Art classes for Teenagers

Traditional & Digital Art Programs

Designed to Inspire Teenage Artists.

At ART+Academy, our teen art programs are designed to help young artists grow skills, confidence, and creative independence. We offer two distinct learning pathsTraditional 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.

Beginner-Friendly Approach

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.)

Digital Art Classes & Advanced Skill Development

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.

Our Commitment to Quality

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.

Before
After

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.

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 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.

google

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.

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My daughter attended Mr. Matt’s digital art camp. She had a wonderful experience and learned how to use her iPad in a new creative way. I appreciate the novel form of art this studio is offering young artists! Thank you Mr. Matt!

google

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.

google

Excellent art classes, my teen loves it! Easy scheduling, friendly service and fair pricing. Highly recommend. Support your local small businesses too!

google

Great experience! Kiddos loved it and they came home with some frame-able work. Thank you!

google

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.

google

Art+Academy is the best place with best teachers for the kids who are really interested in in art and Painting.My daughter love going to the studio and do not want miss any class. Thank you.

google

My daughter joined a one week summer program here and had a lot of fun. She’s typically pretty nervous around big groups so the small class size was perfect for her. My wife and I really enjoyed the fact that the school invited parents to come view all of their hard work on the last day of class. My daughter is already asking to join another class so I know she had a great time. I would highly recommend Art Academy!

google

My son has been attending SW Art+ Academy for a couple years now. I have really appreciated the smaller classes so that teachers can provide more personalized attention to the kids. Monica is reasonable & responsive to the various requests I have made, too, which I have appreciated. My son recently finished the Watercolor Art Camp, and really enjoyed his time with Mr. Matt! He had many nice items of artwork to proudly show off at his Art Gallery today.

google

Fantastic teachers, right on task with age appropriate activities and always enriching the creativity. Going back this summer.

google

Amazing art classes. My daughter loves her class and her progress is impressive. Teachers are so professional and nice with the kids.

google

The team are very focused on individual learning needs. My 6 year old son always looks forward to his weekly lessons! Marlene is very kind and gentle with the children.

google

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!

google

This is an Art Academy that teaches children and adult classes. Students have beginner to advanced knowledge in drawing and painting. There are several locations, great instructors and a goal to teach YOU to be a better artist. You will like it here!

google

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!

google

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.

google

My kiddo loved her camp experience here. They got to draw and paint animals from around the world and all of the kids had such cute pictures to present. We will be back for sure!

google

Fantastic to have this school on south side of town. Teachers knowledgeable, caring and pleasant!

google

ART+ Academy has brought me farther than I imagined in my drawing and I was just starting acrylic painting when the lockdown came. I missed my weekly classes with feedback and ideas on my project from my teacher, Luz Marie, and fellow classmates. However, ART + saved the day by quickly adapting in-person classes to online classes. Now I can still get my weekly instruction and stay motivated and inspired. Thank ART + for going to the extra mile

google

I am thrilled with the experience my daughter has had at Art+Academy under the guidance of teacher Marlene Llanes. Despite signing up towards the end of the school year, it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made. After just one class, she was brimming with inspiration and enthusiasm for drawing. She’d come home eager to recreate what she’d learned from Ms.Marlene, and I noticed a remarkable improvement in her drawing skills after just a few sessions. Now, she spends hours engrossed in her artwork, a stark contrast from the brief 10-15 minutes she used to spend. I appreciate the small class sizes at Art+Academy; it ensures that each student receives personalized attention from their teacher.The environment isn’t overcrowded, allowing everyone to have their own space to explore their creativity comfortably. Knowing that Art+Academy offers summer camps has us excited for the upcoming break. We can’t wait to see what other creative adventures await!

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 paint, pastels, charcoal, ink, acrylic paint, and more.  

google Rating
5.0
google

My daughter really enjoys her art classes here. They are competitively priced, offer year long classes, lots of schedule options, and the teachers are wonderful. I love the makeup class policy too, it really allows you to get the most for your money.

Jessica List February 15, 2025
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We have had such a lovely experience here. Our daughter has jumped leaps and bounds with the amazing instruction she is getting!

Lacey Appleton August 6, 2024
google

ART+ Academy has brought me farther than I imagined in my drawing and I was just starting acrylic painting when the lockdown came. I missed my weekly classes with feedback and ideas on my project from my teacher, Luz Marie, and fellow classmates. However, ART + saved the day by quickly adapting in-person classes to online classes. Now I can still get my weekly instruction and stay motivated and inspired. Thank ART + for going to the extra mile

Sally Jetson January 12, 2025
google

My son was hesistant to do any sort of art. He thought he didn’t like it. But he was willing to try a class at Art +, mostly because a friend was in the class. And he fell in love with drawing! I have seen such improvement in his skill and effort in just a short time. He now spends some of his free time drawing and it is wonderful! He is proud of his work and sees his own improvement, and he can describe drawing techiniques to me. His friend, who has been at Art + for 2-3 years, has developed incredible skill. Watching this friend’s talent develop over the years has been astounding. This is a high quality art class. They keep it fun, there is a lot of freedom, and the skills are taught and practiced brilliantly. We just signed up for another year!

