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 2027

Teen Painting & Drawing Classes

8811 Discovering Drawing Techniques & More! (ages 13–17)
Instructor: Madeleine Johnson
Tuesdays, 4 – 6 PM
Unlock your creativity in this fun and engaging drawing course for teens! Designed for all skill levels, this course will explore the fundamentals of drawing through hands-on projects, playful experimentation, and guided technique-building. Students will learn to draw from observation and imagination while trying out a variety of drawing materials, from pencil and ink to charcoal and pastels. Each week will introduce a new drawing technique, encouraging students to develop their drawing skills and to find their own artistic voice in a supportive studio environment! The materials fee covers the cost of supplies provided by the Art Center and one session with a live model.
10 session(s): 9/15 – 11/17
Tuition: member $377, non-member $407
Materials fee: $52

8815 Cartooning & Character Design (ages 13–18)
Instructor: Doug Baron
Tuesdays, 6 – 8 PM
Join artist Doug Baron, creator of Sugar Ray Finhead, to learn the ins and outs of cartoon drawing, character design, inking techniques, and coloring with watercolor. Students will work on simple and effective techniques for creating their own character concepts. Master a unique style of creating cartoon, anime, and comic book art!
10 session(s): 9/15 – 11/24 (no class on 11/10)
Tuition: member $377, non-member $407
Materials fee: $52

8849 Character Design & Development: From Concept to Creation (ages 13–17)
Instructor: Jenna Meyer
Wednesdays, 6 – 8 PM
Dive into the art of creating characters! This class is all about exploring the art of character design, with the goal of learning how every line, shape, and color choice helps build a memorable design. We’ll dig into shape language, silhouettes, and other design choices that instantly communicate your character’s personality, from bold hairstyles to unique costume details. Students will experiment with creating original characters or refining existing characters. By the end of the class, you’ll have a toolkit of techniques and concept art to develop characters that feel dynamic, expressive, and original! The Art Center will be providing the supplies for this class, but previous students are welcome to bring their own supplies.
10 session(s): 9/16 – 11/18
Tuition: member $377, non-member $407
Materials fee: $52

8851 NEW! Anatomy for Artists (ages 14–17)
Instructor: Sara Mesenbrink
Wednesdays, 6 – 8 PM
Do you like drawing cartoons, anime, or characters, but never knew how to draw the hands just right? Do you look at your characters and think something is missing? Then, this class is for you! While some artistic styles don’t resemble realistic humans in an obvious way, knowing more about how people look and move in real life can help to support your imagination and make your creativity look realistic. Each week, students will learn tips, tricks and a little bit of math to draw realistic human proportions and anatomy that will enhance their characters and portraits. The materials fee covers the model for two class sessions and the Art Center will provide supplies for this class.
10 session(s): 9/16 – 11/18
Tuition: member $377, non-member $407
Materials fee: $58

8870 Oil Painting for Teens (ages 13–17)
Instructor: Andrea Gianchiglia
Thursdays, 4 – 6 PM
Unleash your creativity with oil paint! Students will learn how to use the traditional favorite medium of the masters while diving into color theory, brush handling, layering, wet–on–wet, grisaille, dry brush, and more with a variety of subject matters. Explore vibrant techniques in a fun, supportive environment.
10 session(s): 9/17 – 11/19
Tuition: member $377, non-member $407
Materials fee: $52

8899 NEW! Creative Perspectives in Graphite & Charcoal (ages 13–17)
Instructor: Joel Tidey
Saturdays, 12 – 2 PM
In this exciting basic drawing course, students will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of representational drawing based on line, tone, volume, and composition. Basic drawing is really about learning to observe and to think critically. This class will be working from both reference photos and still life setups. Students will be working with various subjects from portraits to landscapes and beyond. Students will gain the confidence needed to use their imagination to express their ideas in a permanent form. This is a great course for those who will need to build a portfolio for college entrance. Students will need to purchase their own supplies to bring each class. Please review the materials list for this class online.
10 session(s): 9/19 – 12/5 (no class on 10/31)
Tuition: member $377, non-member $407

8901 Introduction to Oil Painting (ages 13–17)
Instructor: Joel Tidey
Saturdays, 2:30 – 4:30 PM
Oil paints have been a classic medium for centuries because of their luminosity and ease of use. Learn the foundation skills of painting in oils in this introductory course. We will cover the basics, including blocking in a composition, color mixing, value studies, and proper handling of materials. Students should wear clothes that can get messy. Students will need to purchase their own supplies and bring to every class. Students can review the materials list for this class online.
10 session(s): 9/19 – 12/5 (no class on 10/31)
Tuition: member $377, non-member $407