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 January 7, 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:

• 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.

• Pocket mirror or the MVP - (Mirror Value Planner) by Peggi Kroll Roberts. I personally LOVE this product! This can be purchased here.

• 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

Figure Drawing

Thursdays 6:30 - 9:30 pm

6 classes: $450 (includes model fees)

Starts January 9, 2025

INSTRUCTOR:

Danny Grant

Prerequisites:

None

Class Description:

This class is designed to teach students a step-by-step process for approaching every figure drawing. We'll learn to take our drawings from a series of simple, flat, two-dimensional shapes to clean, organic line drawings and, ultimately, to fully rendered three-dimensional figure drawings. We'll use tools like comparative measuring, and learn to judge relationships better by focusing on points, tilts, and shapes. Students will also learn to judge value relationships better by studying the nature of the various forms of the figure and how they relate in space to the light source.

Supply List:

• Graphite pencils - 2B, B, HB, H, 2H (more HB than the others)

• Strathmore 400 Medium Drawing Paper 18 x 24 (Brown cover)

• Kneaded eraser

• Pencil sharpener

Intro to Portrait Painting

Sundays 9 am — 12:30 pm (3.5 Hours)

6 classes: $475 (includes model fees)

Starts January 12, 2025

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 different model for each class, 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 session.

Supply List:

• Canvas boards/panels/canvas paper.

  • (5) 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

Plein-air painting

Saturdays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

6 classes: $450

Starts January 11, 2024

INSTRUCTOR:

Jeff Markowsky

Prerequisites:

Students must have some experience in both drawing and painting from life. 

Class Description:

This course takes us outdoors to study natural light where we will put emphasis on the importance of the initial abstract design, seeing the dominant shapes in a painting before paint is even applied to the canvas. Good design hinges on understanding the dynamics of large to middle to small ranged shapes. The importance of drawing is discussed, practiced and emphasized including the use of Notans (small simplified sketches). Goals of the course include; learning about the fundamentals of Value, Hue, Saturation and Temperature. Throughout the course, discussions on creating Atmosphere and Color Harmony to depict the illusion of depth in our paintings will be investigated.

Supply List:

• An Outdoor easel and paintbox is required for this course.   

  Three suggested options are:

  John Coulter system (http://artboxandpanel.com/)

  Strada Mini. https://www.stradaeasel.com

  Daytripper easel. https://www.prolificpainter.com

  But there are many options available on the market.

• Gamsol mineral spirits

• Cup/clip holder for Gamsol

• Brush cleaner container

• Paper towels / or rags (I use blue shop towels from Home Depot)

• Brushes: I prefer Princeton or Rosemary filbert and long flats, bristle hair, sizes 6,8,10,12,14,16. I also use Rosemary Long Flats (sables-soft brush) sizes 3,5,8 (an assortment is fine and any brand is acceptable)

• Panels: (Suggested: Centurion, Source Tek or RayMar). An assortment of panels ranging in sizes (such as: 8 by 10, 9 by 12 or 12 by 16 inches). You will need approximately 10-12

• Sketchbook and drawing materials. I use a Strathmore 400 series 5.5 by 8.8 inch sketchbook Toned Tan, Design Ebony pencil, eraser pen and white charcoal pencil (Generals brand), but any sketchbook and materials you prefer will work.

• Viewfinder

• Oil Paints - I use Gamblin, Rembrandt and Williamsburg most often. I recommended these basic colors

  • Titanium white

  • Lemon Yellow

  • Cadmium yellow medium

  • Yellow Ochre

  • Cadmium red

  • Quinacridone Red

  • Transparent red oxide

  • Viridian

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Severs Blue

  • Cobalt blue (optional)

  • Chromatic black (I use Gamblin)

Still-Life Painting in Oils

Mondays 6:30 - 9:30 pm (3 hours)

6 classes: $450

Starts January 13, 2025

Instructor:

Pedro Cardoso

Class Description:

We’ll start our class studying simple forms in black and white, move to a limited palette, then a full palette, working on one painting for 2 sessions each. The class will cover basic drawing and composition principles, oil painting materials and preparations, and how to mix and apply paint in an effective way. Pedro will also discuss and demonstrate how to block in a painting with a simple statement, how to paint different materials and simplify complex objects, and how to add accents that bring your painting to a finish.

SUPPLY LIST:

• A big sketchbook (9x2) and either graphite or charcoal pencils.

• Flat or Filbert Brushes sizes 2 to 8. I recommend a pair of each size.

• A palette knife

• New Wave 11x16 Neutral grey paper palette or similar palette surface.

• Masterson Sta-Wet Artist Palette Seal 12"x16"

• Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits and Silicoil Brush Cleaner Tank 12oz. We will not allow any kinds of Turpentine or other toxic of solvents.

• Galkyd Lite gel medium, or other preferred medium.

• Refined linseed oil

• 3 11x14 canvas panels or primed panels.

• Paper towels. thicker paper towels are preferred.

• Oil paints:

  • Titanium White

  • Cad Yellow Light

  • yellow ochre

  • Alizarin Crimson

  • Transparent Oxide Red

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Ivory black

Constructive Figure Drawing

Wednesdays 6:30-9:30 pm (3 hours)

6 classes: $450 (includes model fees)

Starts January 15, 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:

• 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.