Dallas Art Classes for Adults: Affordable Fun in DFW

Why Dallas Art Classes for Adults? Why Studio Art House? Three reasons.

1. The selection of classes (So many options!)
2. The instructors and environment (Such a vibe!)
3. You can afford it (Maybe this should be reason #1. Lol.)

Table of Contents:

• What is Art House?
• Our Experience
• Brief History and Owner Interview
  • The Story Behind Art House
  • What to Love about Art House
  • Art House and the larger DFW community
  • Inclusivity within Art House
  • Future Vision for Art House
  • Bonus Video!
• Basic Information
• Classes, Camps and Workshops
• Absolutely Need To Know 
• Why We Chose Art House
• Summary

Hello again, Autumn here. In my admittedly very biased opinion, Art House is by far the best place to take art classes in DFW! There are classes for both the younger and the older Picasso wannabe, like me! As a matter of fact, I’d like to share a story.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who was obsessed with books, anime and webtoons, especially webtoons. She read these online comics ALL the time, and one day while writing her own stories in her head, she had a thought: What if she could make a webtoon too? There was only one problem. She didn’t know how to draw…like at all.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, that girl was me. Sadly, I’ve never been known for my artistic prowess. In fact, as many of my friends and acquaintances have pointed out, I don’t even hold my pencil properly (apparently I write backwards?). Not a confidence booster. And here’s another thing, I have a sister, Misty, who is great at drawing, and it’s intimidating.

Staying in My Lane

I don’t know if any of you dear readers have siblings, but if you do, you might know the concept of “staying in your lane.” My oldest sister sings (she’s the best). My middle sister, Misty, draws (she kills it). And I write (less cool, though useful). So me, drawing? Hmmm.

However, you know how dreams are: very sticky. As I rested on my cheap Amazon mattress, holding my phone in front of my face and bingeing webtoons in revenge bedtime mode, I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I mean, it’s not like every webtoon had amazing art. The comic “Oh my ghost” started out as some pen drawings. And how many times had I seen the art in a webtoon get better over time? Slowly, but surely, I convinced myself. I could totally do this. And I knew just where to start: Art House, taking Dallas Art Classes for Adults.

What is Art House

Catering to all ages and skill levels, Art House offers classes, camps, workshops, and more! They have two locations, one in Flower Mound and one in Southlake. Additionally, they teach a variety of mediums from painting to sculpting, and foster maximum creativity through constant encouragement and support.

I knew all of this before I ever started taking Art House classes because my sister, Misty, had been taking classes for months, and she had nothing but great things to say about it. Art House is open year-round, and even though classes are offered by semesters, sometimes you’re allowed to pay by class and do drop-in sessions! Classes vary in length and tend to cost only $36 each, which is pretty great for a 2 hour painting session, right? It’s a Good Time on a Dime! Plus, classes become even more affordable when you pay by semester AND there’s an awesome returning student discount (more on that in the Absolutely Need to Know section). 

If you love art and are willing to try something new, you should go to Art House because you can learn a TON. Don’t believe me? Just read the Our Experience section of this post, and you’ll see how much progress I’ve made in less than 3 months. You can also jump to the section on Why We Chose Art House to see the three big reasons you will love their studios, or you can jump to Classes, Camps and Workshops to see all the Dallas Art Classes for Adults and everything offered as of Fall 2024. 

Better yet, you can read everything! Here’s What’s Up Dallas!

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Our Experience

My sister has created some amazing pieces of art since attending Art House, but that’s not saying much because she was creating amazing pieces before she attended the studio.

Me, on the other hand…I dropped out of art class in high school because I didn’t want to risk getting a B on my report card. Hey! It’s hard to be a straight A student if you’re in a class where everyone is leagues ahead of you (you would think Art 101 would have more artistically challenged folks, no?) and in college, the caliber of artists only gets higher. 

Alas, the drawing and painting gene seemed to skip me entirely, and there was never an ideal moment to cultivate the little talent that I had. Plus, my hand hurt when I tried to draw for too long and I only had enough attention for 2, max 3 hours of drawing. Even worse, the best way that I learn things is FAST and learning to draw seemed to be a years long process. Just the opposite. Was it hopeless? Not at all! Not at Art House!

