Art School for

the Rest of Us

You don't have to attend an art school to
become an artist. Learn to make realistic
drawings and paintings, even if you're a beginner!

Totally new to drawing? Click here!

Free Beginner Drawing Course

Classes Open for Enrollment

FREE Figure Drawing Challenge

Virtual Class
Video Lessons Released Monday - Friday
March 11th - 15th, 2024
Learn basic skills for working from photos or from life.
5 Day Workshop
FREE!

Figure Drawing Academy: Foundations

Virtual Class
March 22nd - April 26th 2024
Receive a video lesson each week: Reference photos, practice videos  & feedback included!
6 Week Class
$165 Video Course

Figure Drawing from Life Workshop

In-Studio Class
Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm
March 23rd - 24th, 2024
2 Day Workshop
$250 includes all materials and model fees

 

Painting Fabric & Textures in Oil

In-Studio Class
Saturdays 12:30 - 2:30pm
April 6th - 27th, 2024
4 Week Class
$240 Includes all materials

 

Portrait Drawing in Graphite and Charcoal

In-Studio Class
Wednesdays 6-8 pm CT
April 10th - May 15th 2024
6 Week Class
$425 Includes Materials

Land & Sky: Principles of Atmosphere

In-Studio Class
Thursdays, 2-4pm
May 2nd - June 13th, 2024
6 Week Class
$350 Includes all materials

Alla Prima Portrait Painting Weekend Workshop

In-Studio Class
Saturday & Sunday 10am - 5pm
May 18th & 19th, 2024
2 Day Workshop
$250 Includes all materials

Master Portrait Copies: In-Studio & Recorded

6 Week Course
Wednesdays 6-8pm CT
May 29th - July 10th, 2024
$350 In-Studio Includes all materials
$165 Video Course

Classical Drawing

In-Studio Class
Thursdays 6-8 pm
July 25th - September 12th, 2024
Discover French Academic methods. Great for beginners & those seeking strong drawing skills.
8 Week Class
$425 Includes materials

Foundations of Oil Painting: In-Studio

In-Studio Class
Wednesdays 6-8:30pm CT
September 25th - November 13th, 2024
8 Week Class
$475 Includes all materials

Figure Drawing in Charcoal

In-Studio Class
Thursdays 6-8 pm CT
September 26th - November 7th, 2024
(October 31st is skipped.)
6 Week Class
$375 Includes all materials

Work smARTer when studying art at home with
On-Demand Video Classes!

Maintain consistent progress through free and affordable video courses created for your ability level!

No more plateaus or feeling aimless or stuck.

Find the course for your level and goal, with options for feedback and help from a professional artist.

See Video Courses

FREE Sketching Video Course

If you can't draw a stick figure, you need a little guidance for how to even get started drawing, and you have paper and a pencil, then you're ready to start the challenge! Get 5 free sketching lessons including reference photos.

Start Drawing!

Learn From a Professional Artist Who Didn't Go to Art School

When I was 15, I knew I wanted to be an artist.

At 16, I became a mother.

I wouldn't say that motherhood prevented me from going to art school, but it did force me to think critically about the decision. I graduated from high school with the rest of my class, and went on to get my Associates in Studio Art, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

However, I found that the instruction I found in college wasn't teaching me what I really wanted to know: How to paint and draw realistically. And being a mother meant my priorities dictated that I should not go into an incredible amount of debt to 'find myself' in a 4 year art school somewhere.

So instead, I dedicated every evening from 8pm until midnight to painting, seeking out feedback from artists I admired, and researching methods of art instruction from the French Academy to Golden Age Illustration. I created my own art education, and I can guide you through yours!

Check out Lacey Swift's art website.

Be the first to know about new classes and freebies!

Newsletters go out each Tuesday and include video tutorials, free PDFs and challenges, and info about upcoming events. We value your privacy.