The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey’s Studio School, located in Summit, NJ, offers classes and workshops for artists of all ages and skill levels. Taught by experienced teaching artists, our programs span painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and more—providing a supportive environment for learning, exploration, and creative growth.

FALL SEMESTER 2026

Kid Painting & Drawing Classes

8776 Make Your Palette Pop! (ages 8–11)
Instructor: Alicia Cotter
Mondays, 4 – 5:30 PM
Explore color and grow your painting abilities in this class! Students will have the opportunity to use table easels, just like professional artists, and create masterpieces in both acrylic and watercolor. The instructor will provide step-by-step demonstrations on shape, color, line, form, and texture when capturing different subject matters. All materials provided.
9 session(s): 9/14 – 11/23 (no class on 10/12)
Tuition: member $300, non-member $330
Materials fee: $40

8782/8817 Drawn to Drawing: The Young Artist’s Sketchbook (ages 7–10)
Instructor: Katie Truk
8782 Mondays, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
8817 Tuesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Does your child draw all the time? Like a sport, drawing is a skill that improves with practice. This class will build upon basic drawing skills, such as contour lines and shading, to give students confidence in their abilities. In addition, at the beginning of the session, a sketchbook will be given to students for additional, although not mandatory, practice at home (fun and creativity are always the main priority!) to help reinforce lessons and develop skills learned in class.
8782 10 session(s): 9/14 – 11/23 (no class on 9/21)
8817 10 session(s): 9/15 – 11/17
Tuition: member $257, non-member $287
Materials fee: $44

8783 Anime/Manga & Comic Drawing (ages 11–16)
Instructor: Doug Baron
Mondays, 6 – 8 PM
Create characters! Explore comic book and Japanese/Chinese–style drawing, from dynamic perspectives to classic anime/manga facial features.
10 session(s): 9/14 – 11/30 (no class on 9/21, 11/9)
Tuition: member $357, non-member $387
Materials fee: $52

8806 Draw Your Art Out! (ages 7–9)
Instructor: Alicia Cotter
Tuesdays, 4 – 5:30 PM
Dive into drawing in this fun and dynamic class! Explore new drawing techniques in a variety of black & white and color media such as pencil, charcoal, and pastel. Learn core principles like how to use light and shadow to make your drawings pop, proportions, blending colors, and more. All materials included. New projects each session.
10 session(s): 9/15 – 11/17
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8812 Portraiture: Drawing Faces with Confidence (ages 10–12)
Instructor: Jenna Meyer
Tuesdays, 4 – 5:30 PM
Want to improve your people–drawing skills? This class is for students at any level who want to jump into the world of portraiture. Learn how to draw a loved one, a favorite celebrity, a self–portrait, and maybe even create a portrait of your own characters! Students will be provided with the tools and knowledge necessary to produce portraits from start to finish with confidence, no matter their current skill level. Students will be working primarily from reference photos. The Art Center will provide the supplies for this class, but previous students are welcome to bring their own supplies.
10 session(s): 9/15 – 11/17
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $48

8807 Watercolor Wonders (ages 9–12)
Instructor: Dawn Noonan
Tuesdays, 4 – 5:30 PM
Experiment with water and paint in this class! Students will dive into the joys of watercolor through quick practices and more prolonged studies over several sessions. The nature of the medium makes it easy to work on several projects at once since no one likes to watch paint dry! The quick practice pieces will be worked on both sides of the paper, and then these will be bound into small, colorful journals. The larger projects will be worked on over multiple weeks, gradually developing them through layering of different types of watercolors, including liquid, pencil, tube, and gouache.
10 session(s): 9/15 – 11/17
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8810/8837 Introduction to Drawing & Painting (ages 6–9)
Instructor: Katie Truk
8810 Tuesdays, 5 – 6 PM
8837 Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Is your child fascinated by drawing and painting? We teach the fundamentals of composition and perspective through still lifes and photographic sources, while broadening techniques and creativity. Explore color, shading, texture, and most importantly, imagination! Repeat students are welcome.
8810 10 session(s): 9/15 – 11/17
8837 10 session(s): 9/16 – 11/18
Tuition: member $257, non-member $287
Materials fee: $42

