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How We Teach

Method and curriculum

Firstlight is all about training artists.

We’ve figured out how to make college-level art concepts and techniques, super-easy to understand – for every age.

“They just love doing art!” 

We hear this all the time, and it’s so good, because that passion is what truly makes someone an artist. No matter where you are on your journey – a beginner, intermediate, or advanced artist – if you love art, we’re here for you.

16 years in Franklin

We’ve trained over 2000 art students. Some have gone on to enjoy a successful art career, although many just want the joy of making art at home. Your personal goals are what matter.

Curriculum

We have our own powerful curriculum we’ve developed and refined for years. Students move up from level to level, learning insights, techniques, and honing their skills. Our students have proved over and over that anyone who loves art can realize their own personal vision.

    Terms are a full school-year but you can join any time.

     

    • Classes meet once a week

    • 36 lessons each school year

    • 2 Years per course level

    • Six different age groups

    We offer two basic kinds of art classes for all ages.

     

    • Traditional Art ages 6 to adult

    • Cartooning Art ages 10 +

    Everyone can learn art.

    All of our lessons are based on 4 Cornerstones of Art

    Lessons rotate between these 4 cornerstones, sometimes concentrating on one exclusively, and sometimes incorporating several in one project. At the end of the first two years, all 4 cornerstones have been covered. During the intermediate and advanced levels, students grow even stronger in each of these four areas.

    Draw accurately using techniques in pencil, charcoal, ink, and oil pastels.

    Paint confidently in watercolors and acrylics.
    Understand Color mixing and use.
    Use design principles to develop and polish your own Style.

    Our Long-Term Approach Leads to Confidence.

    In a word, our art program is built around encouragement

    Beginner

    Intermediate

    Advanced

    New Art Classes!

    Kids | Teens | Adults

    School Year Term
    Ends the Week of May 15 – 19

    New Class times! 10 to 15 minutes later:

    A visual weekly chart showing all classes, times, ages, and teachers

    New Class times! 10 to 15 minutes later:

    Online and In-Studio HYBRID CLASSES (shown with a large Black Dotted border), can accommodate online students in a way that feels more like a real class. Both in-studio and online students can see each other and interact during class time. (The In-STUDIO version is just like all our other classes. Students must register for the ONLINE version if they want to join remotely. Transfering to the other version mid-term is fine if there is room.)

    You can join a waitlist by registering for any class that is full.

    Tap and pinch to enlarge image.

    You may join a class at any time.

    Each lesson is independent of the others, so they can be taken in any order.

    All our students are on year A curriculum this fall.

    Our Art Classes & Age Groups

    KidsART

    Ages 6 – 7

    2 Years of curriculum – Our Small Program, KidsART, is designed to engage this special age. They always want to show us the amazing things they can do!

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    Each class begins with a quick warmup of artists’ choice using markers or oil pastels. Then there’s one or two projects filled with fun – and important art concepts too. Instead of talking about what we’re doing, all the insights and techniques are hidden in the projects, so the kids get to go right into making things! 

    View Student Work...

     

     

     

     

    8 Students/Class

    Foundations

    Ages 8 – 10

    2 Years of curriculum – Students get an introduction to all the basics needed for making art. Lessons are full of fun as well as simplified for this age.

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    Oil pastels, charcoal, pencil, ink, watercolor, clay, and acrylics are used in our Foundations classes. Topics include techniques, color theory, composition, drawing accurately, and more. Students are encouraged to discover and experiment with their art.

    View Student Work...

    10 Students/Class

    Foundations

    Ages 10 – 12

    2 Years of curriculum each level – Students get a full understanding of all the basics for creating art, moving up towards Intermediate level.

    Read More...

    Oil pastels, charcoal, pencil, ink, watercolor, clay, and acrylics are used in our Foundations classes. Topics include techniques, color theory, composition, drawing accurately, and more. Students are encouraged to discover and experiment with their art.

    View Student Work...

