SIX DAYS A WEEK, over the past eighteen years, children have shuffled, bounced and bubbled into the ActonArt studios in anticipation of learning what the weekly project will be. Often they stop at the studio door and make one last guess what animal, vehicle, insect, cartoon character, or object they’ll be drawing that day. To everyone’s surprise—even theirs—sometimes they guess right!
Our PROGRAM — ActonArt is a drawing and fine art school for children, teens and adults. More than five thousand students have registered for more than twenty thousand classes at ActonArt Drawing School since it opened in June of 2003 with 30 students in a five-class summer program. Our schedule now lists more than fifty weekly classes. Our weekly foundation classes are presented along a guided or semi-guided demonstration model where instructors lead students through logical thinking processes and actual drawing sequences. Students work on their own artwork independently and follow the "process" as presented by the instructor. Using this instructional technique students are able to see the drawing being built as a demonstration in front of them, yet also work independently by interpreting and following the verbal and visual instructions. Most of the learning takes place as a result of the hands-on execution by each student as they model their artwork process after the teacher’s example. Teachers demonstrate how to resolve problems and move through routine issues that every artist faces during projects.
Over time, we have added a number of classes tailored to various student populations. Among them are painting classes for all mediums and levels of experience, portfolio level classes which are designed to provide high-level instruction for students who wish to pursue fine and commercial art careers, and adult classes designed for their specific interests and schedules.
Our curriculum-driven program is designed to teach to the strengths and abilities of general age ranges; however, our class sizes are limited and small so we can focus on the needs of individual students as well. Our program and class structure have evolved into a comprehensive presentation of core concepts and developmental skill-building projects built around student-friendly topics and drawing subjects. We offer classes that are specific to elementary, middle-school, and high-school children, intermediate and advanced level students, and even students who are developing portfolios for further study in art schools and colleges. We also have adult classes for people looking for personal enrichment and individual skills development.
Our MISSION — Our mission is to provide the highest quality drawing and fine art process and technique instruction to children, teens and adults. We will always endeavor to accomplish this goal by creating a safe, supportive and non-critical environment for students. We believe that everyone can benefit by learning foundational drawing skills whether they intend to use them in their careers or as a means of personal self-expression or enjoyment. Art is one of the oldest and highest accomplishments of mankind. We can think of no better goal in life than to teach the skills that allow people to express themselves artistically, regardless of their fields of study or careers.
ActonArt fosters the relationships of learning and growth, challenge and esteem-building, creativity and expression, experimentation and risk, accomplishment and pride. Learning to "draw" only scratches the surface of what students experience at ActonArt each week. Learning a process, developing a plan, maintaining concentration, coping with "mistakes" and creating artwork are daily experiences for drawing students.
Our TEACHERS — Drawing and creating art are very personal experiences. That means the people who teach it must have skill, vision and empathy. We could fill a book with glowing adjectives describing our teachers. They ARE the quality in our programs. They are a complementary team of teaching artists (most of whom have been with us for well over a decade) who bring remarkable energy and creative inspiration with them every day. They learn about every student in the classes and consider each and every one's needs to ensure they are both learning and engaged. Many of us had fantastic art teachers when we were young. We want your children will feel the same way when they are adults.
Finally, in the pandemic world where we now live, we’ve upgraded our studio HVAC system to provide UV sterilized, HEPA filtered fresh and clean air to everyone in the studio. Keeping both students and teachers safe and secure is our highest priority.
You can learn more about ActonArt and our programs by visiting http://actonart.com. Contact us today to make arrangements to visit and tour the studio, see samples of our student artwork, and even try a class.
69 Great Road
Acton MA 01720
978-266-1600
https://www.facebook.com/ActonArt
