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!

Essentials of Figure Painting

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

6 classes: $575 (includes model fees)

Starts November 4, 2025 (skips week of Thanksgiving)

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:

• 2-3 canvas boards or gessoed panels approximately 11"x14" to 12"x16"

• odorless mineral spirits such as gamsol or turpenoid

• silicoil or metal containers for the mineral spirits

• Viva paper towels or rags

• Some kind of palette holder or platform for palette. If you don't have one, you can use a Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette.

• Small container of linseed or poppy oil

• Steel palette knife

• Brushes - 5 - 6 filbert brushes ranging from size 0 - 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

  • Cerulian Blue

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Viridian

  • Burnt Sienna

  • Burnt Umber

  • Ivory Black

Constructive Figure Drawing

Saturdays 9:30 am -12:30 pm (3 hours)

4 classes: $300 (includes model fees) - skips week of Thanksgiving.

Starts November 22, 2025

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:

• Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad 18 x 24"

• vine charcoal, and compressed charcoal

• charcoal pencils General’s 2b and HB 

• drawing stumps

• kneaded eraser

• sand paper and a exacto knife.

Portrait Drawing From Life

Sundays 10 am - 1 pm

5 classes: $375 (includes model fees)

Starts November 23, 2025

Instructor:

Nate Seay

Class Description:

Join us for an immersive exploration of portrait drawing, based upon the methods of 19th-century French ateliers. Guided by artist and instructor Nathan Seay, this class offers a structured approach to capturing the human likeness, with a strong emphasis on proportion, anatomy, facial structure, and the subtle nuances that bring a portrait to life.

Participants will engage in detailed demonstrations, receive individualized feedback, and work from extended portrait poses to deepen their understanding of form and expression. Designed for artists who wish to build a solid foundation or refine their portrait skills, this class fosters a focused, supportive environment rooted in time-tested techniques.

SUPPLY LIST

• 2 sheets strathmore charcoal paper (18x24)

• vine charcoal sticks

• willow charcoal sticks

• conte pierre noire pencils. 2b

• marie's charcoal pencil - neutral

• kneaded eraser

• mono zero eraser, or a standard rubber eraser cut into sharp triangles
  

sculpting for painters

Saturdays 10 am - 2 pm (4 hours)

6 classes: $600 (all supplies included)

Starts January 17th, 2026

Instructor:

Kaelin Palcu

Class Description:

This 6-week course introduces painters and drafts-people to figurative sculpture as a powerful tool to deepen their understanding of form, anatomy, and spatial relationships. By “drawing in space” with clay, students will develop a greater sense of structure, shadow, and light—skills that directly strengthen and inform their two-dimensional practice.

The course begins with a focused portrait study, encouraging students to connect anatomy, contour, and the subtle rhythms of the face. The second stage moves into a gestural, one-third life-size figure, allowing students to investigate weight, balance, and the body’s masses in the round. Supplemental hand-sculpting exercises and optional take-home studies will further reinforce the lessons.

All materials and armatures are provided. The clay work is clean and simple, with minimal mess, making it approachable even for those who have never sculpted before.

What You’ll Learn

• How sculpting enhances your ability to see and understand form for painting and drawing

• Building a clear sculptural block-in (comparable to a painter’s under-drawing)

• Understanding and simplifying anatomy for accuracy and expression

• The role of light and shadow in describing form

• Gesture, balance, and weight distribution in the human body

• Working at small scales to improve observation and decision-making

Breakdown:

Weeks 1–2: Portrait Block-In (Half to Three-Quarter Life Size)

• Introduction to materials, tools, and “Drawing in Space” methodology

• Establishing the structural block-in of the portrait

• Using planes, light, and contour to describe likeness

• Focusing on large relationships before details

• Learning how to “sketch” with clay to stay flexible and correctable

  Outcome: By the end of Week 2, students will have a clear sculptural portrait block-in that reflects accuracy of proportion, gesture, and basic anatomy.

  
  Weeks 3–4: Refining the Portrait & Naturalistic Modeling

• Building features with intention: eyes, nose, mouth, ears

• Developing transitions and subtle anatomical rhythms

• Understanding how light shapes the form

• Bridging the gap between painterly and sculptural thinking

  Outcome: By the end of Week 4, students will have a more developed portrait, with an introduction to naturalistic modeling and a better grasp of how three-dimensional structure informs two-dimensional work.
  
  Weeks 5–6: One-Third Life-Size Figure Sketch

• Introduction to the figure in the round

• Understanding weight, balance, and gesture

• Simplifying the body into large masses and anatomical landmarks

• Observing how a pose shifts over time

• Relating gesture and structure to rhythm in painting and drawing

  Outcome: By the end of Week 6, students will have a small, gestural figure sculpture emphasizing weight, mass relationships, and anatomy in motion.

By the end of the course, students will leave with:

• A small portrait study and a gestural figure study

• A stronger sense of spatial awareness and anatomical structure

Who This Class is For

• Painters and drafts-people seeking a deeper, more tangible understanding of form

• Artists interested in strengthening their ability to see and translate three-dimensional structure

• Anyone curious about sculpture as a means of enhancing their two-dimensional practice

Supplemental Hand Study (Take-Home Exercise)

In addition to the main class projects, students will receive a life cast of a hand and an introduction to sculpting hands as a supplemental study. This exercise can be done outside class to reinforce concepts of proportion, rhythm, and surface modeling. Optional casts of skulls or drapery will also be available for additional study.

Methodology: “Drawing in Space”
The teaching method is rooted in the philosophy of “Drawing in Space”—using line and contour as a way to organize and contextualize form. Students will learn to see the figure as a connected system of rhythms, planes, and volumes that move through space.

The class will also come with online tutorials for mold-making and the process videos of each project.