8838 Inspired by the Masters (ages 5–6)
Instructor: Alicia Cotter
Wednesdays, 4 – 5:30 PM
Each week, students will learn about an artist from history and step into their shoes to create different kinds of artwork. From drawing to painting, the instructor will introduce the following artists based on their unique art style, such as Kusama dots, Rousseau animals, Warhol flowers, Matisse shapes, and more! All materials included. New projects each session.
10 session(s): 9/16 – 11/18
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8842 Imagination Illustrations (ages 9–12)
Instructor: Daniel Velez
Wednesdays, 4 – 5:30 PM
In this class, students will reimagine classic stories and bring them to life through their own unique artistic lens. Each week, they will explore essential drawing and illustration techniques such as character design, perspective, inking, and color theory while putting a creative twist on familiar tales like Humpty Dumpty, Little Red Riding Hood, and other timeless works from literature. By combining technical skill building with imaginative storytelling, students will transform these traditional narratives into fresh, original artworks.
10 session(s): 9/16 – 11/18
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8845 Fantasy Genre Drawing (ages 9–16)
Instructor: Doug Baron
Wednesdays, 6 – 8 PM
Are you a fan of fantasy fiction, films, and anime? Join Doug Baron on a fantastic journey with popular characters from Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Fullmetal Alchemist, and more. Learn how to draw fantasy classics such as dragons, unicorns, and other mythical creatures. Students will work in a variety of media such as acrylic paint, India ink, charcoal, and pastel.
10 session(s): 9/16 – 11/26 (no class on 11/11)
Tuition: member $357, non-member $387
Materials fee: $52

8867 Paint Your Art Out! (ages 7–9)
Instructor: Alicia Cotter
Thursdays, 4 – 5:30 PM
Dive into painting in this fun and dynamic class! Explore new techniques and subject matters in both acrylic and watercolor paints. Learn about the color wheel, light and shadow, blending colors, and more!
10 session(s): 9/17 – 11/19
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8887 Comics, Cartoons & Anime Drawing (ages 9–16)
Instructor: Doug Baron
Fridays, 4 – 5:30 PM
Calling all comics, cartoons, and anime lovers! Explore drawing popular characters and work on simple and effective techniques for creating your own character concepts. Master a unique style of creating cartoon, anime, and comic art—and have fun!
10 session(s): 9/18 – 12/4 (no class on 11/8, 11/27)
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8892 Drawing & Painting (ages 9–13)
Instructor: Dawn Noonan
Saturdays, 10 – 11:30 AM
Raise the bar and reach the next level! Refine drawing and painting skills using charcoal, pastel, paint, and more through demonstrations, discussions, and individual attention. Explore the fundamentals of drawing and painting combined with imagination.
10 session(s): 9/19 – 12/5 (no class on 10/31)
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8891 Cartoons & Anime Drawing (ages 7–10)
Instructor: Doug Baron
Saturdays, 10 – 11:30 AM
Are you a cartoon/anime/manga lover? Create characters! Explore comic book and manga–style drawing from dynamic perspectives to classic anime/manga facial features. We draw popular characters and work on simple and effective techniques for drawing and creating concepts. Master a unique style of creating cartoon, anime, and comic art—and have fun!
10 session(s): 9/19 – 12/19 (no class on 10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/28))
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8893 Drawing Beyond Stick Figures (ages 7–10)
Instructor: Heidi SanFilippo
Saturdays, 10 – 11:30 AM
This class is made for students who would like to enhance their drawing skills beyond stick figures. The focus will be to ignite creativity, improve art techniques, and instill confidence. Students will have the opportunity to express themselves artistically and experiment with different styles. Each class will consist of a mix of instructional lessons, collaborative exercises, and individual practice to ensure a well–rounded learning experience.
7 session(s): 9/19 – 11/21 (no class on 10/24, 10/31, 11/7)
Tuition: member $237, non-member $257
Materials fee: $33

8896 Draw, Paint & Create! (ages 6–9)
Instructor: Vanessa Lopez
Saturdays, 12 – 1:30 PM
If your child loves to draw and paint, this class is the perfect creative outlet! Throughout the course, students will create a variety of artworks while exploring different techniques and styles. Each week, in addition to a main project, students will work in their own sketchbook to build skills, practice ideas, and develop their creativity. They’ll experiment with a wide range of materials, including pencil, acrylic paint, watercolor, ink, clay, and more. This class encourages imagination, confidence, and a love of making art—no experience needed!
10 session(s): 9/19 – 12/5 (no class on 10/31)
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8897 NEW! Expressive Portraits: Drawing Faces with Personality (ages 8–12)
Instructor: Destiny Jure
Saturdays, 1 – 2:30 PM
Discover the many ways to draw a face in this fun and creative portrait class! Students will explore a variety of styles, from realistic drawing to cartoons, anime, and expressive exaggeration, while learning how to bring personality and emotion into their artwork. Each week offers a new approach, allowing students to experiment, build confidence, and find the styles they love most. Perfect for all skill levels. This class encourages creativity, self-expression, and artistic growth.
10 session(s): 9/19 – 12/5 (no class 10/31)
Tuition: member $335, non-member $365
Materials fee: $47

8903 Painting Like the Pros (ages 6–9)
Instructor: Vanessa Lopez
Sundays, 12:30 – 2 PM
Explore the colorful world of painting in this fun, shorter session class! Young artists will try different painting techniques using acrylics, watercolors, and ink. They will also learn how to mix colors, create textures, and experiment with a variety of styles while completing several unique paintings to take home.
5 session(s): 11/1 – 12/6 (no class on 11/29)
Tuition: member $180, non-member $200
Materials fee: $27