Program for Graduate School Candidates 

This course is for students who have completed a four-year degree and are interested in furthering their education. We work with each student to develop a major-specific, professional-level portfolio and graduate admissions packet. We provide all aspects of support in the college application process, including consultations, essay writing, application forms, photography of the portfolio, and communication with colleges.

 Program for College Transfer Students 

Any student who will have completed at least 12 college credits before transferring to a new college is eligible to participate in our College Transfer Program. (College admissions departments will ultimately decide upon, on a case-by-case basis, which credits are transferrable.) This course is designed for college students to prepare a portfolio for college applications so that they can change schools or majors. We work with each student in the full development of a conceptually strong and technically excellent portfolio. We provide for specific major-related courses (Fashion Design, Interior Design, Architecture, Painting, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and others). We provide all aspects of support in the college application process, including consultations, essay writing, application forms, photography of the portfolio, and communication with colleges.

Ivy League Supplement

If students have talent in the Arts, Ivy League and other high-ranking liberal arts colleges recommend the submission of an Arts Supplement with their applications. An Arts Supplement is a portfolio of artwork that showcases a student’s creative and technical abilities. An outstanding supplement increases a student’s chances of getting accepted.

College Counseling

Our administrative faculty knows the intricacies of the college application process. We communicate frequently with the schools to which our students most often apply, and our information about application guidelines is as up-to-date as possible. As professionals in their fields, our faculty can assist students as they make difficult decisions about where and when to apply to college.

Individual Studio Space

At both our Manhattan and our Queens locations, we offer each student a personal workspace with a table, chair, easel, storage space under each desk and wall space by each desk. Ashcan Studio has a number of computers for project research and design programs to develop works of art. Many students bring their own computers and use Ashcan Studio’s wireless network. We encourage you to take a look at our studios, or schedule a visit.

Portfolio Reviews from Colleges

Each year, we invite representatives from top art schools like Pratt, SVA, RISD, and Cooper Union, to visit our studios. They provide crucial information and insights about their programs, and they provide one-on-one and group critiques of our students’ works. This valuable opportunity gives students direct access to the opinions of admissions officers and faculty.

 Individually Tailored Curriculum 

Our courses are structured so that each student gets plenty of one-on-one time with their instructors. In addition, the course content depends upon each individual student. Our instructors work individually with students to develop projects that are in line with their interests and educational goals. That means that each student is able to focus on work that is related to their intended major or interests.

 Non-Art Majors welcome 

Students who want to transfer from a non-art major program to an art major program, or students who have a degree in a non-art field and wish to enter a graduate Fine Arts program, are encouraged to begin their creative journey at Ashcan Studio of Art, regardless of their level of experience. When students begin their studies at Ashcan Studio of Art, they are given a test to determine their level of ability. According to their abilities, they begin a curriculum through which they can develop technical skills in Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture, with individual attention and evaluation from instructors. These techniques include perspective, shading, color mixing, and 3D design.

 Portfolio Building 

Students receive assistance from professional NEW YORK artists holding Master of Fine Arts degrees from top ranking art and design programs.

 College Application Process 

Our students receive continued faculty support with the conception and production of a competitive portfolio, college essay writing, researching and applying to university programs to fit each student’s unique higher education goals and with tracking applications and communication with colleges regarding application forms, scholarships and financial aid.

 Personal Programs 

Through our small class sizes, each student receives individual attention specific to their diverse interests (majors), levels of technique and personal goals.

 Opportunity 

to meet admissions representatives from some of the best art and design programs in the country.

 Scholarships 

Through our in depth portfolio preparation, our students visual art stands out to college recruiters, giving our students better chances of receiving MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIPS for their excellent portfolios. Students also receive the support of financial aid consultations and assistance in filling out important and often complicated paper work. Our students’ advocates know the steps to take, questions to ask and people to work with in order to gain the most financial aid for higher education.

 Portfolio Preparation 

Ivy League Supplement

If students have talent in the Arts, Ivy League and other high-ranking liberal arts colleges recommend the submission of an Arts Supplement with their applications. An Arts Supplement is a portfolio of artwork that showcases a student’s creative and technical abilities. An outstanding supplement increases a student’s chances of getting accepted.

College Counseling

Our administrative faculty knows the intricacies of the college application process. We communicate frequently with the schools to which our students most often apply, and our information about application guidelines is as up-to-date as possible. As professionals in their fields, our faculty can assist students as they make difficult decisions about where and when to apply to college.

Individual Studio Space

At both our Manhattan and our Queens locations, we offer each student a personal workspace with a table, chair, easel, storage space under each desk and wall space by each desk. Ashcan Studio has a number of computers for project research and design programs to develop works of art. Many students bring their own computers and use Ashcan Studio’s wireless network. We encourage you to take a look at our studios, or schedule a visit.

