We are offering a general in-person adult class at various times each week. This wide-ranging class will allow students to continue their training in specific areas of interest as they receive instruction on a one-on-one project basis.
Choose one of these times when registering:
Mon 7:00pm-9:00pm Tue 6:00pm-8:00pm Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm Thu 10:00am-12:00pm Thu 2:00pm-4:00pm Sat 1:00pm-3:00pm Sat 3:30pm-5:30pm
If you have any questions, please call us (651) 699-1573.
Thank you for your interest.
The Art Academy offers an extensive selection of classes to satisfy the artistic needs of adults within our community. All classes focus on improving skills and are taught with thorough explanation and demonstration. We suggest, but do not assign, homework. We welcome both beginning and advanced students in all of our adult courses. There are no prerequisites to attend our programs.
Classes meet once a week on their scheduled day. Review our schedule to find out when course terms start & end, and please see the registration page for class days and times. Our school also has a generous make-up policy.
Learn the tools to draw and paint the figure well - proportion, gesture, anatomy and much more. Gain the knowledge to arrange a figure in a composition.
Our Summer camps & workshops are held in August for teens and adults. They provide a great opportunity to focus on specific skill developments and projects.
We are offering a general in-person adult class at various times each week. This wide-ranging class will allow students to continue their training in specific areas of interest as they receive instruction on a one-on-one project basis.
Choose one of these times when registering:
Mon 7:00pm-9:00pm Tue 6:00pm-8:00pm Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm Thu 10:00am-12:00pm Thu 2:00pm-4:00pm Sat 1:00pm-3:00pm Sat 3:30pm-5:30pm
"No man with a conscience can just bat out illustrations. He's got to pull all his talent and feeling into them!" -Norman Rockwell, 1894-1978
Let's face it; you probably became an artist because you have visual ideas bursting inside you. And if you've taken some of our other classes, you've developed the skills to realize your dreams. Why wait to share them with the world?
At this point, what you really need most is a nurturing mentor with a track record of realized images, who creates a safe, judgment-free workspace where you can loosen up, have fun and play. Come to our Creativity and Composition class and experience a positive, relaxed environment that will help you bring your most precious and inspired thoughts to artistic fruition.
Explore your creativity by developing an imaginative picture based upon an existing story that you select, or an idea that you originate. Work at your own pace to learn the time-honored steps of the creative, visual process – from idea generation, through preparatory work, to completed project. Emphasis will be placed on storytelling through composition and character development, as well as how color theory enhances visual communication. Students choose to work in the medium with which they are comfortable. We have experience to support pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, colored pencil, watercolor, egg tempura, and oils.
These collections of designs, woodblock prints and oil paintings were created by the legendary Arthur Wesley Dow for his book, Composition: A Series of Exercises in Art Structure for the use of Students and Teachers.
Dow was professor of Fine Arts in the Teachers' College at Columbia University, and an instructor at the Pratt Institute and the Art Students’ League in New York. This is just one of the many books to which we refer to enrich our students' understanding of design.
"O painter skilled in anatomy, beware lest the undue prominence of the bones, sinews and muscles cause you to become a wooden painter from the desire to make your nude figures reveal all." -Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)
The basis of traditional Western Art education centers upon learning how to draw the figure well, and that is the focus of these classes. Lectures are given on subjects including – recommended reading, materials, anatomy, aesthetics, indirect versus direct painting methods, and a reasonable breakdown of drawing and painting stages to complete finished work based on historic precedence.
The course stresses the importance of a Sensible Start and clarifies how to balance Unity and Variety throughout the complex Middle Stage of a picture, yet also emphasizes the significance of a Unified Finish to create a poetic, artistic statement. Repeat the class to learn how to combine studies and memory work so much of your extended figure can be completed away from the model.
Students in all classes are encouraged to solve challenging drawing passages by executing smaller, quicker studies. Others may focus on portrait drawing and painting.
Throughout the course, artists will be encouraged to construct solid drawings investigating anatomy, structure, weight and line quality before progressing to use value to build volume. Painters may choose to follow the traditional indirect method presented by the instructor or explore more direct methods – both approaches will receive frequent, positive critiques from an experienced painter. Lectures on traditional methods and materials and how they apply to working from life will be supplemented with informed demonstrations.
The course will conclude with a constructive critique of accumulated classroom work.
Pierre-Paul Prud'hon (1758-1823) Male Nude Charcoal and White Chalk on Toned Paper
Hubert James Draper (1863-1920) Study for The Lament For Icarus Charcoal and White Chalk on Toned Paper
Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) Patroclus, Oil on Linen
We will not be holding any Summer Camps at our location. We will, however, run two Drawing and Painting Camps & Workshops. One will focus on outdoor drawing and painting; the other will focus on pushing a sketch to completion on location at a professional artist’s studio in St. Paul.
"If you hear a voice within you saying 'You are not a painter,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." -Vincent Van Gogh 1853-1890
In this summer camp & workshop section we advertise workshops for teens and adults by local artists we dearly admire. They stand with dedication to pass on traditional methods in practical ways to the next generation of Minnesota painters. Many of the students who join these camps find that their skills progress very quickly because of the steady routine a daily workshop offers.
