Art classes for teenagers in Almaty: from scratch, portraits and exam prep
A teenage group at an art studio is not "a kids' club for older children". By fourteen a person already knows what is not working, and that is usually what gets in the way: not a lack of ability, but the gap between what you see in your head and what comes out on paper. Here is how art classes for teenagers work at the ArtMix studio in Almaty: what the programme covers, how it differs from the children's group, what it costs, and what to do if you are aiming to apply to art school.
Who the group is for
The group is for ages 12 and up, and people arrive with very different experience:
- from scratch — never studied, wants to try. That is a normal entry point; no separate beginners' group is needed;
- already draws — copies, keeps a sketchbook, but hits a ceiling: the figure does not stand, the face does not resemble, the colour turns muddy;
- preparing to apply — needs academic fundamentals and finished pieces for a portfolio.
The studio does not run individual lessons. Everyone works in a group, and that is more help than hindrance: at this age it matters to see that it did not work first time for the person next to you either.
What the programme covers
The working order is the same as everywhere in the studio, but the tasks are harder and the critique more detailed.
The fundamentals you cannot go on without. Construction, proportion, perspective, light and shade. This is exactly the part self-taught drawing skips — and the reason for "something is off but I cannot tell what".
Portraiture. The most common request at this age and the most honest test of construction: in a face a two-millimetre error is visible at once. We start from the skull and proportions, not from eyelashes.
Colour and material. Gouache, watercolour, oils. Teenagers take up oils alongside the adults — it is not a "grown-up" material, just a slower and more forgiving one.
Your own subject. If someone draws characters, comics or concept art, there is no reason to break that. Academic fundamentals exist so your own work comes out better, not instead of it.
If you plan to apply to art school
Preparation is part of the teenage programme, and it is worth being straight about it.
What the studio genuinely provides: academic fundamentals, a set of finished works for a portfolio, and the habit of working to a brief and to a deadline. That is the foundation any creative entrance exam tests.
What the studio does not provide: a guarantee of admission. Requirements differ between institutions and change over time, and the decision belongs to the admissions board. If somebody promises admission, that is a promise made instead of a result, not in exchange for money.
One practical note: do not start a month before. A portfolio is several dozen pieces, and they accumulate over a year to eighteen months, not over one holiday.
Timetable
The teenage group meets five days a week:
- Tuesday and Thursday — 10:00 to 15:30;
- Wednesday and Friday — 10:00, 15:00, 16:00;
- Saturday — 13:00;
- Sunday — 13:00 and 14:30.
Monday is the day off. Lessons start every hour, arranged around school shifts: the studio is near School-Gymnasium No. 22, and times are chosen so a lesson fits before the first shift or right after it.
For a teenager this matters more than for younger children: secondary school means more lessons and less free time, and an extra trip across the city eats the whole session.
What it costs
The teenage group is from 5,500 ₸ per lesson. Payment is by package:
- 1 lesson — from 5,000 ₸;
- 4 lessons — from 20,000 ₸;
- 8 lessons — from 26,000 ₸ (3,250 ₸ each);
- 12 lessons — from 30,000 ₸ (2,500 ₸ each).
A package is tied to the person, not to dates: a lesson missed because of school or a trip is not lost. Materials belong to the studio; there is nothing to bring.
What to bring and what to wear
Everything is at the studio: paints, brushes, paper, canvases, easels. Bring your own sketchbook if you have one — it shows immediately what you work on by yourself and where to start.
Wear something simple. The studio does not hand out aprons. Oil does wash out of ordinary fabric, but a favourite hoodie is not the place to test it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the group suitable if the teenager cannot draw at all? Yes. People join from scratch regularly and it is no obstacle: the programme starts from construction, which is equally new to everyone.
Are there individual lessons? No, everyone works in a group. The critique is still individual: one brief for the group, but different notes for each person.
Do you prepare students for entrance exams? Yes, it is part of the programme: academic fundamentals and portfolio work. We do not guarantee admission — nobody but the admissions board can.
Can they draw their own thing — characters, anime, concept art? Yes. Fundamentals exist precisely so that your own work comes out better.
We attend the second shift — are there morning classes? Yes: on Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday and Friday the teenage group starts at 10:00.
How long does a portfolio take to build? Plan for a year to eighteen months of regular classes. Two months before an exam is not enough.
How to sign up
Write on WhatsApp with the age, any previous experience and the days that suit. If the goal is an entrance exam, say so at once — the programme will be different. Contacts are on the Contacts page; the full timetable and prices are in the Courses section. The younger groups are covered in the article on art classes for children.