Unleash creativity: Explore our art classes

Discover the unique approach of Tropical Day Studio, where young artists develop skills, confidence, and their own artistic voice. We're dedicated to fostering creativity in every student.

Why our art classes are different

Our classes go beyond simply completing an art project—we teach students how to see, create, and think like artists. Students build real artistic skills while exploring a variety of mediums, learning about artists and art history, and developing creativity, confidence, and their own unique artistic voice. Each class is designed to be both skill-building and fun, giving students the freedom to explore while learning techniques they can carry into future artwork.

Skill development

Students develop their drawing, painting, sculpting, and creative skills through hands-on practice with various techniques and mediums.

Creative expression

We encourage students to explore their imagination and express their unique artistic voice in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Building confidence

As students build artistic skills, they become more confident in their abilities, more aware of the world around them, and see themselves as true artists.

Elementary Art (K-5)

Young artists learn through playful, hands-on projects that introduce new skills and mediums. Projects may include: 

✏️ Drawing & Illustration: Students develop pencil control, line quality, shapes, forms, observation, proportion, and creative drawing skills.

Projects may include:
• Self-Portraits
• Shape Robots & Imaginative Creatures

🎨 Painting: Students explore brush control, layering, blending, washes, and different painting techniques using watercolor, tempera, and acrylic.

Projects may include:
• Van Gogh-Inspired Flowers
• Warm & Cool Autumn Landscapes

🌈 Color Theory: Students learn how artists use color through hands-on color mixing and painting exercises.

Projects may include:
• Color Theory Painting
• Tints & Shades Cactus Painting

🖨️ Printmaking: Students learn how artists create repeated images, textures, patterns, and one-of-a-kind prints.

Projects may include:
• Gelli Prints
• Nature & Texture Prints

🏺 3D Art & Sculpture: Students develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness, construction techniques, and an understanding of form through clay and sculpture.

Projects may include:
• Clay Animals & Pinch Pots
• Cardboard & Mixed-Media Sculptures

✂️ Mixed Media & Collage: Students combine different materials and techniques while learning about layering, composition, texture, cutting, and gluing.

Projects may include:
• Ocean Collage
• Texture Fish

🌿 Art & Nature: Students learn to slow down, observe the world around them, and translate what they see into artwork.

Projects may include:
• Nature Journaling
• Botanical & Landscape Studies

🖼️ Art History & Artists: Students are introduced to artists, cultures, and artistic movements throughout history while creating artwork inspired by what they learn.

Artists and cultures may include Frida Kahlo, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Henri Rousseau, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Japanese art, and folk-art traditions.

Intermediate Art (6-12)

Middle and high school artists build on their foundational skills through more challenging projects and creative techniques. Projects may include: 

✏️ Drawing & Observational Skills: Students develop stronger skills in proportion, perspective, form, value, composition, and drawing from observation.

Projects may include:
• Still Life & Observational Drawing
• Portrait & Figure Studies

🎨 Painting: Students explore more advanced painting techniques, including layering, blending, glazing, brushwork, composition, and creating depth.

Projects may include:
• Landscape Painting Series
• Contemporary Still Life

🌈 Advanced Color Theory: Students move beyond basic color mixing and learn how intentional color choices influence mood, depth, emphasis, and visual storytelling.

Projects may include:
• Limited-Color Still Life
• Color & Mood Painting

🖍️ Dry Media: Students develop control and realism through colored pencil, graphite, charcoal, and oil pastel.

Projects may include:
• Realistic Colored Pencil Study
• Charcoal Portrait or Still Life

🖨️ Printmaking: Students explore more advanced printmaking processes and learn how artists use repetition, layering, texture, and edition-making.

Projects may include:
• Linocut Print
• Multi-Layer Reduction Print

🏺 3D Art & Sculpture: Students learn to translate two-dimensional ideas into three-dimensional forms while exploring structure, balance, proportion, texture, and construction.

Projects may include:
• Clay Vessel or Sculptural Form
• Wire & Mixed-Media Sculpture

✂️ Mixed Media: Students learn to thoughtfully combine materials and techniques to create more complex compositions and conceptual artwork.

Projects may include:
• Mixed-Media Portrait
• Found-Object Assemblage

🏛️ Art History & Artistic Movements: Students study artists, cultures, historical periods, and contemporary movements while examining how art reflects the ideas and experiences of its time.

Topics may include:
• Renaissance & Classical Art
• Impressionism & Post-Impressionism

🏠 Perspective & Design: Students develop spatial awareness and learn how artists and designers create believable environments and communicate ideas visually.

Projects may include:
• One- & Two-Point Perspective Architecture
• Interior or Environmental Design

🌿 Nature & Environmental Art: Students use observation and natural forms as inspiration while exploring representation, abstraction, texture, and environmental themes.

Projects may include:
• Botanical Illustration Series
• Landscape & Environmental Study

🎨 Developing an Artistic Voice: Students learn to move from "What should I make?" to "What do I want to communicate?"

Projects may include personal themes, artwork series, visual storytelling, and independent studio projects.

🖼️ Portfolio Development: Older students begin building a body of work that demonstrates their technical growth, creative process, and individual artistic voice.

Students learn how to:

• Develop an idea from concept to finished artwork
• Sketch and plan compositions
• Experiment with materials
• Revise and refine artwork
• Participate in constructive critiques
• Write about their artistic choices
• Photograph and organize finished work
• Build a cohesive portfolio