Portfolio Reviews from Colleges

Each year, we invite representatives from top art schools like Pratt, SVA, RISD, and Cooper Union, to visit our studios. They provide crucial information and insights about their programs, and they provide one-on-one and group critiques of our students’ works. This valuable opportunity gives students direct access to the opinions of admissions officers and faculty.

 AP Art Assistance 

In addition to developing a highly individualized portfolio with our faculty, high school seniors who are taking Advanced Placement Art classes may also receive assistance in coming up with technical and conceptual solutions to their AP Art assignments.

 Foundations Techniques 

We believe that anyone can learn the basic skills necessary to study Fine Arts. When students begin their studies at Ashcan Studio of Art, they are given a test to determine their level of ability. According to their abilities, they begin a curriculum through which they can develop technical skills in Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture, with individual attention and evaluation from instructors. These techniques include perspective, shading, color mixing, and 3D design.

 Art Contest Preparation 

We keep our eyes peeled for art contests in which our students can participate. Contests provide students with an opportunity to compete locally and nationally with their peers. While many contest-holders offer cash and other prizes, they also grant awards that make students stand out among other college applicants, and provide students with confidence in their abilities. Our students have been consistently recognized for their talent by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and other national arts organizations.

 Ashcan Annual Exhibition 

Each year, we endeavor to show our students’ work at various venues throughout New York City. By exhibiting their work to the public, students learn how to prepare their works for exhibition; they learn how others might interpret and appreciate their work; and they can feel pride in their work, as it is shown with optimal consideration in a professional setting. Previous venues include Queens Library, Arts@Renaissance in Brooklyn, and Flushing Library.

 Improve Creativity 

Perhaps the most important advantage that we can offer to our students is a boost in creativity. By challenging our students to complete highly ambitious and personal works of art, and by providing them with the technical and visual thinking skills to do so, we prepare our students for professional careers in the visual arts and beyond.

 Individually Tailored Curriculum 

Our courses are structured so that each student gets plenty of one-on-one time with their instructors. In addition, the course content depends upon each individual student. Our instructors work individually with students to develop projects that are in line with their interests and educational goals. That means that each student is able to focus on work that is related to their intended major or interests.

 Portfolio Building 

Students receive assistance from professional NEW YORK artists holding Master of Fine Arts degrees from top ranking art and design programs.

 College Application Process 

Our students receive continued faculty support with the conception and production of a competitive portfolio, college essay writing, researching and applying to university programs to fit each student’s unique higher education goals and with tracking applications and communication with colleges regarding application forms, scholarships and financial aid.

 Personal Programs 

Through our small class sizes, each student receives individual attention specific to their diverse interests (majors), levels of technique and personal goals.

 Opportunity 

to meet admissions representatives from some of the best art and design programs in the country.

 Scholarships 

Through our in depth portfolio preparation, our students visual art stands out to college recruiters, giving our students better chances of receiving MERIT BASED SCHOLARSHIPS for their excellent portfolios. Students also receive the support of financial aid consultations and assistance in filling out important and often complicated paper work. Our students’ advocates know the steps to take, questions to ask and people to work with in order to gain the most financial aid for higher education.

 Individually Tailored Curriculum 

Our courses are structured so that each student gets plenty of one-on-one time with their instructors. In addition, the course content depends upon each individual student. Our instructors work individually with students to develop projects that are in line with their interests and educational goals. That means that each student is able to focus on work that is related to their intended major or interests.

 Foundations Techniques 

We believe that anyone can learn the basic skills necessary to study Fine Arts. When students begin their studies at Ashcan Studio of Art, they are given a test to determine their level of ability. According to their abilities, they begin a curriculum through which they can develop technical skills in Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture, with individual attention and evaluation from instructors. These techniques include perspective, shading, color mixing, and 3D design.

 Art Contest Preparation 

We keep our eyes peeled for art contests in which our students can participate. Contests provide students with an opportunity to compete locally and nationally with their peers. While many contest-holders offer cash and other prizes, they also grant awards that make students stand out among other college applicants, and provide students with confidence in their abilities. Our students have been consistently recognized for their talent by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and other national arts organizations.

 Ashcan Annual Exhibition 

Each year, we endeavor to show our students’ work at various venues throughout New York City. By exhibiting their work to the public, students learn how to prepare their works for exhibition; they learn how others might interpret and appreciate their work; and they can feel pride in their work, as it is shown with optimal consideration in a professional setting. Previous venues include Queens Library, Arts@Renaissance in Brooklyn, and Flushing Library.

