| HOME– Introduction and Upcoming Courses |
STUDIO ESCALIER is a private studio art school and international art colony in France, founded in 2001. Designed and directed by artists for artists, it is dedicated to the contemporary classical study of drawing and painting from life.
Offering courses in English in the heart of Paris as well as in Argenton-Chateau (Poitou-Charentes), we are an international point of contact for professionals, emerging artists and beginning art students too, attracting artists from more than 45 countries and 40 different US states.
Anyone may apply, there are no academic or artistic pre-requisites to apply as a student. It is an open admissions process, based mainly on portfolio submission – a review of artwork drawn or painted from life.
Admission to our Intensive Courses and Special Programs in drawing and painting in Argenton-Chateau — and to our various Paris Programs including our Winter at the Louvre 8-week program — is by online application only. Entry can be competitive.
Online application is required for every course, 4 to 6 months before the first day of class.
See our COURSE SCHEDULE page for the most current information on upcoming courses in all locations, and how to apply.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Our student body includes: career painters, portraitists, illustrators, concept artists, animators, muralists, college art teachers, architects, sculptors, printmakers, graduate students, undergraduate students, serious beginners, and people who simply love to draw and paint the human figure.
To see our complete schedule of upcoming courses and application deadlines, visit the COURSE SCHEDULE page.
Every program that is currently accepting applications can also be found here on the HOME page.
Please pay close attention to the application deadlines below, and follow the links below.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Light on the Portrait by founding faculty Nicole Michelle TULLY, oil on linen, 2025
| 2026 SPRING ONLINE | LIGHT on the PORTRAIT (5-week program) |
| INSTRUCTOR: | LIGHT ON THE PORTRAIT will be taught by founding faculty N. Michelle TULLY |
PLATFORMS and FORMAT: |
Video content will be hosted on Vimeo, and available only through the Studio Escalier website. Demonstration slideshows and photos essays will be provided too. Individual weekly critique and weekly group meetings will take place on Zoom. A private Facebook Group will be created for those students who wish to post their progress and share their work during the course. The Facebook group will be monitored by the instructor and participation is optional. |
| CLASS DATES: | Friday, 27 FEBRUARY – Friday, 10 APRIL 2026 (6 weeks) |
|
CLASS SCHEDULE: |
New course content (4-6 hours per week of video lectures and demonstrations, plus slideshows and assignments) will be be published online weekly by 13:00 on FRIDAY afternoon (Paris time – GMT+1), making it available to all students worldwide. Weekly online group meeting and instructor presentation held live once each SUNDAY, morning and evening (18:00, Paris time – GMT+1). (A recorded version will also be available online for those who cannot attend the live meeting.) First online group meeting time(s) and date: Sunday, 1st MARCH 2026 at 18:00, Paris time (GMT+1). Individual critiques will be arranged as required once each week on THURSDAY or FRIDAY (9:00-18:00, Paris time – GMT+1). |
| CLASS SIZE: | 20 students, per 6-week section |
| WHO is ELIGIBLE? | Entry by application only. Anyone may apply, worldwide. |
| TUITION PRICE: | 1500 EUROS for 6 weeks |
| APPLICATION DEADLINE: |
FRIDAY, 30 JANUARY 2026 |
| PAYMENT DUE: | SATURDAY, 7 FEBRUARY 2026 |
| HOW to APPLY: |
Admissions for SPRING ONLINE | LIGHT on the PORTRAIT are OPEN.
Please review the ADMISSIONS page for general information about the application process. Desktop and laptop users can apply ONLINE.
|
