The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts

The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts Training artists in the realist traditions of French academic drawing and American Impressionism.
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The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts focuses primarily on teaching fine draftsmanship and painting skills leading to the creation of well constructed artwork. The Atelier has passed on from teacher to student, a method of instruction which melds formal academic training with influence of the French Impressionists. American art students in the late nineteenth-century European art academies broug

ht this combined education home to pass on to their own students. The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, lead by Director Cyd Wicker and Assistant Director Laura Tundel, closely follows these original precepts offering students the opportunity to master the fundamental principles in the classical discipline of realistic drawing and painting. Upon completion of a four-year course of study, the student has a foundation of knowledge and experience to pursue a career as a professional painter.

A portion of The Atelier’s educational lineage is as follows:
Jaques-Louis David (1748-1825)
Paul Delaroche (1797-1856)
Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904)
William McGregor Paxton (1869-1941)
R. Ives Gammell (1893-1981)
Richard F. Lack (1928-2009)

Dale Redpath, retired Director Emeritus and Head Instructor, served as Co-Director of The Atelier with Cyd Wicker from 1992 to 2017. Cyd Wicker continues as Director and Head Instructor at The Atelier with Laura Tundel as Assistant Director.

Two days painting the figure in natural light at Central Park in Roseville. The focus is a believable light effect — the...
08/06/2026

Two days painting the figure in natural light at Central Park in Roseville. The focus is a believable light effect — the difference between full sun and overcast — using the figure to carry gesture and the large value and color proportions of the scene. You'll study how skin tone shifts against the surrounding environment and the type of light falling on it, and how viewing perspective shapes the way a scene is built. Poses begin short and lengthen across the weekend, from quick gesture work to sustained study. Taught in oils, all skill levels welcome.
Saturday–Sunday,
10:00am–5:00pm
· $270, model fees included
1 seat left!
Enriching lives through the power of art and community.

Five days working in sanguine from the live model, learning to see the figure as both line and mass. You'll develop scul...
08/05/2026

Five days working in sanguine from the live model, learning to see the figure as both line and mass. You'll develop sculptural light and shadow, anatomical accuracy, and proportion — moving from quick gesture studies through to a finished drawing.The week opens with a lecture on the academic tradition and the sanguine drawings of Tiepolo, Poussin, Watteau, and Rubens, followed by demonstrations on figure drawing fundamentals and the sight-size method. Allison works with each student individually throughout.
Monday–Friday, 9:00am–12:00pm · $375 · Limit 12 students · Sanguine provided
5 spots remain.
Supported in part by an operating support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. Enriching lives through the power of art and community.

A one-week intensive in drawing from direct observation rather than photographs. Working in charcoal from a plaster cast...
08/04/2026

A one-week intensive in drawing from direct observation rather than photographs. Working in charcoal from a plaster cast, you'll build accurate proportion and clear value relationships — the foundation of classical draftsmanship — with more complex concepts introduced as your eye sharpens. Krista teaches one-on-one, tailoring instruction to where each student is. Beginners and returning students work side by side and leave with real confidence drawing from life.
Monday–Friday, 9:30am–12:30pm ·
$250 · Ages 15+
Access for all to classical art training.

06/26/2026

Imagination Brought to Life: Art Design & Reference with Christine Mitzuk and David Ginsberg is a rare chance to turn bold ideas into usable, professional photo reference.
Through sketching, visual storytelling, and a guided photoshoot, you’ll learn how to use value design and lighting to enhance your composition, evoke emotion and create photo reference that supports imaginative paintings from start to finish.
Join us July 10–12 & 18- 19, 2026 for a workshop that helps artists solve real creative challenges and bring their visions to life

05/24/2026

Congratulations to Gerald, our raffle winner, who received Brian Stewart’s Home on the Mississippi. This special painting reflects Brian’s lasting influence at The Atelier, his connection to the Plein Air tradition, and the meaningful artistic legacy he shared with our community.

05/13/2026

We’d love to welcome you to the 2026 Full-Time Student Show.�Join us May 15–17 and celebrate our full-time students’ work, growth, and dedication. It’s a special weekend at The Atelier — come by, bring a friend, and experience the show.
Student Show Hours�Friday, May 15 | 2:00pm–9:00pm�Saturday, May 16 | 12:00pm–8:00pm�Sunday, May 17 | 12:00pm–5:00pm

05/12/2026

The 2026 Full-Time Student Show is more than an exhibition — it’s a celebration of our community.�Come see our students, the fundraising raffle, and Artists for The Atelier. Artwork by our instructors will be available for sale with 30% of each sale supporting our mission.
Student Show Hours�Friday, May 15 | 2:00pm–9:00pm�Saturday, May 16 | 12:00pm–8:00pm�Sunday, May 17 | 12:00pm–5:00pm

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05/12/2026

Everyone is welcome at the 2026 Full-Time Student Show!
It’s a fun, exciting time of year — and a chance to see the work, the process, and the community behind it all. �Student Show Hours�Friday, May 15 | 2:00pm–9:00pm�Saturday, May 16 | 12:00pm–8:00pm�Sunday, May 17 | 12:00pm–5:00pm

05/11/2026

Come visit the 2026 Full-Time Student Show.
Cornelia’s been with us for four years, and we’re so proud to celebrate her journey and the work of our full-time students.
Join us May 15–17 during Art-A-Whirl weekend.
Student Show Hours
Friday, May 15 | 2:00pm–9:00pm
Saturday, May 16 | 12:00pm–8:00pm
Sunday, May 17 | 12:00pm–5:00pm

05/07/2026

Come visit the 2026 Full-Time Student Show!
We’d love to welcome fellow artists, friends, and our community to celebrate this year’s work and experience the creativity, dedication, and growth happening at The Atelier.

Student Show Hours
Friday, May 15 | 2:00pm–9:00pm
Saturday, May 16 | 12:00pm–8:00pm
Sunday, May 17 | 12:00pm–5:00pm

Address

1621 East Hennepin Avenue, Suite 280
Minneapolis, MN
55414

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