Attendees will receive individual instruction and work at their own pace in a non-competitive environment. Student to teacher ratio is always low to ensure a successful learning experience.
All camps are open to both new and continuing students. The course description, date, time. and cost for each workshop is listed below.
Stuart Loughridge Summer Camp & Workshop 1: Outdoor Landscape Sketching in Pencil and Watercolor, Ages 13-Adult
Stuart Loughridge A Series of Watercolor River Sketches dating from March 8th, 2020, through April 11th, 2020 (A bicycle was the mode of transport used when Stuart went out to paint these sketches.)
Tuesday August 12th – Friday August 15th* *This camp meets 9:00 am – 4:00 pm each day.
Minnesota Artist Stuart Loughridge is helping us take outdoor art education to a whole new level! We are proud to advertise that he will teach students how to draw and create pencil, ink, and watercolor sketches outdoors using a limited number of supplies for maximum portability. This four-day workshop will be held at Minnehaha Falls, which has ample parking, public bathrooms, and rain shelter.
Stuart is one of the finest landscape artists in the Twin Cities, so DON'T miss this unique opportunity to study with this dedicated artist!
The cost of the Camp is $350.
Stuart Loughridge Summer Camp & Workshop 2: Outdoor Landscape Sketching in Pencil and Watercolor, Ages 13-Adult
Stuart Loughridge Watercolor: Mississippi River on an Overcast Winter’s Day Private Collection
Monday August 18th – Wednesday August 20th* *This camp meets 9:00 am – 4:00 pm each day.
This workshop is geared toward students who attend this year’s Outdoor Landscape Sketching in Pencil and Watercolor Camp & Workshop, or have joined one of his past Summer offerings.
Students will meet at Stuart’s studio off 7th Street in St. Paul and learn how to take pencil, ink, and watercolor sketches done from nature and transform them into memorable finished work. Much emphasis will be placed on the study of compositional motifs and advanced watercolor techniques to enrich the aesthetics of the final image. Stuart’s individual tutorials will serve as invaluable lessons to all budding artists taking this workshop.
Stuart’s St. Paul Studio Workshop
274 Goodrich Avenue
St Paul, MN 55102 directions
The cost of the Camp is $300.
Take both of Stuart’s Summer Camps & Workshops for $625. That’s a $25 discount!
Comic, Graphic Novel & Children's Book Development
SPRING 2025 UPDATE
We are offering a general in-person adult class at various times each week. This wide-ranging class will allow students to continue their training in specific areas of interest as they receive instruction on a one-on-one project basis.
Choose one of these times when registering:
Mon 7:00pm-9:00pm Tue 6:00pm-8:00pm Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm Thu 10:00am-12:00pm Thu 2:00pm-4:00pm Sat 1:00pm-3:00pm Sat 3:30pm-5:30pm
"If Shakespeare and Michelangelo were alive today, and if they decided to collaborate on a comic, Shakespeare would write the script and Michelangelo would draw it. How could anybody say that wouldn't be as worthwhile an artform as anything on earth?" -Stan Lee (1922-2018)
Today, the most popular forms of communication in book publishing are comics, graphic novels and children's books, and artists David Witt and Bill Hauser are masters of the craft. Together, they will help develop your ideas into exciting, visual stories that communicate your thoughts with exhilarating interest.
Everything is covered, including: Process (story development, layout, thumbnails, roughs, and finish), Composition (narrative flow, page/panel relationship, viewpoint, camera angles, and cropping for emphasized interest), Character Development (expressive gesture through anatomy, posture, facial expression, and costume), Tone Design (dramatic lighting and spotting darks), Lettering, and advanced Inking Techniques.
Bill Hauser, Instructor Alhambre Album/CD Cover Ink and Photoshop
David Witt, Instructor Whimpering Ape Screen Print
Drawing Manga, Superheroes and Fantasy Figures is designed to correlate with our Drawing and Painting Fundamentals program. Students may take the two classes together to learn complementary information, thereby accelerating their skill development considerably. However, it can be taken on its own, and there is no prerequisite.
Our Drawing Manga, Superheroes and Fantasy Figures class features two complimentary programs to satisfy everyone’s creative needs.
Character Design and Development
"… It is my belief that the function of human anatomy, with an emphasis on its role in the process of emotion and intent, has been sorely neglected by young artist learning the practices of comics and sequential art." -Will Eisner (1917-2005)
The program centers around the figure, where anatomy, construction and movement are studied in conjunction with each other. Children and teens with a strong interest in Japanese animation (Anime), superheroes, comics and role-playing art are especially drawn to this class. For examples, we look to professional artists to set a standard of excellence. The accumulated knowledge of these fine anatomists, draftsmen and painters inspire our students to produce work of higher quality. In addition to figure construction, students learn about costume design, gesture, facial expression, inking and color techniques. After these skills are understood, they are encouraged to create their own Manga, Super Hero, and Fantasy Figure characters from local artists who excel in figure design.
