Summer Academy runs on Monday-Friday for 4 weeks, usually starting right after the week of July 4th. All students study drawing in Foundations of Drawing and select three additional concentrations to explore. Applicants have the opportunity to indicate their preferred concentrations when they apply. Every attempt will be made to offer students their top choices, balanced with a commitment to developing a rich community of student artists in each class. 

Summer Academy 2025

Dates: June 23rd-July 18th 

Areas of Concentration: drawing, oil painting, printmaking, sculpture, and illustration.

Classes take place from 9 AM- 4 PM, with a 1-hour lunch break. Each Summer Academy course is one full day per week, and schedules vary depending on which track students sign up for. Classes involve a mixture of lecture, demonstrations, studio time and feedback. Students receive one-on-one guidance from world class instructors who push young artists to reach the next level of skill and creativity. Students also learn from encounters with their creative peers.

Fridays are devoted to critique, museum tours, and free studio time.

In addition, students also have access to free studio space for up to 2 hours each day from 4-6 PM,  where they have an option to continue developing their work.

Sample schedule (varies depending on the selection of courses):

MONDAY
9 AM - 12 PM: Drawing
12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM - 4 PM: Drawing

TUESDAY
9 AM - 12 PM: Illustration
12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM - 4 PM: Illustration

WEDNESDAY
9 AM - 12 PM: Printmaking
12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM - 4 PM: Printmaking

THURSDAY
9 AM - 12 PM: Animation
12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM - 4 PM: Animation

FRIDAY
9 AM - 12 PM: Museum tour/critique/free studio
12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
1 PM - 4 PM: Museum tour/critique/free studio
 

Painting + Drawing: Foundations & Oil Painting

In this course, students begin with Foundations of Drawing, mastering essential skills in observational drawing. Focused on the elements of line, shape, composition, perspective, and value, students learn to create the illusion of three-dimensional space through direct observation of subjects like still life, interior spaces, landscapes, and the human figure (with the use of nude models). This foundational skill-building prepares students for further artistic development.

Building upon the drawing foundation, students will then explore Oil Painting, learning traditional techniques, materials, and methods. The course covers painting supports, brushes, oil mediums, and their preparation, along with paint chemistry, color mixing, and both historical and contemporary approaches to oil painting. Students will create artwork from subjects such as still-life, cityscapes, and the human figure, allowing for the development of a strong two-dimensional visual language.

This combined focus offers a comprehensive approach to painting and drawing and is a great opportunity for those pursuing serious artistic practice.

This course is an optional concentration.

Sculpture

Sculpture is the art form that operates in three dimensions (3-D). This course will explore the three basic components of sculpture: modeling, carving & assembly. Using these techniques, students will develop conceptual and perceptual skills to make an accurate and expressive volumetric sculpture. Students will learn to understand symmetry, proportion and sculptural visualization skills.

This course is an optional concentration.

Printmaking

Learn the fundamentals of printmaking in PAFA’s exceptional printshop. Students develop their own drawings and ideas to create prints using a wide range of techniques. Students gain access to specialized equipment rarely available beyond a few professional studios. Students make black-and-white and color prints using additive and subtractive processes, which may include relief printing, stencil, etching (intaglio) and silkscreen. 

This course is an optional concentration.

Digital Media: Illustration & Animation

Students develop skills in storytelling and visual communication using both traditional and digital media. Through hands-on exploration, students learn the materials, methods, and language of visual storytelling, which may include book and magazine illustration, graphic novels, posters, storyboard art, and animation.

Building on a strong foundation in drawing, students experiment with traditional illustration techniques alongside digital tools for image creation, manipulation, and graphic design. The course also introduces animation techniques, blending handcrafted and digital methods to bring artistic narratives to life. Students may explore stop motion, 2D animation, motion graphics, and commercial illustration applications.

This course is an optional concentration.

Summer Academy aims to provide an enriching experience for all participants. Please review the following tuition, withdrawal, and refund policies to ensure you are fully informed about your financial commitments and the process for withdrawing from a course.

Full program cost covers:

• Four college level studio art courses
• All art supplies
• 4.0 college credits
• Studio space and facilities
• Field trips

Total Tuition and Fees: $4,680

Scholarships Available! Email Arts Education Manager Yao Wang for more details.

There is no application fee for Summer Academy. If accepted, a non-refundable deposit of $200 is required to confirm space in the program.

Deposit/tuition payments may be made by check, money order or credit card. Directions for payment will be included with admission to program. 

Summer Academy qualifies for the use of 529 funds. Please speak with your 529 savings plan administrator to confirm details. 

A student may withdraw from the Summer Academy up until the last day of the program. Withdrawals must be made in writing to the precollege@pafa.org.

• The $200 registration deposit is non-refundable.
• Remaining Tuition is refundable if requested prior to June 15
• No refunds after June 15, unless they are necessitated by medical or other emergency and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis
• PAFA cannot prorate the Summer Academy for withdrawals or missed classes.

If you have questions, please reach out to precollege@pafa.org or 215-972-7630

Summer Academy students earn 4.0 undergraduate credits. One grade/credit is awarded for each discipline, and appears on a PAFA transcript. Credits are eligible for transfer to an art school or college.

PAFA is accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).If you have questions, please reach out to precollege@pafa.org or 215-972-7630

Summer Academy follows Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) guidelines for safe practices at the time of the program.
 
PAFA has taught the next generation of American artists for over 200 years- through wars, plague, and social upheaval. Throughout this time, PAFA’s unparalleled teaching tradition has enabled students to develop skills to create art that sustains society and points the way towards a better future. We are excited to continue in this tradition for Summer Academy.

If you have questions, please reach out to precollege@pafa.org or 215-972-7630

Register for Summer Academy 2025