Options are a Good Thing!

Instead of taking a traditional art class, I took advantage of the large course selection and opted for a digital art class. Then, I bought a used first gen, 12.9 inch iPad Pro off of Ebay (great deal!) and a first gen apple pencil from Amazon (that one hurt my wallet and my feelings) and downloaded Procreate (Wow! Speechless!). That same month, I was taking classes with an instructor named Summer! 

You know the crazy thing about digital art? It helps you draw even if you’re not great at it. Procreate + Apple Pencil = drawing autocorrect. Can’t make a perfect circle? The program knows what you meant. It’ll just round that out for you. Can’t even draw a straight line? Procreate’s got you! Need to blur something? Just use the gaussian blur effect. The list goes on and on. It’s amazing, but without an instructor you might get overwhelmed navigating everything. And drawing autocorrect can only do so much if you don’t know how to draw. Thankfully, Art House is on it! My teacher Summer taught me the basics and you won’t believe the progress. 

It’s unbelievable. It’s not like I have a ton of time to work outside of class either, so you’re looking at the progress I made just by attending the in-person lessons. I’m still a ways off from making my own Webtoon, and drawing still feels foreign, but I’m learning and growing, and I’ve found a new hobby that I absolutely love. And if you go to Art House, maybe you’ll find the same thing.

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Brief History and Owner Interview

Art House, founded in 2000 by a family of artists, began with the mission to provide high-quality art education to all ages. This is very important as most art classes are age restricted. Originally located in Flower Mound, Art House expanded to Southlake. The studios offer personalized teaching with a structured curriculum, covering a wide variety of mediums. Anita Robbins, a professional artist and experienced educator, currently owns and operates Art House.

To learn more about Art House, please enjoy this exclusive interview we held with Anita, who is committed to continuing the legacy of promoting artistic growth within a supportive community!

Can you tell me the story behind Art House?

Yes! It actually opened January of 2000, so it’s 24 years old. It was started by an artist named Kathleen House and her daughters. Kathleen wanted to share her love for art, so they decided to open a school. One daughter was a teacher, and another handled the curriculum.

In 2011, my husband and I decided we wanted to own a business. My husband was leaving the corporate world, and we thought an art school would be a wonderful idea. So, I contacted the Houses just to see if they were selling it because I had worked for them, and I loved, you know, what they were doing. We purchased it in January 2011 and soon after, re-opened as new owners. Yeah, we’ve really enjoyed it, and we added to the business by putting the gallery in. We are in Flower Mound and Southlake, and both places have a gallery included.

What do you love about Art House?

The thing I really love is seeing how much people enjoy making art and how they grow as individuals. It boosts their confidence, and it’s just therapeutic. It makes them feel more calm and enjoy life a little more because they’re expressing themselves and learning at the same time. Learning always makes us feel better about ourselves.

How does Art House contribute to the larger DFW community?

We provide a place for people to build and nurture their creative desires. People are talented, particularly young ones.

There are high school and college students that realize they want to get an art degree, and we help them do that. For example, I’m actually working with a student right now who is going into architecture. He really hadn’t had a lot of art classes. Now, he’s a junior and loves it. He’s already looking into colleges and needs a portfolio to present. He’s a talented kid! He just didn’t have the base, so we’ve been doing private lessons and helping him build that portfolio.

And then, we also have a class for people who don’t think they have any art talent at all. It’s called our Art essentials class. They come, all the supplies are provided, and we help them discover that they might have their own voice and actually enjoy art.

We’ve also helped retirees looking for something interesting to do. We just had this one lady who joined our Art Essentials class, which is a sampler of different mediums. She doesn’t know what she wants to do, so she’s going to try some watercolor and some oil and some acrylic. She just shows up, learns some drawing skills and a little art history too. And she’s entertained, which is her main reason for doing it.

Then we’ve had adults who have gone professional, like we’ve helped them, and they realized, wow, I’m pretty good. They’ve sold their work. We actually have some of them in the gallery that sell their work from here. 

How do you consider or work towards inclusivity within Art House?