Visual Storytelling through Comics and Graphic Novels
"The only way to learn how to write and draw is by writing and drawing… To persist requires a deep love of the work itself, and learning that lesson kept me from ever taking Calvin and Hobbes for granted when the strip took off years later…. To invent your own life's meaning is not easy, but it's still allowed… and I think that you'll be happier for the trouble." -Bill Watterson (1958- )
This program is designed to teach students how to develop a visual concept through sequential art, which is the largest growth industry within the world of book publishing today. Students explore visual story telling techniques, including: story development, page layout, perspective, camera angles, dramatic lighting, lettering and advanced inking techniques. After these skills are learned, kids create their own comic or graphic novel pages, which are published each term in Bill Hauser’s and David Witt’s Art Academy fanzine, Sandwhich, which comprises their final project.
The art supplies listed below can be purchased as a kit at the art supply store Wet Paint, 1684 Grand Ave., St. Paul, at a discounted rate.
If you are unable to purchase all the art supplies listed below by the first class, don’t worry. The instructor can loan you supplies for that lesson.
We encourage students to use these supplies outside of class as much as possible!
Comic, Graphic Novel & Children’s Book Development Drawing Supplies
• 2 – F pencils
• White Block eraser
• 500 Bristol 11”x17” plate Pad
• Set of 4 Micron Pens, #02, #03, #05, #08
• Speedball Penholder, Black
• Nikko G-Pen Nib, 3-pack
• Dr. Ph Martin's Black Star Hicarb waterproof India ink
• Elite Synthetic Kolinsky Watercolor Round Brush, #2
• Elite Synthetic Kolinsky Watercolor Round Brush, #3
• Understanding Comics, by Scott McCloud
Household Items
• Shoebox or Tackle box to hold art supplies
• Roll of Paper Towels (to be left at classroom). Continuing students need to bring a new roll every session
The Oil Study: Proper Techniques for Traditional Painting
SPRING 2025 UPDATE
We are offering a general in-person adult class at various times each week. This wide-ranging class will allow students to continue their training in specific areas of interest as they receive instruction on a one-on-one project basis.
Choose one of these times when registering:
Mon 7:00pm-9:00pm Tue 6:00pm-8:00pm Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm Thu 10:00am-12:00pm Thu 2:00pm-4:00pm Sat 1:00pm-3:00pm Sat 3:30pm-5:30pm
"Art to me is seeing. I think you have got to use your eyes as well as your emotions, and one without the other just doesn’t work.” -Andrew Wyeth (1917-2010)
Designed to be taken independently or in conjunction with our Renaissance Drawing and Painting Techniques and Beyond course, this class is formatted to teach art students how to paint simply and quickly using traditional methods. While students in Renaissance Drawing and Painting Techniques learn the importance of finish, this class is designed to emphasize the significance of an intelligent and efficient start based on working methods and aesthetic principles established during the 15th through 19th centuries.
Initially, systematic painting methods are stressed to build confidence and speed of execution. Concepts of shape, value, color, edge relationships and brush manipulation are approached with concise clarity to help increase the accuracy of intuitive decision-making and to facilitate assured painting. During each painting session the importance of intent is emphasized to help students focus on essentials and use limits of time to their best advantage. The class includes an informed overview of materials, techniques, and ways to increase artistic seeing and thought processes.
The art supplies listed below can be purchased as a kit at the art supply store Wet Paint, 1684 Grand Ave., St. Paul, at a discounted rate.
If you are unable to purchase all the art supplies listed below by the first class, don’t worry. The instructor can loan your child supplies for that lesson.
We encourage students to use these supplies outside of class as much as possible!
Character Design and Development Supplies
• 2 – F pencils
• White Block eraser
• 300 Bristol 11”x17” plate Pad
• Strathmore 9”x12”, 100 sheet, 50 lb sketchbook or equivalent
• Set of 4 Micron Pens, #02, #03, #05, #08
• Simplified Anatomy For The Comic Book Artist by Christopher Hart
Household Items
• Shoebox or Tackle box to hold art supplies
• Roll of Paper Towels (to be left at classroom). Continuing students need to bring a new roll every session
If your child is attending the camp, please have your child bring two snacks to each class. Please avoid snacks with nuts.
The art supplies listed below can be purchased as a kit at the art supply store Wet Paint, 1684 Grand Ave., St. Paul, at a discounted rate.
If you are unable to purchase all the art supplies listed below by the first class, don’t worry. The instructor can loan your child supplies for that lesson.
We encourage students to use these supplies outside of class as much as possible!
Manga and Superheroes Drawing Supplies
• Elite Synthetic Kolinsky Watercolor Round Brush, #2
• Elite Synthetic Kolinsky Watercolor Round Brush, #3
• Pelican Tusche A Drawing Ink
• Understanding Comics, by Scott McCloud
Household Items
• Shoebox or Tackle box to hold art supplies
• Roll of Paper Towels (to be left at classroom). Continuing students need to bring a new roll every session
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