middle + high school classes
our winter semester is jan 2 - March 30
registration for winter will open nov 15h at noon
we will be closed feb 15 - 23 for midwinter break,
but classes will be in session all other days and holidays.
fall 2025 portfolio prep classes
A note about our fall portfolio prep program:
We will still be offering a 6th+7th Grade portfolio prep on Thursday evenings,
as a 3 part class designed to be taken for the full year.
We will still be offering an 8th Grade Portfolio Intensive on Sunday early afternoons, designed for students who need help creating a full or nearly full portfolio for the NYC HS process.
NEW this year we will also be offering several one-session workshops, each focusing on one element of the DoE High School Portfolio, for students who have already started a portfolio but need support on just specific elements.
6th and 7th Grade
Portfolio Prep
with vic
Ages: 6th-7th Graders
Class Time: 5:30-6:45pm
Dates: Thursdays 9/4/25-12/18/25*
*No class 11/27 for Thanksgiving Break
This class is designed to be taken for all 3 semesters, followed by our 8th Grade Fall Portfolio Intensive the next year if needed.
Join us for our 1st semester of 6th and 7th grade Portfolio Prep!
Semester 1 (Fall 2025)
This semester we will focus on drawing objects from observation using pencil and charcoal. Through exercises and longer finished drawings we will learn essential drawing techniques including using line, tone, shadow and perspective. Students will begin practicing drawing basic objects and will then have the opportunity to set up their own still lives using objects they are interested in drawing. In addition to bringing home physical work, the teacher will photograph and organize each student's work into an individual online portfolio, complete with weekly feedback.
Semester 2 (Winter 2026)
This semester we will focus on drawing self portraits from observation using pencil. We will practice drawing faces and noticing their specificities, drawing from photos, from others in the class and from observation in the mirror. We will strive to see new things about ourselves and to make self portraits that show personality and expression, in addition to essential observational drawing skills.
Semester 3 (Spring 2026)
This semester we will focus on drawing the human body. Beginning with photos and wooden figures we will begin to understand anatomy and proportion in the body, noticing weight and balance. We will move on to drawing from live models, using charcoal and practicing gesture, shape, volume and mark making.
These three semesters will prepare students to have three main elements of the high school application portfolio, and will help them build essential drawing skills to use in their creative work. In addition to this class, students should be working on their own personal art, to develop these skills but also to show their specific artistic interests and style. In 8th Grade Portfolio students will collect these pieces in addition to other creative pieces students have made in their free time, and we will build a strong portfolio together.
If you are not applying for an art high school, but are still interested in developing your observational drawing skills in a focused environment, you are welcome to join us.
$590 (All Materials Included)*
*Cost is for Fall semester only. Registration for future semesters will open late fall, and will be priced according to number of class sessions. Students already enrolled in fall will be given priority registration for Winter and Spring.
8th Grade Portfolio intensive
with vic
Ages: 8th Graders
Class Time: 12:00 - 2:15pm
Dates: Every Sunday, 9/7/25 - 12/7/25*
*No class 11/30 for Thanksgiving
*The DoE has not yet released the application deadline, but if it ends up being later than 12/12, families will have the option to extend the class
In this intensive, we will be preparing a visual arts portfolio as part of the high school audition process. We will be focusing on creating high quality pieces for the following requirements: a self-portrait, a still life, a figure drawing, and a fantastical sandwich. We will also discuss how to photograph and format pieces successfully for submission. This semester-long class is only open to 8th graders and will include opportunities to work on individual projects. This class is designed for students who need help creating the whole portfolio, but given that the class only spans one semester, students will also be expected to work on certain elements on their own in addition to class time.
Students will bring home the work they create in class, and the teacher will photograph and organize each student's work into an individual online portfolio. Students will also receive a portfolio checklist, complete with weekly teacher progress notes so that parents have an understanding of the process.
$975
All materials and drawing model fees included
fall 2025 portfolio workshops
This workshop will focus on the self portrait piece as a required element for the NYC High School admissions process. Students are welcome to bring their existing pieces for feedback and to continue working on, or can use the workshop to begin their self portrait. Some students will finish their piece during the workshop, while others may need to complete them at home.
$55 (All materials included)
This workshop will focus on the still life drawing as a required element for schools in the NYC High School admissions process. Students are welcome to bring their existing pieces for feedback and to continue working on, or can use the workshop to begin their still life. Some students will finish their piece during the workshop, while others may need to complete them at home. Students should plan to bring in their own objects so that they can continue working on their piece at home if needed.
$55 (All materials included)
figure drawing workshop
with rosie
Ages: 8th Graders
Class Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm
Date: Sunday 10/26/25
This workshop will focus on the figure drawing as a required element for schools in the NYC High School admissions process. Students are welcome to bring any existing pieces for feedback. Students will begin this workshop by creating warm-up and gesture drawings and then move into one longer pose that can be used in their portfolio.
$60 (All materials included, this also includes a fee to cover the model)
fantastical sandwich workshop
with vic
Ages: 8th Graders
Class Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm
Date: Sunday 11/2/25
This workshop will focus on the fantastical sandwich as a required element for select schools in the NYC High School admissions process (Art and Design High School, LaGuardia, and Frank Sinatra*). Students are welcome to bring their existing pieces for feedback and to continue working on, or can use the workshop to begin their fantastical sandwich. Some students will finish their piece during the workshop, while others may need to complete them at home.
*This is based on our current understanding of which schools require this element, but it is subject to change.
$55 (All materials included)
portfolio assembly + Review
with rosie
Ages: 8th Graders
Class Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm
Date: Sunday 11/16/25
This workshop will help students choose which pieces to include in their portfolio, as well as how to photograph and submit their work for a strong NYC High School application. Students should plan to bring their portfolio pieces for feedback and photographing, and will also be given time to work on existing pieces in class. Students can bring their own camera (a phone with a good camera is fine) or can have the teacher photograph and email their work if needed.
$55 (All materials included)
portfolio assembly + Review
with vic - if needed
Ages: 8th Graders
Class Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm
Date: Sunday 11/9/25
This workshop will help students choose which pieces to include in their portfolio, as well as how to photograph and submit their work for a strong NYC High School application. Students should plan to bring their portfolio pieces for feedback and photographing, and will also be given time to work on existing pieces in class. Students can bring their own camera (a phone with a good camera is fine) or can have the teacher photograph and email their work if needed.
$55 (All materials included)
Students from our past portfolio prep classes have received offers from their first choice schools including
High School of Art & Design and LaGuardia High School
9-12th grade classes:
We are interested in providing programming for 9-12th grade students!
All of the classes we have offered for this age group so far, however, have had no enrollment
so we are not offering any new classes at this time.
If you are a 9th-12th grader interested in Art classes (or the parent of one), please email us!
We would love to get your input to create a class.