So, we have a class called Adaptive Art, and in this class we have had blind students and people with all different types of challenges. They love art and somehow they want to do it. This is an adult class, one where students can excel in what they’ve done. We had one kid that had—I can’t remember exactly, Asperger’s or autism—but he was a cartoonist and we actually helped him publish his book. So, we encourage the students in doing their art, and their self-esteem grows. 

We also have kids of different nationalities that come here and actually can’t speak English, but art is so visual that they—Spanish or Korean or whatever their language is—can come to our classes. They’ve moved to the United States, and the parents put them into art. This helps them learn their English while also being able to accomplish something that everybody else is doing, because they can visually see what’s happening.

And we’ve had a couple people that have some hearing difficulties, but again, art is visual, so they can still do it. So yeah, anybody that’s interested in art, we’ll find something. 

We really do make sure that art is for everyone. And we actually do classes in the senior centers. So, yes, we have 90 year-olds taking our classes.

What is your vision for Art House in the future?

I hope that we can make people more aware of us. I really appreciate this blog because there are people that need us that just don’t know we exist. We’ve often had people go, “I didn’t know you were here, but I’m so glad we found you.” For example, we had a retired woman last semester who was really excited to find something meaningful to do.

And so, yeah, increasing awareness is key. For example, our portfolio class for teens really helps them get into the schools they want and secure scholarships they want. 

We just want people to know we exist and that we are an option for them.

This interview was so good, we just had to sneak in one more question!

So, if you have 15 seconds (which you definitely do), click the video to watch Anita Robbins answer our last question for her. 

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Basic Information 

• Locations:
  • Southlake Location: 100 West Southlake Blvd, Suite 440
  • Highland Village Location: 6100 Long Prairie Rd #800
• Hours:
  • Each location has different hours and different class times, so check the website! There are a ton of different options, so you’re sure to find something that fits your schedule. Keep in mind, both studios close at 5pm on Saturdays and close completely on Sunday.
  • Click here to see the current schedule for the Southlake location.
  • Click here to see the current schedule for the Highland Village location.
• Website:
  • https://www.studioarthouse.com/
  • We recommend checking the website for the current listing of classes, but if you just want to get an idea of what’s offered, we have you covered in the next section!
• 2024 Prices:
  • Drop-In Classes (In-Person & Virtual): $36 for Open Studio, $45 for Course Class
  • Full Semesters: $29 per class or $36 per class, depending on course
  • Trial Classes (Ages 5-12): FREE
  • Private Lessons: We have no idea. 😅 But they exist, so inquire if you’re interested! 
  • Camps and Workshops: $45 per class
  • Gallery: Also FREE! Haha. The art itself isn’t free but the studios have a gallery that you are free to browse, and you can purchase pieces that call to you. Additionally, you can enter pieces in competitions to be placed in the gallery for free, so if you’re a local artist, you should check that out!

Note: There are two exceptions to the regular pricing! The Glass Fusing Semester Course is $45 per class and the Adaptive Art Semester Course (for higher-functioning adults with special needs) is $18 per class.

P.S. Check out the Absolutely Need To Know section to learn about a fantastic deal you can’t miss!

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Classes, Camps and Workshops

CLASSES FOR MULTIPLE AGES

• Painting and Drawing
  • Adult Beginning Watercolor 16+:  For students beginning their journey in watercolor painting!
  • Adult Animal Painting 14+: Paint realistic animals using oil paint and/ or acrylic.
  • Oil Landscape Painting, 14+: Create realistic landscapes with depth and texture using oil.
  • Beginning Drawing 14+: Explore color theory basics and different mediums used to draw.
  • Art Portfolio Development College and High School Students, ages 14-25: The main focus of this class is to create a portfolio to assist with placement in the art field and work towards scholarships and program acceptance. Classical instruction with degreed art instructor.

*Note: Some classes (marked by an asterisk) require certain materials, and a $45 kit fee will generally be charged for new students. Additionally, these offerings change! For example, the Southlake location used to offer a Children’s Book Illustration class. So, before you get your heart set on one of these courses, confirm it’s still available by going to https://www.studioarthouse.com/classes and double check the course requirements!

