Art Classes for kids 9-12
Drawing Skills
Engaging Art Lessons for Young Artists
Learning to draw is a lifelong asset. It gives children a powerful way to express emotions, beat boredom creatively, share ideas, and build joy, confidence, and self‑esteem. However, around age ten, many kids become self‑critical and stop drawing because they believe they “can’t do it.” Our program meets them at this turning point and shows them they absolutely can.
In our classes, students build skills step by step, improving their observation and using different drawing and painting media. As they progress, they gain the confidence to take on more complex projects.
3D Drawing Foundations
First, kids explore 12 core visual concepts—foreshortening, contour and cross‑contour lines, basic perspective, scale/size relationships, and more—to help their drawings read in 3D.
Realistic Drawing Skills
Next, guided observation lessons inspired by Dr. Betty Edwards’ Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain teach children “how to see” shape, angle, and proportion. These realistic drawing exercises are introduced in intervals alongside 3D work to reinforce learning. (See before/after progress gallery.)
Explore Art Media
Finally, as skills grow, students experiment with additional media: charcoal, soft pastels, oil pastels, watercolor, tempera, and acrylic paint. This gradual expansion builds confidence, color awareness, and creative problem‑solving. (See what else can be learned.)
What you get?
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. Likewise, if you join in the middle of a quarter, we’ll prorate the quarterly admin fee accordingly.
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!
What if I miss a class?
We understand that occasionally 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.
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.
Adult classes at the Art + Academy are designed to inspire all levels of artistic talent, from beginners to advanced. Thanks to the excellent instructors, the interaction between aspiring artists is also a driving force for the creative spirit. I have been a student at the Studio for over four years and can recommend the Art + Academy without hesitation.
These art classes are wonderful! They teach real technique and use multi-media. We are so excited for the upcoming art show they put on every year! I’ve been trying not to look at my daughters art so I can be surprised! One suggestion is that their scheduling system links up to your phone calendar. I’ve made multiple make-up class appointment. But they are all at different times and I’ve missed them since they don’t have an option to link up to my calendar.
My daughter has been attending an art academy since 2021. She loves drawing and has learned many skills there. She especially loves Ms. Marcia, who has made learning enjoyable and helped her explore various forms of expression. Starting this term, my younger daughter has also joined.I’m really looking forward to seeing many wonderful artworks again this year.
My 12 year old loved the summer camp. To the point that she’s asked to take classes at Art+Academy this new school year.
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!
My adult son, Mark, has enjoyed classes at Art + Academy for several years. He has a favorite teacher, Rose, who has helped him with both watercolor and acrylic painting. Their website is easy to use to sign up for classes. Payments can be automatic. Nice people are in charge. Following their rules is easy.
Great experience! Kiddos loved it and they came home with some frame-able work. Thank you!
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!
My daughter has been attending this place for more than a year now, and she absolutely adores it! Ms. Llanes is an incredible teacher, and my daughter has made significant progress under her guidance.
I think this is the best place to put your child to learn art and improve your child art skills. They are very good and understand your child needs. Staff is amazing. My daughter is really enjoying this class.
I’ve been attending art classes for about 5 years now. I’ve grown a ton in my skills and confidence. The teachers are all super supportive. The teaching is personalized to individuals based on your own interests. And the studio, in general, is also super flexible and adaptable to my busy schedule. I highly recommend!
My daughter started last month with Ms. Morgan and she loves it so far. Morgan is a great teacher, very encouraging and spends personal time with student. She paid attention to my child interest and provided just right the amount of support while ensuring my daughter can be herself 🙂 thanks so much!
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!
My daughter had a wonderful time at art camp with Ms. Erin. She told me she was nervous as we walked in on the first day, but Ms. Erin is a warm and highly-skilled art teacher who made her feel at ease right away. My daughter created beautiful pieces each day and came home raving about her experience. We cannot wait to enroll my daughter for the fall semester. We know she is in the best hands at Art + Academy!
