Summer Art '26, Classes for Ages 7 - Grade 12

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2 hours

For more than 30 years, our studio has helped young artists develop strong drawing and painting skills through a structured studio program that balances fundamental training with creative exploration. Many long-term students have gone on to study art in college, often receiving art scholarships.

We have found that three things help students reach their artistic potential:

• Interest or natural ability in drawing
• An open mind — learning to draw realistically involves new ways of seeing
• Persistence — improvement comes through focused effort and practice over time

Our Goal

Our goal is to keep art fun, creative, and intellectually engaging while introducing students to the fundamental skills that strengthen their ability to express ideas visually. As technical skills improve, creativity naturally expands.

How Our Classes Work

Art is learned differently than most academic subjects. Students learn best by watching a concept demonstrated and then practicing it while receiving individual guidance from the instructor and assistants.

A typical two-hour class includes:

Creative Time (about 30 minutes)
Students arrive, gather supplies, and work on personal creative projects. This time encourages experimentation and independent ideas.

Art History Introduction (5–10 minutes)
Students are introduced to an artist or illustrator and the historical context of their work, sometimes with a short documentary clip.

Demonstration (10–15 minutes)
Each week students are introduced to a new drawing concept or technique such as:

• measuring techniques
• light and shadow, ambient light
• linear perspective
• cartooning from memory and imagination
• drawing basic forms such as cubes and cylinders

The instructor presents a live demonstration explaining the concept for the week. For many students these ideas represent new ways of observing and understanding what they see.

Guided Studio Practice (about 1 hour)
Students spend the remainder of the class applying the concept while the instructor and assistants work individually with them.

Because of this studio format, students spend most of the class actively drawing and receiving personalized feedback rather than listening to a lecture. This is the standard teaching approach used in serious art schools.

Our program is not a step-by-step craft class where everyone completes the same project. Instead, students learn the fundamental principles of drawing and painting so they can apply those skills creatively in their own work.

What Students Learn

Students develop two complementary drawing abilities:

Perceptual drawing skills — learning to draw what we actually see
Cartooning drawing skills — learning to draw from memory and imagination

Exercises are repeated over time so students can deepen their understanding and build confidence.

Materials and Tools

All art materials are provided, including:

• newsprint, watercolor, and pastel papers
• watercolor and tempera paint
• chalk and oil pastels
• graphite, vine charcoal, and colored pencils

Students also have access to iPads for research and digital art and animation using apps such as Procreate and Sketch Club.

Supporting Student Learning

Class demonstrations are recorded and posted online so students can review exercises or catch up if they miss a class.

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3 hours (2 hours is an option)

For more than 30 years, our studio has helped young artists develop strong drawing and painting skills through a structured studio program that balances fundamental training with creative exploration. Many long-term students have gone on to study art in college, often receiving art scholarships.

We have found that three things help students reach their artistic potential:

• Interest or natural ability in drawing
• An open mind — learning to draw realistically involves new ways of seeing
• Persistence — improvement comes through focused effort and practice over time

Our Goal

Our goal is to keep art fun, creative, and intellectually engaging while introducing students to the fundamental skills that strengthen their ability to express ideas visually. As technical skills improve, creativity naturally expands.

How Our Classes Work

Bring your own supplies to class.  Click here for suggestions.

High School Students... We are authorized by the College Board to offer AP Drawing and AP 2-D Art and Design.  We taught six ap students in the 22-23 school year. Two seniors, 3 juniors and one sophomore.  We scored four 5s, two 4s and one 3.

One-to-One Instruction 15 - 20 minutes each class.  

If you have no supplies, we can set you up with drawing or acrylic painting supplies for a reasonable fee.

If you are interested in learning the fundamentals, we offer a series of carefully designed exercises for drawing and painting skills.

technique such as:

• measuring techniques
• light and shadow, ambient light
• linear perspective
• color mixing and color theory
• design theory
• brushwork

We have 13 iPads for research, digital art (with ProCreate and Sketch Club) and animation apps.    

Many of our students  are here because of the relaxed atmosphere where they can paint, and get  assistance when needed.  We can do that!

work on your own projects at your own pace.

Many of our high school students get credit for attending our school.  See "Credit Flexibility" at the Ohio School Board.

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