CAMPS & WORKSHOPS

Art House offers a variety of camps, especially during the summer months and holidays. You can find unique, fun offerings such as Garfield painting classes, magical forest painting lessons, enchanted fairy house clay sculpting, dragon eye pendant crafting, etc. These sessions are three hours long and cost $45 each. Additionally, Art House hosts various events, workshops, and exhibitions to further enrich the local arts scene! Check their website for more information and an up-to-date list of what’s currently being offered!

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Absolutely Need to Know

Wow! This has turned into quite the long post, so I’m going to keep this section short and sweet. As always, let’s go over the nitty-gritty, super important things that seem impossible to find on any other website or blog post. So without further ado, this is what you ABSOLUTELY NEED TO KNOW before signing up for Art House Classes!

Need to Know

1. There are fantastic discounts! I can’t guarantee it’ll be this way forever, but as of Fall 2024, there is a 20% discount for returning students, which is HUGE considering the classes are already affordable. Let’s do some quick math to show you just how great this discount is! I want to take Adult Digital Art which is $261 for nine classes. As a returning student, I get a 20% discount, saving me over $50 and dropping this price to less $209 which is about (drumroll please) only $23 per class. That’s awesome! And that’s not the only discount either. Not a returning student? That’s okay, because there’s also a 10% Sibling / Additional Student Discount! Love to see it! And they have other discounts all the time, like buy 4 get 1 free, so always be on the lookout. These discounts can’t be combined, but if you can take advantage of even one them, fantastic.
2. I already mentioned this, but double check the course requirements because some classes require a $45 kit fee for supplies for new students. Enough said.

Icing on the Cake

3. The age limit can be negotiable. I learned this one from experience! I wanted to enter a digital art class, but only a class that fit my schedule. Alas, I fell outside the age range. However, I asked the instructor if I could attend anyway, and the answer was yes! So if you just missed the cut off for something, talk with the teacher running the class. The worst they can say is no, but they might say yes!
4. Last tip: If you have no idea which class you want to take, stroll through the gallery! You’ll find works from every different course which should help you make your decision!

In general, if you need anything or have any questions or have a request outside the norm, I would 100% ask the Art House staff. They are so friendly, easy to approach and overall helpful.

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Why We Chose Art House

I said it at the beginning of this post and now that we’re at the end, I’ll say it again.

Why Art House? Three reasons:

1. The selection of classes (So many options!)
2. The instructors and environment (Such a vibe!)
3. You can afford it and it’s incredibly fulfilling (Maybe this should be reason #1. Lol.)

First, the selection of classes is absolutely phenomenal! With so many options available, there’s truly something for everyone, whether you’re into drawing, painting, sculpting, or even digital art. The variety of offerings ensures that anyone can find a class that sparks their interest and helps them grow as an artist.

Second, the instructors and environment at Art House are top-notch. The vibe is incredibly supportive and inspiring, making it a joy to attend classes and workshops. The instructors are not only skilled but also passionate about teaching, which creates a nurturing atmosphere where creativity can truly flourish. The sense of community and connection among fellow students further enhances the experience, making Art House a place where you can build lasting friendships.

Lastly, let’s talk about affordability. Art House makes quality art education accessible to everyone, with classes that are reasonably priced and great deals for semester payments. It’s refreshing to find a place that offers such high-quality instruction without pain in your pocket. For anyone looking to dive into the world of art without spending a fortune, Art House is the perfect choice.

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Summary

I can’t believe we finally made it to the end. It took a while, but now I think you know why Art House is the spot to be if you’re looking for beginner art classes for adults or adult art classes in Dallas Texas.

To summarize, I dreamed of making an online comic, but I couldn’t draw. I took a digital art class at Art House to solve that problem (love my teacher, Summer), and now I can draw. My dreams are possible, and I didn’t go broke. That’s a huge bonus. What more could a girl want? I’m happy! The End.

If you made it this far, thank you for reading all that (you’re making me blush). I hope you enjoyed this post! Please subscribe if you did and check out some of our other posts like the Holi Festival, where you can experience the vibrant colors and positive energy of a lively Dallas Festival! Peace out for now!

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