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.

WINTER SEMESTER 2026

Kid Painting & Drawing Classes

8191 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 stepbystep demonstrations on shape, color, line, form, and texture when capturing different subject matters. All materials provided.
8 session(s): 1/5–3/2 (no class on 2/16)
Tuition: member $265,
non–member $295
Materials fee: $40

8196/8248 Drawn to Drawing: The Young Artist’s Sketchbook (ages 7–10)
Instructor: Katie Truk
8196 Mondays, 5:30–6:30 PM
8248 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.
8196 10 session(s): 1/5–3/9
8248 10 session(s): 1/6–3/10
Tuition: member $257,
non–member $287
Materials fee: $42

8251 NEW! Imagination Illustrations (ages 9–12)
Instructor: Daniel Velez
Mondays, 6–7:30 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): 1/5–3/9
Tuition: member $335,
non–member $365
Materials fee: $46

8219 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. New projects each session.
9 session(s): 1/6–3/3
Tuition: member $300,
non–member $330
Materials fee: $43

8225 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. Please view the materials list online for this class. Students will need to purchase their own supplies.
10 session(s): 1/6–3/10
Tuition: member $335,
non–member $365

8224/8266 Introduction to Drawing & Painting (ages 6–9)
Instructor: Katie Truk
8224 Tuesdays, 5–6 PM
8266 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.
8224 10 session(s): 1/6–3/10
8266 10 session(s): 1/7–3/11
Tuition: member $257,
non–member $287
Materials fee: $40

8267 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! New projects each session.
9 session(s): 1/7–3/4
Tuition: member $300,
non–member $330
Materials fee: $43

8269 NEW! The Art of Animation Pre-Production: Storyboards & Animatics (ages 10–12)
Instructor: Jenna Meyer
Wednesdays, 4–5:30 PM
Ever wonder how animated movies go from an idea to the big screen? This class explores the exciting world of animation pre-production—the stage where stories, characters, and worlds are first imagined and developed, before any animation starts. Students will explore key steps of the pipeline, including story ideation, concept art, storyboarding, and animatics. Throughout the class, students will bring their own ideas to life by pitching story concepts, designing characters, and creating a short storyboard sequence or animatic. Whether you’re interested in animation, comics, or film, this class will give you a strong foundation in visual storytelling and pre-production techniques. Please view the materials list online for this class. Students will need to purchase their own supplies.
10 session(s): 1/7–3/11
Tuition: member $335,
non–member $365

8273 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): 1/7–3/18 (no class on 3/4)
Tuition: member $357,
non–member $387
Materials fee: $50

8314 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): 1/9–3/20 (no class on 3/6)
Tuition: member $335,
non–member $365
Materials fee: $46

8322 Drawing & Painting (ages 9–12)
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): 1/10–3/14
Tuition: member $335,
non–member $365
Materials fee: $46

8321 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): 1/10–3/21 (no class on 3/7)
Tuition: member $335,
non–member $365
Materials fee: $46

8323 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): 1/10–2/28 (no class on 2/14)
Tuition: member $237,
non–member $257
Materials fee: $27

8326 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 perfect for them! Students will create several artworks during the duration of the class. In addition to a main art project, every week students will keep and work in a sketchbook. Students will be exposed to a variety of materials such as pencil, acrylic paint, watercolor, ink, papier–mâché, and more.
10 session(s): 1/10–3/14
Tuition: member $335,
non–member $365
Materials fee: $46