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Classes for Teens

Classes for Teens

SPRING 2024 UPDATE

We are offering a general in-person class for ages 14-18 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:

Wed 6:00pm-8:00pm
Thu 6:00pm-8:00pm

Sat 10:00am-12:00pm
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.

Our program recognizes that teens have diverse interests and skills. Our goal is to provide an environment in which teens can challenge themselves to develop and refine their techniques in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.

Some teens may reach a level at which they might be better served by one of our adult classes. Please discuss with Jim or Sarah before registering your teen for these classes.

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.

Drawing and Painting Fundamentals for Teens

The Drawing Fundamentals class for teens emphasizes the basics of drawing simply and logically. Our methods promote sound draftsmanship, which dramatically improves a student’s drawing abilities, both in class and on independent projects.
Melinda Hiller, Age 16

Drawing and Painting Fundamentals for Homeschoolers

Our core curriculum for children and teens, offered during the day and specially tailored to homeschool families.

Manga and Superheroes

A popular class that focuses on character design and visual storytelling. Students may take it as part of the core curriculum, or as an independent class.

Fantasy Painting

This course provides students with a step-by-step process to create fantasy, science fiction, or other original work in pencil, ink and paint. The focus is on developing a rough, initial concept into a complete and finished work through the practical use of sketching, references, and incremental studies.
Josh Wilzyk, Lion comic

Summer Camps

Our camps are week-long sessions held throughout the summer months for children ages 7 - 18. Camps are a great way to focus on a specific skill or project.

Summer Outdoor Landscape Painting Camp

This unique camp teaches landscape painting on location – en plein air. It includes both painting instruction in a classroom and outside.

Classes for Adults

Classes for Adults

SPRING 2024 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

You may also take

Manga, Superheroes & Fantasy Figures Online: Character Design

Or

Manga, Superheroes & Fantasy Figures Online: Visual Storytelling

Or

Digital Illustration & Composition Online

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.

Traditional Drawing and Painting Methods

Learn the traditional techniques of art in a relaxed atmosphere. Start with the basics and then advance your skills in the areas you prefer.
Oil Painting after Caravaggio

Renaissance Drawing and Painting Techniques and Beyond

Work in the methods of the masters. A structured program develops your skills in a focused but friendly environment.

The Oil Study: Proper Techniques for Traditional Painting

Get your eye and hand working together. Learn about the materials of oil painting and start your paintings off on the right foot.
Skull - Practical Anatomy

Practical Anatomy

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.
Watercolor Triptych

Creativity and Composition

Explore your creativity and visual storytelling abilities by developing a well-designed picture in this stress-free adult course.

Comic, Graphic Novel & Children's Book Development

Comic Books and Graphic Novels inform the world of books and film. Ignite your skills by studying with two masters of the craft.

Drawing and Painting from the Live Model

Draw and paint from a live model in a structured environment supported by individual instruction and frequent lectures and demonstrations.

Creativity and Composition

Watercolor Triptych

Creativity and Composition

SPRING 2024 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

All participants will be asked to follow safety guidelines for preventing the spread of this virus following the CDC, Minnesota, and St. Paul guidelines. 

You may also take

Manga, Superheroes & Fantasy Figures Online: Character Design

Or

Manga, Superheroes & Fantasy Figures Online: Visual Storytelling

Or

Digital Illustration & Composition Online

If you have any questions, please call us (651) 699-1573.

Thank you for your interest.

Schedule for Winter – Spring – Fall 2024
Schedule for Summer 2024

Supply List

Girl at the Mirror by Norman Rockwell
"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.

Arthur Wesley Dow
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.

Register Now >>

Drawing and Painting from the Live Model

Drawing and Painting from the Live Model

SPRING 2024 UPDATE

We are NOT currently offering this class.

If you have any questions, please call us (651) 699-1573.

Thank you for your interest.


Supply List

Michelangelo, Figure Study
"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, Male Nude
Pierre-Paul Prud'hon (1758-1823)
Male Nude
Charcoal and White Chalk on Toned Paper
Hubert James Draper, Charcoal Study
Hubert James Draper (1863-1920)
Study for The Lament For Icarus
Charcoal and White Chalk on Toned Paper
Jacques Louis David, Male Nude known as Patroclus
Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)
Patroclus, Oil on Linen

Register Now >>

Summer Camps

Josh Wilzyk, Lion comic

Summer Camps 2024 

Check back soon for our Summer 2024 camps!

 

Comic, Graphic Novel & Children's Book Development

Comic, Graphic Novel & Children's Book Development

WINTER 2024 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

All participants will be asked to follow safety guidelines for preventing the spread of this virus following the CDC, Minnesota, and St. Paul guidelines. 

You may also take

Manga, Superheroes & Fantasy Figures Online: Character Design

Or

Manga, Superheroes & Fantasy Figures Online: Visual Storytelling

Or

Digital Illustration & Composition Online

If you have any questions, please call us (651) 699-1573.

Thank you for your interest.

Schedule for Winter – Spring – Fall 2024
Schedule for Summer 2024

Supply List

Spiderman, by John Romita Jr
"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, Album Cover
Bill Hauser, Instructor
Alhambre Album/CD Cover
Ink and Photoshop
David Witt, Whimpering Ape
David Witt, Instructor
Whimpering Ape
Screen Print
David Witt, Crazed Mummy
David Witt, Instructor
Crazed Mummy
Screen Print
Bill Hauser, Mech Attack
Bill Hauser, Instructor
Ink and Photoshop

Register Now >>

Manga and Superheroes

Drawing Manga, Superheroes and Fantasy Figures for Ages 12-18

SPRING 2024 UPDATE

We are offering these classes online.

Please visit:

https://theartacademy.net/online-class-list/

for descriptions of these classes.

If you have any questions, please call us (651) 699-1573.

Thank you for your interest.

Schedule for Winter – Spring – Fall 2024
Schedule for Summer 2024

Character Supply List
Comics Level 1 Supply List (for new students)
Comics Level 2 Supply List (for returning students)

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.

THESE CLASSES NEEDN’T BE TAKEN IN SEQUENCE.

Character Design Artwork

Visual Storytelling Artwork

Lilliah Campagna, Instructor, Drift/Deadlock, Digital Painting
Mick Kaufer, Instructor, Evil Ways, Digital Illustration
Bill Hauser, Instructor, Jack Ratts Album Cover, Ink and Photoshop
David Witt, Instructor, Morning Coffee Daily Comic Strip Page, Pen & Ink & Brush on Paper

Register Now >>

Comic, Graphic Novel & Children's Book Development – Supply List

Materials and Supply List

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

The Oil Study: Proper Techniques for Traditional Painting

SPRING 2024 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

All participants will be asked to follow safety guidelines for preventing the spread of this virus following the CDC, Minnesota, and St. Paul guidelines. 

You may also take

Manga, Superheroes & Fantasy Figures Online: Character Design

Or

Manga, Superheroes & Fantasy Figures Online: Visual Storytelling

Or

Digital Illustration & Composition Online

If you have any questions, please call us (651) 699-1573.

Thank you for your interest.

Schedule for Winter – Spring – Fall 2024
Schedule for Summer 2024

Supply List

Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth
"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.

Oil Study Artwork

Oil Study - Landscape
James Robinson, Instructor
Oil Demonstration
Oil Study - Horse
James Robinson, Instructor
Oil Demonstration
Oil Study - Bust
Julie Stevens, Adult Student
Monochrome Oil Study

Register Now >>

Drawing Manga, Super Heroes, and Comics – Supply List

Materials and Supply List

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.