Small Group Drawing & painting classes

For children ages 9-12 or teens ages 13-17

Kensington, Brooklyn

Class overview

In this small-group studio setting (4–6 participants maximum), students develop focus, observation, and confidence through drawing and painting.

Each student works at their own pace, receiving individual attention while gradually developing their own way of seeing and making.

Technical skills, such as shading, basic anatomy, and color mixing, are introduced individually and organically as they become needed. This allows students to build ability in a way that feels both structured and personal, while staying encouraged.

Students are guided to understand relationships rather than isolated objects or figures through careful looking. The class combines observation-based studio practice with a flexible, student-centered approach that supports individual pacing and sustained engagement.

Classes are taught by Dov Talpaz, a trained and exhibiting artist working in a studio environment, with a focus on observation, technique, and thoughtful expression.

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Class foundations

Observation - Still-Life, Self Portrait, Narrative

The foundation of the class is observation. Students learn to look closely rather than rely on assumptions.

The pace is carefully balanced so that students are not overwhelmed. Work is broken into clear, accessible steps, allowing them to experience progress and build confidence over time.

Technique - Light, shadow, and proportion

Technique is introduced gradually and practically. For example, students learn to mix color as they begin painting, or refine a drawing through erasing and reworking.

Skills develop from the needs of the work itself. Shading and tone, for instance, emerge through adjusting and repositioning forms rather than as a separate exercise. In this way, techniques are more naturally understood and retained.

Imagination - Composition

While the class is grounded in observation, imagination and exploration are an essential part of the process.

Imagination develops through attention. As students observe closely, they begin to respond to what they see and gradually incorporate their own ideas and narratives into the work.

Exploration - Color mixing, different mediums and materials

Students work across a range of materials, including watercolor, pastel, charcoal, acrylic, pen, pencil, collage, simple printmaking methods, and ink.

Working across different materials allows students to reconsider their work in new ways. For example, using colored paper encourages thinking in shapes of color rather than line. This helps students recognize what is essential in their work and develop flexibility in how they approach image-making.

Class flow and pacing

Class rhythm

Each session follows a structured rhythm that supports both focus and flexibility.

The first portion allows for arrival and independent start
The middle portion is more focused, with guidance and sustained attention
The final portion allows for continuation or pause, where students may step away and return with renewed attention

This structure helps maintain engagement and a sense of freedom, while gradually building concentration over time.

Schedule and timing

Classes take place in a supervised studio setting with flexible arrival and departure.

Students may arrive between 3:15–4:00 PM and leave between 5:00–5:45 PM, allowing flexibility while ensuring meaningful time in the studio.

Students are asked to arrive within the first portion of the class to maintain a consistent working environment.

Class structure

Students are welcome to join on a drop-in basis, while the class supports ongoing engagement over time.

Those who return regularly develop deeper focus, confidence, and a more sustained relationship to drawing and painting.

Ongoing development and shared moments

Each three-month period includes an opportunity to reflect on and share work.

This may take the form of a small, informal studio showing for students and parents, or a shared activity such as a museum visit. These moments help students recognize their progress, build confidence, and connect their work to a broader artistic context.

What students develop

The ability to observe and draw from life
Focus and sustained attention
Confidence through visible progress
A personal approach to drawing and painting

Portfolio to support future high school or college applications

Students build drawings and paintings that reflect both technical ability and individual creativity, important components of both high school and college art portfolios.

Class details

Location: Kensington, Brooklyn
Ages: 9–12 and 13–17
Group size: Maximum 6 participants
Frequency: Once per week
Class start time: 3:15 - 4 pm
Class end time: 5:15 - 5:45 pm
Materials: All materials included

Monthly Enrollment
$200.00
1 class per week

reserved spot

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Drop-In Class
$60.00
per class

Available if space allows