A scene from our very first painting workshop in 2009, “The Allegorical Portrait” with Patricia Watwood (the instructor is seen here adjusting the model’s costume).
About Us
An Origin Story
The Teaching Studios of Art was founded in 2009 by the artist Rob Zeller with a vision for a new kind of art school: classical in technique, yet laid back in approach. The seriousness and focus of a full time atelier program would be made available to part time students - kids, teens and adults.. He thought it important to have a wide variety of approaches taught, unified by only one, overarching criteria: excellence.
As a result of this unique approach, the school garnered national publicity within a couple of years of opening, with articles about us in American Artist and Studio magazines, and lots of buzz among fellow art schools. While this concept is now an accepted industry practice, in 2009 it was a radical idea. Many schools have since adopted our influential methods. Over the past 10 years, Teaching Studios has grown in size and reputation. We are always refining our teaching methods and striving to be the best.
How We Are Different
We are an art school devoted to teaching traditional techniques to artists of all ages and skill levels on the North Shore of Long Island. These techniques have been proven, over centuries, to be the most effective at helping people become better artists and make beautiful work.
Our methods have proven successful because traditional techniques are as relevant now as they were centuries ago. We teach children and teens the same thing we teach the adults, but in an age appropriate manner.
The artist Christopher Pugliese demonstrating how to color a grisaille underpainting, with transparent and opaque glazing.
The instructors who work for us are professional, working artists who have achieved a level of competence in their own work that qualifies them to teach others.. Over the years, Teaching Studios has brought in some of the best figurative artists in the world to teach for us.
Artists of all ages and skill levels on the North Shore of Long Island and the greater Tri-State area. benefit from our program. The quality speaks for itself. Every session, we have students commute who from New Jersey and upstate NY to study with us. We can help you or your child become a better artist and make beautiful work.
Our Summer Art Camps for Children ages 6-12, and Summer Intensives for Teens teach the same traditional techniques we teach adults, but in an age-appropriate manner.
What we offer
We offer Portfolio Preparation and Development (ages 13 and up) • Portraiture • Figure Drawing and Painting • Oil painting •Watercolor • Pastel • Foundation Classes and Art Lessons for Children (Ages 6-8 and 9-12 years old). We offer a full range of classes for adults, as well.
The Figurative Core Program forms the bedrock, the very basis of what we teach at the Teaching Studios. Any art student seriously considering learning to draw and paint in a realistic fashion should consider joining our program. It is open to all artists, regardless of age, or level of experience, and is very effective. To learn more about it, click here.
The artist Elizabeth Zanzinger at work in David Kassan’s Portrait Painting Workshop. Over the years, we have had many talented figurative artists both study and teach workshops for us. We offer a terrific environment for the serious study of traditional techniques. We welcome artists of all levels and ability.
