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

Teen Painting & Drawing Classes

8280 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): 1/5–3/16 (no class on 3/2)
Tuition: member $357,
non–member $387
Materials fee: $50

8226 NEW! Color Me Creative: Exploring Color Theory (ages 13–17)
Instructor: Aimee Armstrong
Tuesdays, 4–6 PM
Go beyond the basics of ROYGBIV and dive into color theory in this engaging and skill-building acrylic painting class for teens! Through guided projects and playful experimentation, students will learn key concepts like primary vs. secondary colors, complementary pairs, warm vs. cool tones, tints and shades, and how to use color to express mood and movement. They will work from life, photographs, and famous paintings to sharpen their color mixing and applying skills, bringing their painting to the next level. By the end of the course, they’ll leave with a deeper understanding of color, a few finished paintings they’re proud of, and tons of ideas for what to create next!
10 session(s): 1/6–3/10
Tuition: member $357,
non–member $387
Materials fee: $50

8281 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): 1/6–3/17 (no class on 3/3)
Tuition: member $357,
non–member $387
Materials fee: $50

8275 NEW! 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! Please note that students need to bring their own supplies for this class. The materials list can be viewed online.
10 session(s): 1/7–3/11
Tuition: member $357,
non–member $387

8304 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): 1/8–3/12
Tuition: member $357,
non–member $387
Materials fee: $50

8328/8331 Introduction to Oil Painting (ages 13–17)
Instructor: Joel Tidey
8328 Saturdays, 12–2 PM
8331 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.
8331/8328 10 session(s): 1/10–3/14
Tuition: member $357,
non–member $387