Short-term Classes in Austin

At Atelier Dojo, we are dedicated to fostering the next generation of artists. We offer 6-week classes led by nationally recognized artists in an intimate and welcoming environment in Austin. We believe art education should be accessible to everyone which is why we offer classes to all skill levels with evening and weekend flexibility! Our immersive adult art classes focus on the fundamentals and classical skills of realism art through drawing and painting. From figure drawing and painting to portrait painting, our art classes in Austin can help artists discover their artistic potential and learn valuable skills. Explore our upcoming classes below and register today! 

Have any questions about our classes? Get in touch with us for more information!

Portrait Painting ESSENTIALS

Tuesdays 6:00 - 10:00 pm (4 hours)

6 classes: $575 (includes model fees)

Starts April 16, 2024

Instructor:

Karen Offutt

Prerequisites:

Students must be experienced in both drawing and painting from life. 

Class Description:

In our efforts to understand painting as a visual language it is important to see what we will paint as an abstract form.  To eliminate our preconceived assumptions of what we see and break them down into parts.  These essential elements will give us the foundation to understand what we see and allows for a more intuitive paint application.  The goal is to achieve a 3 dimensional likeness with a simple block-in of the larger shapes and then to build on that by carving out the smaller shapes.   Along the way she will discuss, in more detail, the use of value, color and temperature as well as how to adjust edges to create a sense of atmosphere within the painting.

Supply List:

• Canvas boards/panels/canvas paper.

  • (2-3) 12"x16"s

• Mirror Value Planner (link)

• Palette - Masterson Sta-Wet Artist Palette Seal - 12" x 16" x 1 3/4" (link)

• New Wave Posh Glass Tabletop Palettes (link)

• Steel palette knife

• Gamsol

• Container for the Gamsol

• Paper Towels - (Viva is great)

• Small container of Linseed Oil, Walnut Oil or Oleogel from Rublev

• Brushes – assorted. Try hog and synthetic blends

  • Filbert 2, 4, 6, 8

  • Flat 2, 4, 6, 8

• Oil colors  (Gamblin is an inexpensive brand with low toxic paints)

  • Titanium White

  • Cadmium Yellow

  • Yellow Ochre

  • Cadmium Red

  • Alizarin Crimson

  • Transparent Oxide Red

  • Manganese Blue

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Viridian Green

  • Burnt Sienna - (preferably by Michael Harding)

  • Burnt Umber

  • Ivory Black

Constructive Figure Drawing

Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm (4 hours) *No class the weekend of Memorial Day

6 classes: $495 (includes model fees)

Starts May 4th, 2024

Instructor: Pedro Cardoso

Prerequisites:

None

Class Description:

In this class we will cover many different aspects of Figure Drawing such as Gesture, Structure, Composition, Value, Line Drawing, Mass Drawing, and Anatomy.

We will discuss and practice Gesture as movement, with lines that follow the direction of the contour describing Gesture. Structure complements the gesture, and lines and marks made against the contour will give volume to our drawings, as well as simplify the form into geometric or graphic shapes. Both of these aspects come together when Composing a page, a long pose drawing or a personal project. We will talk about using value to describe form with light and shadow, as well as limiting the value range in our compositions. We will cover Line Drawing and Mass Drawing, and how both can be combined for expressive purposes, either making a drawing more graphic or more naturalistic. Throughout these topics we will investigate the Anatomy of the human body, and familiarize ourselves with muscles, bones and landmarks of the figure.

The goal of learning these topics is to understand drawing as a tool for expression, and how to conceptualize an image and bring it together on paper with marks that will be lively and thoughtful.

Supply List:

• 18x24 newsprint drawing paper

• 18x24 drawing paper Strathmore 400 series

• vine charcoal, and compressed charcoal

• charcoal pencils General’s 2b and HB 

• drawing stumps

• kneaded eraser

• sand paper and a exacto knife.

Intro to Portrait Painting

Sundays 9:00 am — 12:30 pm (3.5 Hours)

6 classes: $475 (includes model fee)

Starts April 28, 2024

INSTRUCTOR:

Denise M. Fulton

Prerequisites:

Experience drawing from life is recommended and it helps if you have experience painting in oils.

Class Description:

This course is will introduce students to creating portraits in oil. There is a new model each week, so you’ll get to paint a variety of faces.

Each class begins with a short instructor demo (~25 minutes), then the students start painting. The instructor works with students, as needed, throughout the class. There are group critiques at the half-way point and at the end of each class.  

In the first class, we do 2-color paintings and then more colors are introduced over the course of the 6 weeks.

Supply List:

• Canvas boards/panels/canvas paper.

  • (6) 9"x12"s or 12"x16"s

• Palette

• Steel palette knife (3" trowel)

• Odorless mineral spirits (no smelly solvents). Gamsol and Turpenoid Natural are good less toxic solvents

• Container for your mineral spirits

• Paper towels (Viva brand is good) or rags

• Small container of linseed or walnut oil

• Brushes – assorted. Try hog and synthetic blend

  • Filbert 2, 4, 6, 8

  • Flat 2, 4, 6, 8

  • Round 2, 4, 6

• Oil colors (please use professional grade)

  • Titanium white

  • Naples Yellow

  • Alizarin Crimson

  • Cadmium Red Light

  • Manganese Blue

  • Ultramarine blue

  • Transparent oxide red (sometimes called Transparent Earth Red)

  • Payne’s Grey