Brandy Yeargan August 14, 2024
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I very much enjoy my classes at ART + Academy, with a wonderfully talented teacher and a studio conducive to creativity and exploration of styles.

Darla Nelson August 6, 2024
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Our daughter began attending Art + Academy last year as a kindergartner, and it quickly became her favorite extracurricular activity. We’ve explored various programs, but Art + Academy stood out for its ability to introduce her to new and creative drawing and painting techniques that she wouldn’t have tried on her own. We’re thrilled to start again next week after her summer break!

Christian Flores August 14, 2024
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My girls love ART+ Academy! Last fall, I put my daughters in the in-person ART+ classes and they loved it. They learned new techniques, they flourished, and they were so excited to show me their progress each week. Then in the spring, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I turned to the online ART+ classes. Their teacher, Johanna Heilman, made the transition to virtual learning so easy at a time when my daughters needed the consistency, routine, and familiarity of their art classes the most. I now have them enrolled in the online summer ART camps and they couldn’t be happier.

Rachel Smith July 2, 2020
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My 6 year old daughter started taking classes from Ms Macia this January, and the progress she made within just five months has been so impressive! She was able learn different ways of expressions and also started to develop an appreciation of art. The teacher is very professional. My daughter absolutely loves going to the art class each week!

Fang Wang May 22, 2017
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My son enjoyed his time art camp this summer. He did well with the small class size and liked his teacher, Ms. Anna. He was proud of the projects he made. The one-week camp (3 hours per day) was $330, which I think is on the pricey side compared to other summer camps.

Kelsey Lockyer July 3, 2024
google

My daughter joined a one week summer program here and had a lot of fun. She’s typically pretty nervous around big groups so the small class size was perfect for her. My wife and I really enjoyed the fact that the school invited parents to come view all of their hard work on the last day of class. My daughter is already asking to join another class so I know she had a great time. I would highly recommend Art Academy!

J L June 12, 2024
google

5 star review! My daughter can be tough to teach as she wants to do her own thing with drawing. She enjoyed the art camp with Ms. Erin! Ms. Erin has a great, relaxed way of teaching the kids but still allowing them to make artistic decisions. The art show was cool though not by kiddo’s cup of tea but a valuable experience for her. I have already recommended Art+Academy/Ms. Erin to friends. For anyone who is weighing options, I highly recommend Art Plus Academy. We will definitely be back next summer!

Laura Branch August 6, 2024
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My six-year-old son had a great time! After the first day of camp, he was so excited and looked forward to going each day thereafter. He often checked with me to make sure I had not forgotten. 🙂 He definitely wants to attend next Summer and I’m sure he will. The teacher (Ms. Morgan) was super as well. He usually would give her a hug before leaving each day. The portfolio show on the last day was also terrific and nicely laid out. My son was so proud to show off his accomplishments. Next year I suspect he will be attending 2 or 3 camps. Thanks so much to Art Academy for giving him such a wonderful experience!!

Jay Todd August 16, 2016
google

This is an Art Academy that teaches children and adult classes. Students have beginner to advanced knowledge in drawing and painting. There are several locations, great instructors and a goal to teach YOU to be a better artist. You will like it here!

Cecilia Richardson February 7, 2025
google

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!

Rose Perry February 11, 2025
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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!

Lori Rolie May 18, 2017
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The teachers at Art Academy (Mrs. Cecely and Mrs. Rosemarie), has taught my young boys to be more expressive and confident with their school work, along with improving their fine motor skills. The teachers are always patience, and nurturing while having small class sizes. I would Highly recommend taking a course with these talented teachers!

Connie Tsai September 12, 2022
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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!

Cari Cabaniss February 10, 2025
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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!

Renata Green February 9, 2025
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My daughter has been attending classes here for the past three years. She loves it! They have taught her so many techniques not available to her in the standard art class at school. She has grown as an artist and has developed confidence in her work. All of the teachers are knowledgeable and encouraging. It has been a wonderful experience for her and us!

Adrienne Layne May 29, 2017
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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.

Alison Beaver July 14, 2016

Start
Today

We will prorate your tuition if you join mid-month.

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.

Pick your location

and find the perfect class for you
CEDAR PARK
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NORTHWEST
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SOUTHWEST
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