Summer Teen Portfolio Program at Atelier Dojo

Top art and design programs demand strong observational skills. At Atelier Dojo, high school artists step out of the classroom and into a professional studio environment. Over two-week intensives, students learn and practice the foundational skills of drawing and painting from life, creating polished work that stands out to admissions counselors.

Who This Program Is For

This intensive is designed for focused, ambitious artists (Ages 14–18) who want to move beyond "hobby" art and master the technical foundations of the Old Masters.

  • The Portfolio Builder: Students preparing for top-tier art school admissions (RISD, Pratt, CalArts, etc.) who need high-quality, observational work to stand out.

  • The Skill Seeker: Artists who have "hit a ceiling" in standard classrooms and want the "missing manual" for drawing and painting realistically.

  • The Future Professional: Aspiring concept artists, animators, and fine artists who recognize that a classical foundation is the key to a professional career.

Prerequisites

To maintain a high-level studio environment, we ask that all applicants meet the following:

  • Age: Incoming 9th graders through graduating 12th graders.

  • Focus: Ability to maintain concentration during a 7-hour studio day.

  • Maturity: Students must demonstrate a high level of respect and professionalism when working with live models.

  • Interest in Realism: A dedication to learning the "rules" of light, form, and anatomy through observation.

  • Painting Requirement: For Session 3 (Painting), we strongly recommend completing Session 1 or 2 first, or having a portfolio that demonstrates a strong grasp of drawing fundamentals.

Why Atelier Dojo?

  • Top Tier Instructors: Our instructors aren't just teachers; they are professional artists who know what it takes to succeed in the industry.

  • Live Professional Models: We provide professional figure and portrait models, a resource rarely available to high school students, giving them a distinct edge in their applications.

  • All Inclusive: All materials and professional model fees are included in the tuition.

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Sessions Overview

SESSION I: DRAWING FOUNDATIONS

July 6 – July 17 Mon–Fri | 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Master the core skills of accurate observation. We begin with the classical "block-in" method, focusing on proportion, light, and shadow through cast drawing and complex still life. Outcome: 2 polished, portfolio-ready charcoal drawings.

SESSION II: DRAWING THE HUMAN FORM

July 20 – July 31 Mon–Fri | 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

A focus on drawing from the live model. Students learn gesture, structural anatomy, portrait construction, and sustained long-pose rendering. Outcome: Figure studies, one long-pose drawing, and one finished portrait.

SESSION III: CLASSICAL PAINTING

August 3 – August 14 Mon–Fri | 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Translate drawing skills into paint. Week one focuses on grisaille (monochrome) and still life color. Week two moves to painting from live models, focusing on flesh tones and form. Outcome: One finished still life painting and one finished portrait painting.

Session Costs

The "Full Track" Advantage

While these sessions can be taken individually, we highly recommend the 6-week immersive experience. By starting with the foundations in July and ending with oil painting in August, students undergo a total transformation in their technical ability.

  • Single Session - 2 Weeks - $1,350

  • Full Master Series - 6 Weeks - $3,500* ($550 savings)

SESSION I | Drawing Foundations: Still Life & Cast

July 6 – 17 Mon–Fri | 10am – 3pm

Instructors: O’Jinae Welch (week 1) & Danny Grant (week 2)

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Admissions officers look for one thing first: Can you see accurately? This session strips away the guesswork and replaces it with the "Atelier Method."

  • Comparative Measurement: Master the classical technique for achieving 1:1 proportional accuracy.

  • Cast Drawing: Learn to render complex 3D forms in charcoal with museum-grade precision.

  • Light Logic: Go beyond simple shading to understand how light actually moves across a surface.

  • Outcome: 2–3 highly finished, high-contrast drawings that prove your technical discipline.

SESSION II | Drawing the human form

July 20 – 31 Mon–Fri | 10am – 3pm

Instructors: Pedro Cardoso (week 1) & Nate Seay (week 2)

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There is no greater test of an artist’s skill than the human body. Working from live professional models, students tackle the most challenging subject in art. The models will not be fully nude.

  • Anatomical Structure: Learn the "landmarks" of the skeleton and muscle groups that make a drawing feel solid and alive.

  • Portrait Construction: Master the planes of the head to capture likeness with confidence.

  • Long-Pose Rendering: Develop the stamina to work on a single figure study for multiple days—a skill that sets you apart from 90% of applicants.

  • Outcome: A suite of gesture studies, one finished long-pose figure drawing, and one structural portrait.

SESSION III | Classical Painting: Still Life & Portrait

August 3 – 14 Mon–Fri | 10am – 3pm

Instructors: O’Jinae Welch (week 1) & Pedro Cardoso (week 2)

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Translate your drawing mastery into the world of color. This session introduces students to the art and chemistry of oil painting.

  • Underpainting & Value: Start with a Grisaille (monochrome) to ensure your painting has depth and "pop" before color is ever touched.

  • The Limited Palette: Master professional color mixing without the "mud." Learn how to mix realistic flesh tones and vibrant still-life colors.

  • Edge Control: Learn the professional secret of "Lost and Found" edges to create a sense of atmosphere and focus.

  • Outcome: One finished oil still life and one finished oil portrait from a live model.