This is my 3rd year to be in Rosemary’s class of adults. I was so excited to come back to class today, after summer vacation. Missed my art buddies! Last year I was doing landscape watercolor, sketching animals in pencil, a lot of landscapes in pen and watercolor in one picture..mixed media. I’m coming back ready to learn and experience whatever class presents. Rosemarie is a fabulous laid back artsy teacher with lots of knowledge and plenty of experience teaching all ages. Another plus is learning in a class with people who are doing different types of art….it is encouraging me to try different types. Come try it!
Monica, thank you and your entire team for the support you have given us, thank you for helping Joan excel in something that he really loves. you and your academy and your work team are the best things that have touched our lives. We received word that one of Joan’s drawings has been selected for a school district exhibit.
Teachers are kind and welcoming, and my son has plenty of fun while learning how to paint. Thank you Art+ Northwest Austin!
Summary: Very impressed with quality of artwork both of my boys (6 & 9) brought home. They were enthusiastic everyday to go to camp, and my 6 year old would come home and “play art teacher” and show us the techniques he learned that day. The teachers were very positive, encouraging, and nurturing with the kids. As a mom, I liked that both of my kids were able to attend a summer camp at the same time/location, even though they are different ages with different interests. Great value for a summer camp with the skills taught and confidence boost my kids received! Specific to Sculpting summer camp: My 9 year old does not really enjoy drawing or painting/coloring. He enjoys math, reading, sports and engineering. It is the engineering part of him that led me to sign him up for the sculpting class, with the elements of “building” using clay, recycled/found objects, etc. He absolutely LOVED the class, and his creative side was able to shine! The summer camp sculpting class gave him a comfortable and fun environment for him to explore his “not knowing” / creative side. Specific to 5-7 drawing summer camp: My 6 year old loves to paint, draw, color and get messy. At home, he was frustrated when trying to draw certain objects, but couldn’t figure out how to get what’s in his mind onto paper. He has taken two Art+ Academy classes now (safari animals and dinosaurs) and I can not believe how much he learned in such a short period of time! His raw talent was really nurtured and has improved immensely with new skills and techniques that he’s proud to show off.
I love learning at this studio. As an adult, the classes are just what I need. Monica (and all the teachers) meet each student where they are at. You bring your own project or thing you’d like to learn and they create a wonderful learning environment! 10/5 stars!
Tuition & Fees
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.
Materials
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, pastels, charcoal, ink, and more.
Having an art class for adults that’s warm and friendly is very comforting. My instructor is very knowledgeable and helpful. I really look forward to my Friday class.
My son loves going here. He’s gotten so good with his art. He’s always loved drawing, painting, coloring and this has helped him be more confident with his artwork. Mrs. Marcia is great with the kids. They have great staff and great teachers.
Both of my teenagers have taken art classes with Miss Marcia and they love her understated approach. She sets a relaxed tone that allows both of my children to take time to enjoy expressing themselves through art. The instruction is excellent, whether in-person or online, and we appreciated the end of session art galleries. Owner Monica is very conscientious in communicating via email, phone as needed, and has worked hard to make art accessible during the pandemic.
My 5 years old has been attending this art studio over 1 year and he really like it. The teachers have been so patience and personal with my 5 years old – he just turned 6. The studio provide all the materials and painting supplies that is a big plus. All we do was to drop him off and pick him up. We recommend this place to all parents!
My 8 year old expressed interest in art classes so I started doing some research and stumbled across Art+ Academy. I’m so grateful we landed here, my daughter’s teacher, Ms Erin, is not only talented, but is brilliant with kids. She is so skilled at setting expectations with the class, communicates with kids like adults, and it truly cultivates a relationship of mutual respect. The fact that supplies are included makes it very approachable for my daughter to try lots of methods and materials. It’s clear that they put a lot of effort into hiring true art professionals.
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.
