Washington Studio School

Listings

Parties: Washington Studio School

There is nothing better than hosting a group of friends for your next party at our studio. Inquire about times and dates for your next party by clicking the "Send Inquiry" button.

Classes: Washington Studio School

We offer a wide variety of classes for all different age groups. Classes are another excellent way to perfect your artistic skills. Inquire about times and dates for classes by clicking the "Send Inquiry" button.

Camps: Washington Studio School

Camps are a great way for kids to get introduced to the basics of art and drawing. Inquire about times and dates by clicking the "Send Inquiry" button.

Details

2129 S St NW Washington, DC 20008
(202) 234-3030
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Business Overview

Our mission is to teach the visual language and the skills essential to developing and expressing a personal vision. Our commitment is to provide an environment that affords one-on-one instruction, mentoring opportunities, and shared learning among students and instructors. Our programs invite informed discourse and debate in the form of guest speakers, visiting artists, open critiques, lectures, and collaborations with other arts and cultural institutions. Our community brings faculty, students, atelier artists and alumni together with a common purpose to expand our knowledge and deepen our inquiry of the visual arts. Purpose To teach skills of observation, critical analysis, and material techniques; To encourage the use of these skills and techniques in expressing a personal vision through work that is made by the artist's hand; To provide a warm and engaging environment for artists at every stage of their development and career; To be a focal point for artists, critics, and art historians who maintain the living tradition of studio art; and To communicate the importance and continuing relevance of studio-based art. Our School The heritage of WSS is set in the years around World War II when a group of individuals met in the attic of the Phillips Collection for lively discussion and debate about the rapidly evolving directions of art. Led by Law Watkins Sr, the group began taking on students and conducting studio classes in the "Studio House" located behind the museum. In time, the museum needed the Studio House space for the museum, and the group moved on to American University (AU) to develop the AU art department. In the early 1980s, sensing a loss of a unique visual arts education in the DC area, former AU faculty members and students along with other artists, founded WSS as a nonprofit institution in 1985. WSS held its 25th anniversary celebration in May 2011, honoring its long-time instructor Jack Boul. Our Space Washington Studio School is housed in a 1909 townhome, located in DC's historical district of Sheridan-Kalorama and designed by Nathan C. Wyeth, a premier architect in Washington, DC. Mr. Wyeth also designed the first Oval Office in the White House during the administration of President Taft, and the Old Senate and House Office buildings. Today, the front room on the ground floor and the second floor library of the 2129 S Street, NW townhome are two of the few remaining Wyeth interiors. The Biddle family purchased the building in 1910 for their residence when in Washington, DC. It was owned and used by the Biddles until Holton-Arms (a private all girls school) purchased the townhouse in 1945 to serve as an adjunct to the Holton-Arms main building located at 2125 S Street, NW. Our second floor library room once served as the classroom for art history. Holton-Arms moved to Bethesda in 1967. Read more