PRICE CHANGE - ALL MATERIALS NOW INCLUDED!

A Pre-College Intensive in Classical Training and Portfolio Development

The PAA Summer Residency is an intensive, pre-college program designed for high school students preparing for college-level fine art programs. This rigorous, full-day residency mirrors the expectations of top art schools by combining technical training in classical drawing and painting with conceptual portfolio development.

Program Structure

Students divide their time between two key areas of study:

Morning Sessions - Classical Training in Advanced-Level Workshops: Students train alongside adult artists in PAA’s advanced studio courses, building technical fluency in still life painting, figure drawing, landscape painting, and portrait painting. Through direct engagement with observational study, material handling, and historical methods, students develop a strong technical foundation that will support their future artistic pursuits.

Afternoon Sessions - Creative Development: In structured creative development sessions, students expand upon their morning coursework, applying the principles of classical training to their independent, concept-driven projects. Advanced prompts challenge students to integrate historical methods with contemporary creative thinking, ensuring their portfolios demonstrate both technical ability and originality. These qualities are essential for competitive college applications.

Program Outcomes

By the end of the residency, students will:

• Master core disciplines of drawing and painting through intensive classical training.Develop a well-rounded, competitive portfolio that reflects both technical skill and creative direction.
• Gain confidence in their artistic practice through mentorship, critiques, and structured projects.
• Be fully prepared for college applications with a portfolio that demonstrates depth, craftsmanship, and individuality.

100 Hours of Work Time!

Equivalent to 80% of the work time available during the academic year (approx 123 work hours during the acadmeic year)

Program Details

Dates: July 21 - August 15

10:30AM - 4:00PM

Morning: Classical Training in PAA Adult-Level Courses

Afternoon: Portfolio Development based on Advanced Prompts

AGES 18+

This four-week intensive introduces students to the foundational principles of constructive figure drawing. The first two sessions are dedicated to working from diagrams and academic plates, focusing on planar construction, gesture, proportion, and key anatomical landmarks. These sessions build a framework for understanding the figure as a structured form in space.

In the final two weeks, students will apply these principles in direct observation from a live model. These sessions emphasize clarity of form, directional movement, and spatial relationships, reinforcing the transition from theoretical study to perceptual accuracy.

This course is well suited for students with prior drawing experience who wish to deepen their understanding of the human figure through a structured, academic approach. But, is open to all skills levels.

JULY 28 - AUGUST 1

AGES 15-18

ALL MATERIALS INCLUDED

This pre-college summer intensive introduces students to the fundamentals of architectural design through a combination of studio practice, lectures, and model-making. Guided by recent Princeton University graduate, Dominica Kusmierczyk, participants will learn to think critically about space, structure, and materiality while developing their own design language.

Students will begin with architectural sketching and drafting exercises to build spatial literacy and an understanding of orthographic projection, axonometric drawing, and basic principles of scale and proportion. Emphasis will be placed on concept development, site analysis, and iterative design processes through both analog and physical media.

Throughout the course, students will engage in hands-on fabrication of architectural models using materials such as chipboard, basswood, foam core, and museum board. Techniques in scoring, folding, lamination, and volumetric construction will be introduced, culminating in a final presentation of a conceptual building or small-scale spatial intervention. Discussions will also cover tectonics, circulation, program, and precedent analysis drawn from historical and contemporary architectural works.

This studio offers a rigorous introduction to architectural thinking and making, suitable for students considering future studies in architecture, design, or related fields. All materials will be provided.Tuition: $750

Join Princeton Academy of Art for a week of painting & drawing the iconic sites of Princeton!

Dates: August 4 - 8, 2025

Times: 9:00AM - 12:00PM (3 hours)

Day 1 – Indoors at 10 Nassau St Studio

Day 2 – Prospect Garden

Day 3 – Nassau Hall

Day 4 – Freedom Fountain

Day 5 – Morven Museum & Garden 

All supplies included! We do however ask that students are prepared to spend a couple of hours outdoors. A clip-on sun umbrella is highly recommended!

*Locations subject to change.

**If there is inclement weather, students will move indoors at our 10 Nassau St. location.

This course introduces students to the foundational principles of plein air landscape painting through direct observation of nature. Led by painter Varya Agabekova, whose training emphasizes naturalistic color harmony and atmospheric perspective, the course explores light, movement, and spatial depth as they appear in real outdoor settings.

When: Mondays & Wednesdays, August 4 - August 13

          10:00AM - 4:00PM

Join us for an engaging and educational 3-day session where your child will work from a live model to create a beautiful, structured portrait!

This experience offers children the opportunity to explore the world of portraiture under the guidance and instruction of an academy-trained artist.

Your child will learn the proportions of the face through step-by-step diagrams and afterward will draw the portrait from life.

Our instructor will teach essential techniques and skills for capturing the likeness and unique features of their subjects. Children will develop observational skills, learn about proportion, and begin to apply concrete shading techniques.

This hands-on practice will enhance their artistic abilities, foster confidence in future fine art projects that apply the same methods, and facilitate a deeper understanding and appreciation for the art of portraiture. All materials will be provided!

AUGUST 11, 12, 13

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

TUITION: $400

LOCATION: 10 Nassau St, Suite 23

Mosaic is one of the most enduring artistic traditions of the ancient world, developed by the Greeks and refined through the Byzantine and Romanesque periods as a medium for both sacred and decorative art. Used to adorn architectural surfaces and furnishings, mosaics were composed of marble, ceramic tile, semi-precious stone, and smalti—materials valued for their luminosity, durability, and expressive range. Resistant to water, light, and temperature, mosaic remains a lasting medium for visual storytelling across cultures.

In this weeklong course, participants will receive guided instruction in every stage of the mosaic-making process. From initial cartoon drawing through cutting, setting, and final installation, students will create their own 12" x 12" mosaic panel using time-honored methods and historically grounded techniques. Core materials will be provided; students are asked to bring their own basic tools.

Vladimir Aituganov is an internationally recognized master of mosaic and painting. Born and classically trained in Russia, he immigrated to the United States in 1991, where he later established his studio and became an American citizen.

His mosaic murals (commissioned for Orthodox churches) have received the rare distinction of being declared Russian Icons.

His work is represented in both private and public collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Paterson Museum in New Jersey, and the Russian Mission to the United Nations.

Aituganov has exhibited extensively across the United States and Europe and continues to be a leading figure in the preservation and advancement of ecclesiastical mosaic tradition.

SUPPLY LIST:

• Tile nippers
• Tweezers
• Needle Point Awl
• Latex gloves4-5 plastic cups (12 oz ea.)
• Diamond shape palette knife
• #10Putty knife
• 9”x12” drawing pad
• Regular pencils
• Apron

Plaster casting has played a significant role throughout history, dating back to antiquity. It has been an essential medium for artistic education, architectural adornment, scientific examination, and the preservation of historical artifacts. 

During this workshop, students will explore historic and contemporary methods and materials and create their own personal masterpieces! After exploring the casting process, students will also have the opportunity to paint their sculptures. 

All materials will be provided!

SESSION 1: AUGUST 14 & 15

SESSION 2: AUGUST 21 & 22

9:00AM - 12:00PM

TUITION: $395

LOCATION: 10 Nassau St, Suite 23