Advanced Studio & Portfolio Development (grades 6+)
Advanced art instruction, portfolio development, and guidance for serious young artists
Voted Best Art School in Nassau County 10 Years Running. Explore painting, drawing, watercolor, mixed media, digital art, and more.
Advanced Teen Studio is a year-long studio experience for motivated tweens and teens who want to strengthen drawing, painting, creative thinking and personal artistic growth through individual mentorship and guidance.
Who it’s for?
Students who…
• love making art
• want serious instruction
• work independently
• are considering Studio Art, AP Art or college portfolios
What you will learn
- Observation Drawing
- Painting
- Composition
- Creative Process
- Portfolio Development
- Critiques
The Experience
- Small class
- Individual guidance
- Professional studio
- Work at your own pace
- Supportive environment
all about
learn from an exceptional mentor
Lenore Hanson
With more than 30 years of teaching and mentoring young artists, Lenore Hanson knows how to help students move beyond simply making art to thinking and working like artists. Her extensive experience allows her to recognize each student’s strengths, identify areas for growth, and provide the individualized guidance needed to help them progress with confidence.
Unlike traditional classes where everyone follows the same lesson, Lenore tailors instruction to each student. Whether refining drawing skills, mastering painting techniques, developing a personal style, or preparing a portfolio for AP Art or college admissions, students receive thoughtful critiques and expert mentorship that meet them where they are and challenge them to reach the next level.
As the former Director of Studio Practices and College Portfolio Preparation, Lenore has helped students earn acceptance to leading art schools, receive scholarships, and build the skills needed for long-term artistic success. More importantly, she creates a supportive studio where motivated teens learn to think critically, take creative risks, solve visual problems, and develop the confidence to create their strongest work.
Building strong artistic skills takes time. Year-round instruction gives students the opportunity to develop techniques, explore their creativity, and create stronger artwork over time.
This semi-private studio program welcomes middle and high school students at all levels who want to build skills in drawing, painting, and mixed media, explore new ideas, and develop their creative practice in a focused, supportive studio environment.
The program is led by Lenore Hanson, Former Director of Studio Practices at Huntington Fine Arts, where she directed the renowned College Preparatory Portfolio Program. With over 30 years of experience, she has guided students through all stages of artistic development and the college application process, including portfolio development, artwork documentation, essays, and presentation. Her students have been accepted into leading art and design programs nationwide, many earning merit scholarships.
Instruction is individualized and meets each student at their level, beginning with strong observational drawing and foundational skills, then expanding into experimentation, material exploration, and personal expression. Students are also introduced to artists and art history to support inspiration, critical thinking, and the development of a meaningful body of work.
Drawing
Drawing is the foundation of everything an artist will practice and in the realization of their ideas to a finished piece, including painting, sculpture and design. Students will create works on paper using a variety of mediums and surfaces understanding value studies to achieve light, shadow and dimension in their work. The self-portrait to drawing from a costumed model to plein air work is encouraged. Drawings can be studies for future paintings and three dimensional work. Each student will keep a sketch book of ideas. Individual expression will be guided as we work one-on-one with each student.
* An optional Life Drawing with Live Model session for students enrolled in Drawing or Painting who want to strengthen observational skills, anatomy, and portfolio development
DAY: Wednesday
TIME: 4:30 – 7:30 PM
DATES: Sept 16 – Oct 21
Painting
Composition, color and drawing skills are taught to students new to oil painting through still life and observational studies. Color studies with pastels teach how to layer color to achieve light, dimension and color mixing. As students advance, we will explore interests and imagination with large-scale pieces as well as diptychs and triptych pieces. Students will also explore experimentation and abstraction.
DAY: Thursday
TIME: 4:30 – 7:30 PM
DATES: Sept 17 – Oct 22
Sculpting
Most middle and high school students do not have the opportunity to work three-dimensionally in the school environment. Sculpture class covers a wide range of traditional materials such as clay, plaster, wire and wood. Students will also have the opportunity to explore installation work and mixed media. Ideas are developed through art history, independent museum visits, maquettes and sketchbook work. You will learn to use tools and materials to achieve your vision in three dimensions on different scales and in different environments.
DAY: Saturday
TIME: 10:00 – 1:00 PM
DATES: Sept 26 – Nov 7 (no class Oct 31)
Advanced Option: Figure Drawing (Live Model)
Strengthen observational drawing skills by working from a live model in a focused studio setting. Recommended for portfolio students and teens preparing portfolios.
* An optional Life Drawing with Live Model session will be offered to students who want to strengthen observational skills, anatomy, and portfolio development.
College Prep & Portfolio Development
An art portfolio is a requirement for applying to college for fine art, design and architecture. It may also be used as a supplement to your college application, expanding on your creative intelligence. We work with students to develop and refine their portfolio for submission to college. Personally geared to a student’s direction and inspiration, work is developed and progress assessed through regular meetings. College choices are investigated and goals are set to meet deadlines. Closer to college submission, work is refined and selected. After the work is photographed, students will be guided through writing descriptions of their work and an artist essay. A letter of recommendation is provided upon request.
Private Consultation
Students and parents are invited for an evaluation of their work and discussion of their goals. Lenore Hanson has thirty years experience as Director of Studio Practices at Huntington Fine Arts working directly with students in Drawing, Painting, Sculpture and College Portfolio development. To make an appointment, email or call our office to coordinate availability. Bring your work and sketchbook.