At ART + Academy, our teen art programs are designed to help young artists grow skills, confidence, and creative independence. We offer two distinct learning paths — Traditional Art Classes or Digital Art Classes — allowing students to choose the medium that best fits their interests and goals.
Across our Austin and Cedar Park locations, teens work on personalized projects at their own pace in a supportive, small-group setting. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, students receive individual guidance from professional instructors who help them strengthen technique while encouraging creative exploration.
Teens new to art typically begin in our traditional art classes, where strong drawing skills form the foundation for all future learning. Using principles from Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Dr. Betty Edwards, students learn how to truly “see” what they draw.
They explore:
Contour and cross-contour lines
Perspective and negative space
Basic shading and value
As confidence grows, students deepen their skills through value studies, observation exercises, and shading with charcoal or pastels. Projects may include composition studies, still life, and master-inspired work, while also incorporating color theory and the use of watercolors and acrylic paints to support creative growth.
(See what can be learned.)
For teens interested in digital illustration, ART+Academy offers dedicated digital art classes. Students work using digital tools (such as iPad and Procreate) while learning essential art concepts like composition, color, value, and design — all applied specifically to digital media.
For experienced students (traditional or digital), instructors begin with an assessment of skill level and goals, then guide students through projects that challenge their abilities and expand their portfolios. This focused approach helps teens develop confidence, refine technique, and grow creatively within their chosen medium.
With small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios, every teen receives meaningful, personalized instruction. Our caring instructors provide timely feedback and encouragement, helping students see real progress over time.
✨ You can view that growth in our Before & After Gallery.
If a class is currently full, families are welcome to join the waitlist, and we’ll notify you as soon as a space becomes available.
START ANYTIME.
Yes, you can enroll at any time, as long as there’s space available in the class. Additionally, we prorate your first month tuition based on your start date.
PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS
Also, all our teachers have a college degree in an art-related field.
SMALL CLASS SIZE
Specifically, we limit each class to a maximum of 8 students.
GALLERY DAY EVENT
Above all, every April, we celebrate our students’ progress with an art show we call “Gallery Day”. This event is open to all our enrolled students and their families & friends!
We understand that sometimes things come up—unexpected events, travel, or illness—and you may need to miss a class. Not a problem! As long as you are enrolled, you can make up a missed classes by attending another class listed in our schedule at any of our locations.
However, keep in mind that there is absolutely no prorating or refund for missed classes. In addition, missed classes cannot be used as class credit for the next session, other classes, or camps.
Your tuition provides four(4) consecutive weekly art classes. If you start in the middle of the month, we’ll simply prorate your tuition based on your registration date.
For Kids and Teen Classes, a quarterly admin fee applies in September, December, and March. We will also prorate the admin fee in you enroll in the middle of the quarter.
We provide all materials for kids and teen classes; you only need to bring your student.
Students will explore a wide range of materials, including watercolor, tempera paint, pastels, charcoal, ink, acrylic paint, and more.
Rating
My son LOVED his art summer camp at Art + Academy! At the end of the week he kept telling me, “It’s not fair that art camp is only five days.” Anna was a great instructor for him. She gave him the creative freedom within the assignments that let him really shine, and she allowed him to take the time he needed to finish a project when the rest of the class had moved on to something new. When I picked my son up the first day, he gave me a play-by-play of the entire camp. I never get that much information when I pick him up from school or from any of his activities during the year. This was a first. It was wonderful to see him so excited. I loved how small the class was, and my son got to be friends with the other students in the camp.
My five-year-old son loves doing art in his free time at school so I thought taking an art class would help him to continue to grow as an artist. I wish I was a better artist, and I think being knowledgeable about art will help him as he progresses in school. I signed my son up for an art class at Art + Academy, and he absolutely loves it. He has been taking lessons for about a year, and we are so impressed with what he has created and the variety of mediums he is encouraged to use. His teacher, Ms. Emma, is absolutely the BEST art teacher! She is so wonderful with children, and she is the reason why he has made so much progress. She creates her lessons based on my son’s interests (dinosaurs, birds, police cars, etc.) which makes each lesson extra fun and special for him. Each week, I take photos at the end of his lesson to show my husband, grandparents, and other family members. We are so impressed! We loved Gallery Day–my son was thrilled with all of the stickers (with handwritten positive comments) that he received on his artwork. We can’t say enough wonderful things about Art + Academy.
My daughter has gotten to experience two separate studio art teachers, not including the subs for makeup classes, and she’s truly enjoyed every one of them. Makeup classes are easy to schedule and classes aren’t too big. Each class keeps my daughter wanting more. So much so that my youngest wants to join when she turns five and we’ve already booked summer camps!
