Princeton Academy of Art

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:

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.

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:

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 13 - August 7

10:30AM - 4:00PM