About
The Oklahoma Academy of Fine Art is a privately owned art school firmly dedicated to teaching strong drawing and painting skills using both classical and modern techniques. Our *atelier programs are designed to train, encourage and instill strong draftsmanship and painting skills resulting in confidence building and individual creativity. While we maintain a deep regard for classical, academic traditions we embrace modern innovation, tools and techniques.
We love to help artists of all ages and of all skill levels. The most exciting aspect of what we do is watching students develop drawing and painting skills while also building their confidence.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
To get started we recommend new students enroll in one of our short courses such as Foundational Drawing and Intro to Oil Painting. We offer a long course of study with our atelier programs as well. We offer a variety of other courses such as Figure Drawing, Portrait Painting, and more.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Our school as been helping students learn to draw and paint for over 9 years. Our faculty has years of personal training and experience instructing others.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
A 6 week short course ranges between $225 - $265 depending upon the subject matter and whether there is a need to hire a live model. When models are needed, the price of the course will be more than those courses without a model, for example.
Our atelier program (a long course of study) is billed monthly depending upon the hours each student spends at the school. For example:
12 hrs per month: $125
8 hrs per month: $96
6 hrs per month: $72
Students are asked to commit to at least 3 months of study in order to get some benefit from the training.
How did you get started teaching?
Leslie Lienau, founder and principal instructor at OACA has been teaching people to draw and paint for over 25 years. She started in her home, taught high school art and eventually opened her school in 2010.
What types of students have you worked with?
We work with students who are ultimate beginners to advanced students who have art degrees. Our atelier programs include course study for ages 7 years & up.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
In 2017 our school was invited to collaborate with the Oklahoma City Museum of Art's education department for thevisiting exhibition, "Master Strokes: Dutch and Flemish Drawings from the Golden Age". During the exhibition we offered master classes in figure drawing and portrait drawing and offered public demonstrations and a hands-on experience using historical artist materials and techniques.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Students should expect an immersive experience and will be asked to follow the curriculum in order to acheive the best results. Our program is based upon academics and logic and drawing from life is a key component of study.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
FAQ:
How long will the program take?
The long course of student through the atelier program is somewhat self-paced, so students can accelerate their learning experience or take a longer period of time depending upon skill level and time studying in studio and away. Most short courses are 6 - 8 weeks in duration.
Do I have to buy my own supplies?
Yes, students must provide their own art materials.
What if I miss a class?
We have make up day options for the atelier program. A missed class during a short course cannot be made up.