-Portfolio Class is for students who complete Portfolio Class. It is a fun way to continue to enjoy studio time with friends! Starts in February each year. Anyone who is accepted at BTW is invited to join us.


The Homework Class

Year Round

The Homework Class is open to any student attending or about to attend Booker who needs studio time and an educated eye and support to compete drawing/painting summer homework assignments. We provide guidance, love, and an assortment of future/current classmates and lots of helpful critique.


College Portfolio Prep

Year Round

This class is for college-bound or gallery-bound artists who desire guidance and dedicated studio time. If you need an exceptional eye and expert critique to support your art process, while making work for your college admission portfolio, you can find it here.  Please bring current portfolio and any specifics or guidelines provided by your college for entry. Private lessons and private critiques also available for extra support or if your schedule doesn’t allow for the class. We offer other classes in clay and drawing from observation that will easily support portfolio growth. You can also attend Zoom private lessons. We try to offer 3-6 classes each week that can support the very serious teenager / young adult to make work with excellent critique.

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