Spring Foundations Studio
Four weeks.
Try something new.
Develop a real skill.
Create a still life observational drawing.
Online Foundation Studio for Middle & Early High School Students.
Plan. Sketch. Draw.
Create a focused observational still life.
A live, online group studio for middle and early high school students ready to strengthen their observational drawing skills in a focused, structured environment.
Students create an original observational still life to gain skills in proportion, light, shadow and composition.
Part of the ARTriculate Studio Series
Developing Foundational Skills Needs Structure
In 7th, 8th, and 9th grade, students begin forming early ideas about what they might want to study.
They experiment.
They build.
They notice what holds their attention.
Foundation skills are the bedrock of expressing themselves in other media.
A student may be interested in illustration, painting, architecture, or design but to express their ideas they need to first master skills of proportion, perspective, light, shadow, and composition.
But as a parent, curiosity raises questions.
Is this a passing interest — or something that deserves development?
Why will learning foundational skills help my student advance in visual arts?
Can my student work within structure, receive critique, and complete a defined project?
Without structure, it is difficult to answer those questions.
Interests can linger for years without direction. College conversations can start before skills are tested. Students may express enthusiasm without ever experiencing real expectations.
By 10th and 11th grade, those gaps matter. College pathways narrow. Standards rise. The time for experimentation shrinks.
It is better to introduce discipline before pressure escalates. This studio does that.
Students work within defined constraints.
They receive direct critique.
They move from concept to completion.
You gain clarity about their interest, their follow-through, and their readiness while there is still time to adjust direction thoughtfully.
What This Foundations Studio Includes
This is a live online drawing class led by Suzanne Rupp.
Students meet weekly on Zoom and work in real time.
Each student:
Designs and sets up a personal composition
Translates what they observe to their paper
Create an original, personal, observational still life
Receives structured critique
By the end of the studio, students complete a portfolio-ready still life for future portfolio submissions.
Foundations: Draw an observational still life
Suzanne Rupp is an alumni of Ridgewood Art Institute and received her BA from Rollins College. As a working artist Suzanne’s practice emphasizes storytelling - exploring the many different contexts in which an artist can do their work. She focuses on using acrylics to produce oil like still life and landscape pieces
Meet Your Coach, Suzanne.
Suzanne Rupp
Art Foundations Coach
A Practical First Step Developing Foundational Skills
For students considering the visuals arts this studio is for you!
Foundation Studio FAQs
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This online foundations art class is designed for students in grades 7–10 who are interested in strengthening their observational drawing skills
No prior drawing experience is required.
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Is your student interested in illustration, architecture, painting?
Do they struggle to “draw what they see”?
Do they often start projects but stop when they aren’t “perfect”?
This is a great opportunity to learn skills of perspective, light, shadows, and composition to solidify these skills to enable them to move on to create more advanced artwork.
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Yes.
The studio introduces foundational observational skills to enable students to develop their confidence to become strong visual artists.
Students are expected to focus, follow through, and participate in critique.
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For many families, this studio serves as an early step before applying to competitive pre-college art programs in 10th or 11th grade summers.
It allows students to strengthen their skills before tacking more advanced creative projects.
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High school art classes often do not give students the opportunity to structure their own composition and receive individual focused attention throughout the creative process.
This studio introduces new expectations: defined constraints, storytelling, structured critique, and project completion.
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The studio is conducted live on Zoom.
Students work in real time, receive feedback during the session, participate in structured group critique, and communicate with their coach and other students via text or Discord between sessions.
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Foundations Studio - You can shop at Amazon, Blick.com, or Michaels to find the supplies for this class.
Pencil set
Rubber eraser
Mono eraser
Bristol paper
Blending stumps
Sharpener
Ruler
Desk lamp
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Group size is intentionally limited to 8 students to allow for individual feedback and meaningful critique.
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That clarity is useful.
The purpose of early structured exploration is not to lock in a career decision, but to test interest within real expectations.
Understanding what is not a fit is as valuable as confirming what is.