I would recommend this service to anyone. I wanted to pursue a particular career, but was required to submit a portfolio to showcase my current aptitude and potential in artistic mediums. I was a bit lost on how and where to start, but Johanna helped me find my footing and put together something I am proud to submit with my application to school. Thank you so much for the guidance I needed!
I looked at several schools before settling on Art Plus Academy. The before and after pictures on the website gave me the push I needed to sign up for a class. I took an adult art class with Monica. I saw vast improvements in my sketches in a short time. Monica is an excellent teacher. Her passion for art and teaching comes across in every class. She genuinely cares about her students. When I was having a difficult time with one of the techniques, she sent me materials to look at so that I could improve my skill. She has built a wonderful community of students and teachers. Everyone I have come across has been encouraging, inclusive and friendly. I would highly recommend Art Plus Academy.
Since 2021, my daughter has been attending these art classes. Under the tutelage of Ms. Marcia, she has unleashed her creativity as she explores various mediums such as pastel, acrylic, watercolor… among others. Also, she has improved her tracing skills since then, and is more aware of the perspective and colors palette when drawing and painting. Teachers are nurturing, and encourage the kids to express themselves artistically delving into their themes of interest. The academy holds an annual showcase, presenting a fantastic opportunity for her to exhibit her artistic growth and to immerse herself in the diverse styles and talents of her peers. Its accommodating policy on making up for missed classes adds to the convenience. All in all, this is a great space for nurturing your kids’ artistic skills!
We enrolled my daughter because she loves art but become so frustrated with “mistakes” that she wanted to quit. We decided to see a professional and since taking classes with Ms. Marlen she has been sooooo excited to draw and shes progressed soooo much. She enjoys it again and we will be coming back for years and years. HIGHLY Recommend
Our daughter loves her lessons!
My daughter loves going into the studio, she has a great time during classes and has improved her art skills significantly during the past year. Ms. Macia is wonderful, she tailors the classes according to each students and manages to run a learning environment that is also fun.
I LOVE Art + Academy. Both of my children have been coming here for lessons for the duration of the school year, and we have always gotten exceptional, kind instruction from the amazing teachers. My kids look forward to their lessons, and I have noticed lots of improvement in their art. I highly recommend!
My son and I have been going here to learn painting, sketching , charcoal. All the teachers are amazing and really passionate about art. It has re-kindled in me the love for art and really thankful for the wonderful teachers including Ms. Southworth who is an amazing teacher and artist.
My daughter is shy about taking classes where Mom can’t be right next to her. She loves Miss Erin and the class so much she doesn’t even care that I go run errands while she is at class. Unbelievable change in her!
Enrollment in Art+ Academy was a Christmas gift for my daughter in 2020. She’s now been attending the teen class every Saturday since January 2021 and she absolutely loves it. She commented on how much her work has progressed over the last year. She loves Miss Alexandra & loves having the space to be creative and receive helpful instruction on what she wants to create (rather than following a predefined curriculum).
We like the creative experience, convenience of location as well as flexible schedule offered to my 14 year old!
I have 2 children that attend here and both have really enjoyed the program. They look forward to class every week! They have both improved their art and are proud of their work. Teachers are wonderful and staff are always attentive which I appreciate!
My daughter has taken art lessons for over a year and has thoroughly enjoyed her teachers and lessons. She is working on her portfolio for high school and it has been helpful to have the guidance at the studio. She also did a digital art camp and loved it.
Love taking classes here. Class sizes are perfect and teacher is cool
Start
Today
Tuition is prorated if you join mid-month, likewise, the quarterly admin fee is prorated if you start in the middle of a quarter.
Professional
Artists
Learn from professional artists who are also experienced, passionate educators.
SMALL
CLASSES
With a small class ratio (1:8), students explore their creativity with personalized attention.
Improve
your Skills
No matter your starting point, we help you build strong techniques and reach the next level.
Missed
a Class?
No problem! Make it up in another class as long as you're still enrolled.
Locally
Owned
Over 16 years of service since 2009 — fostering creativity and community growth.


