Vitruvian Fine Art Studio

Frequently Asked Questions

I've never taken an art class before. Are there classes at Vitruvian that are good for beginners?

Yes. All our classes are open to students of all levels of ability and experience.

Are materials included in the course fee?

No. Since some students already have their own materials, charging a materials fee can get complicated. It's just simpler if everyone does their own shopping. A list of recommended materials will be emailed to you when you enroll, and you can buy what you don't already have. We provide the instruction. You provide the materials.

Are model fees extra?

No. The model fee is built into the sticker price of each class. Some classes, however, feature optional extra sessions with the model beyond the scheduled class times, and for these we charge a small fee.

Does Vitruvian host drop-in drawing and painting sessions with a model?

Yes and no. We do offer some uninstructed sessions with a model for a small fee, but they are not open to the general public. Rather, they are reserved for those students already enrolled in one of our weekly classes who seek extra time to work on their drawings or paintings.

Do you ever have daytime classes during the week?

Yes. While the bulk of our classes meet in the evenings and on weekends, weekday workshops are added to the schedule intermittently. Keep an eye on our schedule. In addition, we have a small group of students in the studio on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for semi-private study. Contact us for more information.

Does Vitruvian offer classes in Acrylic or Watercolor painting?

Not really. Oil paint is the preferred medium in all our painting classes, although ocassional accommodations are made for students wishing to use other media.

Can I leave my supplies at the studio between class sessions?

Our studio is small. We offer storage racks for work in progress so students don't have to travel with wet paintings, but if we tried to accommodate the rest of everyone's stuff we'd soon be over-run with debris. Please be prepared to take your supplies with you at the end of class.

Where do I park?

There are two small parking lots on the north and south sides of our building. Students can park in either lot, but please don't block the loading dock. For our suburban students, there's even better news... We're just a few steps from the Clybourn Metra station, which of course makes parking unnecessary!

I'd like to sign-up, but I'm going to miss a couple of classes. Can I make them up somehow?

Perhaps. As mentioned above, some classes feature additional time with the model that may be utilized to makeup missed class time, but this is not available for every course. For courses that don't utilize a model, makeup sessions may be scheduled on a case-by-case basis. Accommodations for missed classes, however, must be arranged at the time of enrollment. We cannot compensate for unplanned absences.

I'm running a little ahead of schedule today. Is it OK if I come to the studio early and hang out until class time?

Unfortunately, no. Vitruvian isn't just a classroom space, but is a working studio that we use during the off-class hours. When students arrive too early, it disrupts our workflow and we can get a little cranky. We kindly ask that you don't arrive more than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. This should be plenty of time for you to set up be ready for when class begins.

I signed-up for a class but I can't do it after-all. Can I get a refund?

We offer refunds to students who withdraw from class less the $50 registration deposit, provided they do so before the start of the second class session. Once the second session has begun, however, no refunds will be granted.