I highly recommend Art Plus Academy. It’s a locally owned business that offers first-rate art instruction. My daughter has taken lessons from Art Plus for the past five years (she is now a junior in high school), and my wife and I have watched her flourish as an artist. We’ve also watched Monica, the owner of Art Plus, create a vibrant art school and community. The success of Art Plus is no doubt due to Monica’s professionalism, warmth and high standards. She hires excellent teachers. She fosters a warm and inclusive atmosphere where all ages and skill levels can pursue their interest in art. Monica is also a very present and involved owner — she is always available to address questions or concerns. Again, I highly recommend Art Plus. Go sign up for an art class!
We have been attending Art Plus Academy in person in Northwest Austin before the Covid pandemic started, we started when my child was in first grade. We continue to be with Art Plus Academy online throughout the Covid pandemic. We are grateful we had an in-person Art class, when available and in our area. Yet, we are more grateful that Art Plus Academy continues to offer online Art classes, when many other Art studios choose not to do so, as my child is now in 6th grade. Thank you to Art Plus Academy for offering various Art class for all ages.
If you want to learn to actually “see” as an artist, I recommend this art school for a wonderful learning experience. In the last 3 years I have seen my focus improve, my techniques expand, and my enthusiasm for creating beauty through art grow tremendously. Thank you, Monica Araoz and your excellent teaching staff!
The socially distanced summer camps were perfect. Our child learned so much and enjoyed the small group “camps.” At the end of the week, we got to see the amazing art our child created. I appreciate all of work the staff did to ensure a clean, safe and fun learning environment.
My daughter looks forward to her art class every week. There is always something new for her to do. She likes surrounding herself with teachers and other students that have a love for art as well. She will continue to grow and learn many things here. Do not hesitate to call and ask questions. Everyone is very friendly, nice and helpful.
My daughter who is 6 loved her camp! She had so much fun and the teacher was wonderful!
Amazing art classes. My daughter loves her class and her progress is impressive. Teachers are so professional and nice with the kids.
My child has been attending Art+ Academy for a year and also attended a summer camp session. He loves the classes and can’t wait to go each week (He’s 8, so that’s saying a lot). The kids learn so many art techniques and styles. The classes are serious art classes, but they accommodate all levels and allow the kids to express themselves as individual artists. Looking forward to year 2 there.
My decision to take art classes at the Art Plus Academy was the best experience I could have hoped for. I am a children’s book author/illustrator and wanted to improve my skills, as I am self taught. I learned so much so quickly. The teachers are wonderful, and I loved my classmates. I looked forward to each weekly class and intend on signing up for ongoing classes. What a fun experience. I highly recommend this to anyone beginning or advanced. Really, really fun!
Fantastic teachers, right on task with age appropriate activities and always enriching the creativity. Going back this summer.
We have been attending art classes since my daughter was 5 years old. We have been to a few others, but have stayed at Art + Academy because it is the best. The teachers are very very focused on improvement but are also gentle and encouraging. We have been here for close to 2 years now and have attended a summer camp. We just love our teacher Marcia Breternitz! She is SO kind and very good at her craft.
Art Academy SW has been a fantastic experience for our daughter. Her skills and confidence have increased especially in regards to shading, dimension, use of color and different media. Class sizes are small allowing for kids to remain focused and have some individual direction while working on projects. Mr. Matt is an outstanding and engaging instructor!
Great place for my daughter to learn more art skill. Lovely studio, indoors and nice and cool. Instructor was wonderful and my daughter was proud of her work.
Kids love this place and teachers. Much fun.
My daughter loves this place! We started with a summer class in 2021 m, on the 5-7 bracket and she liked it so much we came back for the full year in August/September. I have already signed her up for next year. The teachers are great, the kids get to learn different types of painting, color scales, they have art display events every year, and their make up classes/absences policy is the best I’ve ever seen! We have always been able to get make up classes when we have had to miss any. Her drawing has improved so much!!!
I cannot say enough about Art + Academy and all the teachers! My 7 year old daughter started a year ago and she LOVES going each week. She is super active and loves sports, so this class allows her to explore her contemplative, quiet side. Her work amazes me….so much so that I, as an adult who has never taken an art class, enrolled in one. I think it is the greatest thing I have decided to do for myself! I love exploring this part of me I wasn’t aware of for so many years. I will definitely put my son in a class as soon as he is old enough. Don’t think twice about it. Enroll you or your kiddo. Well worth it!
Our daughter attends Art+Academy. For three years under the tuition of Ms Erin, we share that our expectations have been exceeded. Erin was pivotal to our daughter’s admittance into a middle school fine arts program here in Austin. She earned our daughter’s trust. The respect and genuine friendship Erin exhibits towards her students gives them the space and time to develop confidence from within. Erin is an exceptional art teacher. Catch her if you can! PAINTING:: By Julia 10yrs old painted 2021 During this lesson Erin highlighted artist Kandinsky. He studied the relationship of music to art and how it affects emotion in your color and brushstroke. Erin played jazz music while the students painted 🙂
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