 Try New Materials 

In addition to teaching our students the foundational technical skills in typical two- and three-dimensional media, we also recognize the value of introducing students to more advanced materials, like oil painting and plaster casting. Experimentation is also highly encouraged, especially with the variety of materials and art-making approaches available today.

 Develop Unique Projects 

We ask our students to go beyond the typical art assignment and to develop unique projects that express their own personalities and tastes. Students learn how to ask themselves questions that evoke personal, creative responses. Through internet and library research, they explore the many styles, techniques, and materials that may be useful to them in the expression of their ideas.

 Individually Tailored Curriculum 

Our courses are structured so that each student gets plenty of one-on-one time with their instructors. In addition, the course content depends upon each individual student. Our instructors work individually with students to develop projects that are in line with their interests and educational goals. That means that each student is able to focus on work that is related to their intended major or interests.

 Art Contest Preparation 

We keep our eyes peeled for art contests in which our students can participate. Contests provide students with an opportunity to compete locally and nationally with their peers. While many contest-holders offer cash and other prizes, they also grant awards that make students stand out among other college applicants, and provide students with confidence in their abilities. Our students have been consistently recognized for their talent by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and other national arts organizations.

 Create Unique Works of Art 

We ask our students to go beyond the typical art assignment and to develop unique projects that express their own personalities and tastes. Students learn how to ask themselves questions that evoke personal, creative responses. Through internet and library research, they explore the many styles, techniques, and materials that may be useful to them in the expression of their ideas.

 Art High School Preparation 

Many of our 7th and 8th graders are planning to apply to specialized high schools, competitive private schools, or other competitive art programs. For these students, we follow our philosophy of individual creativity and experimentation, but also focus a bit more on the development of a strong visual arts portfolio. Our students have been accepted into Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Stuyvesant High School.

 Expand Your Ideas 

7th-8th graders are at a stage of gaining independence but also in need of great structural support. With that in mind, we have amazing lesson plans that teach technical skills and are fun and experimental. This group of students gets introduced to a variety of art-making techniques and materials as well as to art history. They learn how to express themselves and how to trust their own creativity.

 Individually Tailored Curriculum 

Our courses are structured so that each student gets plenty of one-on-one time with their instructors. In addition, the course content depends upon each individual student. Our instructors work individually with students to develop projects that are in line with their interests and educational goals. That means that each student is able to focus on work that is related to their intended major or interests.

 Little Ashcan Quarterly Art Exhibit 

At the end of each season, we hold a Little Ashcan Quarterly Exhibit at our Little Neck Studio. This exhibition gives our Little Ashcan students a chance to showcase their works and to celebrate their creativity and talent with their family and friends.

 We support kids’ big ideas to make them a reality 

Kids have big ideas, but they need structure and technical support from teachers in order to realize their dreams. 4th-6th graders gain the hand-eye coordination to draw, paint and sculpt images from life and from their imagination. Through fun, hands-on learning, students develop techniques of observational drawing, painting, and sculpture, as well as experimentation with other materials. At Little Ashcan, we know how to share our know-how with young minds, and we provide space and freedom for big ideas and big projects.

 Creativity stimulating Programs in Visual Arts 

Creativity stimulated by Visual Arts is something students can use outside of the studio, as well. When students realize their creative potential through projects, they gain confidence and unique knowledge about a subject. At Little Ashcan, they can visually and verbally share their ideas with their fellow students and their teachers, building lasting social skills.

 Individually Tailored Curriculum 

Our courses are structured so that each student gets plenty of one-on-one time with their instructors. In addition, the course content depends upon each individual student. Our instructors work individually with students to develop projects that are in line with their interests and educational goals. That means that each student is able to focus on work that is related to their intended major or interests.

 Little Ashcan Quarterly Art Exhibit 

At the end of each season, we hold a Little Ashcan Quarterly Exhibit at our Little Neck Studio. This exhibition gives our Little Ashcan students a chance to showcase their works and to celebrate their creativity and talent with their family and friends.

 We motivate our students’ passion to create 

For our youngest artists, we create a nurturing, creative and supportive environment. Through our classes, students learn how to take their big ideas and make them visible to their world. Through the support and expertise our instructors offer, all of these little artists develop confidence in themselves and appreciation for the beauty and subtleties the world has to offer.

 Our classes advance perceptual and conceptual proficiency 

Each of these young students receives the attention necessary for them to become confident in their own creations. Young students have a special way of seeing common things in uncommon ways, and we nurture and advance this magical ability. We teach our students how to analyze what they see and how they feel and how to use visual and verbal language to describe their perceptions.

 Develop Creative Ideas + Technical Skills 

We encourage each student’s unique creativity and gently guide them in basic art-making techniques. We teach them how to make works of art and how to develop ideas, and we introduce them to many tactile materials, techniques, and even art history.