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
We have been going for two years with the kids and the teachers are wonderful, the classes are small and peaceful. It’s a perfect place to learn art. Highly recommended.
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!
Great teachers and superb extracurricular academy. My kids love it!
My experience attending adult classes at Art + Academy has been so helpful to reigniting my passion for artistic creation. It has shown me a path forward in my life that I thought would be left behind unfulfilled. My instructor Erin listens, observes and finds the ways to guide me not away from any one approach to my art but presents alternatives and/or source material that may serve me better.
Camp was a fantastic experience…the students learned multiple techniques, enjoyed their time creating, and the teacher was positive and enthusiastic.
We like the creative experience, convenience of location as well as flexible schedule offered to my 14 year old!
Best art academy in Austin! Monica, the owner is super sweet and very attentive. The best part about this art academy is that their classes are small so they are able to challenge each student individually. Highly recommend!
My children and myself have taken and continue to take classes at Art Plus Academy. I found that the art classes helped me access skills I did not know I had. My 7 year old son has been taking art classes here for the past 2 years. This is his favorite activity and he enjoys exposing his art on “Gallery Day” periodically organized by Art Plus. During Gallery Day the students do not only have a chance to present their own art to the public but they also have a chance to review other students’ art – a valuable experience. I highly recommend Art Plus Academy for children and for adults.
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!
Teachers are kind and welcoming, and my son has plenty of fun while learning how to paint. Thank you Art+ Northwest Austin!
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 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!
My daughter’s progress in art is phenomenal, she loves going to the academy. Her teacher is great!
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.
Art+Academy is an excellent art school. The teachers are professional and provide art instruction beyond what is taught in a public or private school. The owner responds to inquiries and is accommodating. At age 6, my granddaughter showed signs of artistic ability, but was shy around people and lacked the self-confidence to follow through with extra-curricular activities. Now at age 8, after 2 years of Art+Academy’s quality art instruction, she has identified herself as a good artist, shows an increased self-esteem, makes eye contact, converses with her peers and teachers, and shows no resistance to attend her art classes. Her finished pieces include various techniques, perspective drawing, and mixed media. Art Academy yields an outcome that is well worth the investment of time and money.
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!
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.
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.
The personalized tutoring I received at Art Plus Academy helped me get into my top art school choice. To do this, I worked on a number of portfolio pieces (including still life drawings and drawings of nude models), and Monica gave me suggestions on how to refine and improve my work. She also recommended books to study and techniques to practice, all of which I learned a great deal from. Monica and her team are top notch art teachers. The prices they charge are a seriously good deal for your money (In fact, I would gladly pay double, the teachers here are that good). From what I saw while I was there, they are willing and able to help artists at any skill level. Usually classes are filled with both beginners and intermediate level artists, and artists of every age. I was impressed by the teacher’s ability to help all students improve. I am sure Monica can’t promise that you’ll get into an art college if you take classes with her, but I did, and I couldn’t be more thankful to her and her team.
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.
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