    10 Students/Class

    Foundations

    Ages 13 & Up

    2 Years of curriculum each level – Students get a full understanding of all the basics for creating art 
    Intermediate level: CREATIONS
    Advanced level: EXPRESSIONS

    Read More...

    Oil pastels, charcoal, pencil, ink, watercolor, clay, and acrylics are used in our Foundations classes. Topics include techniques, color theory, composition, drawing accurately, and more. Students are encouraged to discover and experiment with their art.

    View Student Work...

    10 Students/Class

    Foundations

    Adults

    2 Years of curriculum each level – Students get a full understanding of all the basics for creating art
    Intermediate level: CREATIONS
    Advanced level: EXPRESSIONS

    Read More...

    Oil pastels, charcoal, pencil, ink, watercolor, clay, and acrylics are used in our Foundations classes. Topics include techniques, color theory, composition, drawing accurately, and more. Students are encouraged to discover and experiment with their art.

    View Student Work...

    10 Students/Class

    Cartoons

    Ages 10 & Up

    4 Years of curriculum and advanced classes – Students learn how to create cartoon elements and characters.
    TOONS, TOONS+, Cartooning,
    Advanced Cartooning

    Read More...

    Our cartooning classes begin with Toons. Students learn the basics of drawing, modeling, expressions, and various objects that build up a vocabulary of cartoon elements to work from. Toons can be taken for several years because we change the curriculum projects each year. Older students can begin or move up to Toons+, and progress into more advanced projects and character development. Teens begin or progress to the Cartooning class and finally move to Advanced Cartooning. Students can take this class for several years. We change the projects often, and students work on their own style, structure, 3D form, and strong character-building techniques.

     

    View Student Work...

      

    10 Students/Class

    Pricing

    Tuition and supplies

    REGISTRATION FEE is $35 per school year

    TUITION is pro-rated to the time you begin

    2022-23 TUITIONS

    $1316 for the Big Programs – Ages 8 and up
    Traditional & Toons. Installment plan payments are $138 per month.

    $1193 for the Small Program – Ages 7 and under
    KidsART ages 6 & 7. Installment plan payments are $125 per month.

    SUPPLY FEES (subject to change)

    $268.61 for a full new set of traditional supplies with case

    $156.93 for a full new set of toons supplies with case

    $56 KidsART supply fee (kept in the classroom)

    Please understand that supplies have dramatically increased in cost. last year, we did not change our prices to help with Covid-related issues, but this year we have to go back to charging 15% less than Retail Prices (MSRP).

    Not sure it’s a good fit? Use the “trial” button during registration to set up a one-time trial class for $40 (includes supplies). Please note: If a class fills and there is a wait list started, priority goes to students who are commiting to the school year. You may be bumped to the waiting list.

    Supplies at Firstlight

    Supplies are always available at our studio

    15% off the MSRP

    All students in our Big Program must have specific supplies during each class. Visit our supplies page to order everything you need. You can use our online order form as a checklist to see if you already have some items. Feel free to order elswhere but please get the exact items to be able to follow the curriculum. Thank you!

    Get Supplies

    What folks say about us

    Ann, adult student

    “The art class is the high point of my week. The teachers are great at helping us each at our level of experience. We have lots of fun, and try all different types of projects. It is a very encouraging atmosphere“

    Parent of 6 year old

    “Art class is the highlight of his week!”

    Hannah, Parent

    “They both said they loved all the activities and couldn’t point out a favorite.  We most definitely will take part next summer and can recommend it to others wholeheartedly. Thanks for everything.”

    Parent of 12 year old

    “When I pick her up from class, she asks me if she can have art class every day after school!“

    Shea, Parent and student

    “I realized not only that she was being taught the same things I learned in art school, but that she was getting it – at only age 9. Your ability to translate it into fun for kids is wonderful.”

    Allyson, Parent of 9 year old

    “We feel so blessed to have discovered first light.  She enjoys class so much”