Youth Art Classes at Stay Studio
Create, explore & grow through art
Stay Studio offers art classes for young artists ages 5–16 to build creative skills, explore new materials, and express themselves through art. From drawing and painting to digital art, comics, and mixed media, our classes give students opportunities to learn new techniques, develop their own ideas, and create alongside other young artists.
Explore Classes
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Fine Art: Drawing & Painting
Build drawing and painting skills while exploring observational art, color, composition, and a variety of traditional media.
Fall Semester: Sept. 14–Dec. 14
Schedule: Mondays | 6:00–7:30pm
Ages: 12–16 -
Visual Art Studio
Explore drawing, painting, and mixed media through hands-on projects that encourage skill building, and creative expression.
Fall Semester: Sept. 15–Dec. 15
Schedule: Tuesdays | 6:00–7:30pm
Ages: 9–12 -
Characters & Comics
Develop original characters, stories, and illustrated worlds while exploring drawing, visual storytelling, comics, and sequential art.
Fall Semester: Sept. 16–Dec. 16
Schedule: Wednesdays | 4:00–5:30pm
Ages: 10–14 -
Digital Art
Explore digital drawing, illustration, and creative techniques while learning to use digital tools to develop original artwork and ideas.
Fall Semester: Sept. 16–Dec. 16
Schedule: Wednesdays | 6:00–7:30pm
Ages: 10–14 -
Stay & Create
Young artists explore art through playful hands-on projects that build creativity, confidence, and foundational art skills.
Fall Semester: Sept. 19–Dec. 19
Schedule: Saturdays | 10:00–11:30am
Ages: 5–8 -
Regional Center Families
Stay Studio is Regional Center approved! Explore our Adaptive Art classes, featuring smaller groups and additional individualized support for artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Regional Center families can get started by exploring Adaptive Art and completing our Participant Intake Form.
Youth Art Scholarships
Art classes should be accessible to every young artist.
Stay Arts offers Youth Art Scholarships to help make classes more accessible for families experiencing financial need. Scholarships may cover partial or full tuition based on need and available funding.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis while scholarship funds remain available.
Program Details
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Our Fall 2026 semester runs from September through December. Classes meet once per week for 90 minutes at Stay Studio.
Each class follows a thoughtfully planned curriculum organized into creative modules throughout the semester. Students explore new projects, materials, and techniques while building their skills and creative confidence over time.
Full-semester enrollment provides the complete class experience, allowing students to build their skills, explore new techniques, and grow creatively through our progressive curriculum.
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We offer several ways to participate based on your family's schedule:
Full Semester – Our best value and recommended option for students who want the complete class experience. Families may pay in full or select an installment or monthly pricing plan.
4-Class Pack – A flexible option for families who can only attend select class dates or certain months throughout the semester.
Drop-In Classes – Join us for an individual class when space is available.
Monthly pricing is available for full-semester enrollment. Monthly payments are installments toward the full semester and are not a month-to-month membership.
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First-time students are welcome to book a free trial before committing to the full semester!
For the best experience, we recommend selecting one of our suggested trial or drop-in dates. Our curriculum is organized into modules, and these dates mark the beginning of a new project or area of focus. Joining on a recommended date helps students start alongside the class rather than midway through a multi-day project.
Recommended free trial and drop-in class dates can be found on class registration pages.
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All art materials are included with registration! Students have access to a wide range of quality art supplies and materials based on each class and project. Digital devices and software are also provided in-studio for Digital Art.
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Scholarships are available for qualifying families interested in enrolling in youth art classes at Stay Studio.
If cost is a barrier, we encourage you to apply. Scholarships may cover partial or full tuition based on financial need and available funding.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis while funds remain available.
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We want all students to have a great experience! Before registering, please take a moment to review our Class & Camp Policies for information about attendance, cancellations, student expectations, health and safety, and more.
Why Families Love Our Classes
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Our teaching artists are experienced in working with young people of different ages, backgrounds, and learning styles. Many are also local artists and creative professionals with active practices across a range of artistic fields. They bring both their experience as artists and educators into the classroom, helping students build skills, explore their ideas, and develop their own creative voice. Our team members are background-checked, CPR-certified, and teach throughout local schools and communities through Stay Arts programs.
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Our classes take place at Stay Studio, a community art studio, gallery, and creative space in Downey, CA. Students work with high-quality art supplies in an inspiring setting surrounded by local artwork.
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Our classes focus on exploration and expression over perfection. This process-based approach helps students build confidence, develop creative problem-solving skills, express themselves, and foster a lifelong love of art.
What Parents Are Saying
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Our youth art classes are designed for young artists ages 5–16. Each class has its own age range so students can learn and create alongside peers at a similar developmental stage. Please review the age range listed for each class before registering.
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No prior art experience is required. Our classes welcome students with a range of experience levels. Teaching artists introduce techniques and concepts while encouraging students to develop their own ideas and creative voice.
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All art materials and supplies needed for class projects are included. For Digital Art, Stay Studio also provides the digital devices and software students use during class.
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Yes. In addition to full-semester enrollment, select classes offer 4-Class Packs and individual drop-ins when space is available. Full-semester enrollment is recommended for students who want the complete progressive class experience.
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Monthly and installment options are payment plans for full-semester enrollment. They allow families to divide tuition into scheduled payments rather than paying the entire semester at once. They are not month-to-month memberships.
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Students may be able to join after the semester begins if space is available. Tuition is prorated, so you can start at any time and only pay for the remaining classes. Because our curriculum is organized into modules and some projects span multiple weeks, our team can help identify a good upcoming date for your student to begin.
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We understand that absences happen. If your child needs to miss a class for any reason, please contact us before the class begins to request a class transfer or make-up token. Make-up tokens may be used for a future class date or another eligible class, depending on availability and age requirements. Transfers and make-up tokens cannot be issued retroactively for missed classes or no-shows.
For semester students, regular attendance is expected. Repeated unexcused absences or no-shows may affect continued enrollment when a class is full or has a waitlist.
Please review our Class & Camp Policies for complete information about absences, cancellations, attendance, and enrollment adjustments.
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Yes. Youth Art Scholarships are available to qualifying families and may provide partial or full tuition assistance based on financial need and available funding. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis while funds remain available.
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All classes are held at Stay Studio, our community art studio, gallery, and creative space in Downey, California.
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Yes. Stay Studio offers Adaptive Art classes designed for artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities, with smaller groups and additional individualized support. Depending on a student's needs, one of our Youth Art Classes may also be an appropriate fit. Families seeking additional support should begin with our Adaptive Art intake process so our team can help identify the most supportive class environment.
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Yes, depending on the class environment and your student's support needs. Regional Center participants interested in any Stay Studio class should first complete our Participant Intake Form. Our team will review your student's needs and help determine the class setting that can best support their participation. This may include an Adaptive Art class or one of our Youth Art Classes.
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Regional Center participants should begin with our Participant Intake Form before registering. After the intake process and class placement review, our team will provide next steps regarding enrollment and available Regional Center funding or service authorization for the recommended class.
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Classes are led by Stay Arts teaching artists with experience working with young people in studio, school, and community settings. Many of our teaching artists are also local artists and creative professionals with active practices in areas such as drawing, painting, illustration, photography, digital art, and other creative fields.
Our team brings both their artistic experience and their experience as educators into the classroom, helping students learn new techniques, explore their own ideas, and develop their individual creative voice. All teaching artists are background-checked and CPR-certified.