The Art Students League of New York

ASL is the one of the few places left in the USA where artists of all ages, backgrounds, and artistic styles can come together to do what they have a passion for– making art. No matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional– there is a place for you at the League. The atmosphere is genuine, motivating, and democratic, and both traditional and modern methods can be explored. The League provides opportunities for artists to receive grants, work study, and show their work, thus developing confidence in what they produce. The instructors are practicing artists. It’s a special place; part of America’s art history.

Signed up for a summer class. The instructor (Larry Poons) never came the entire summer. In his place came his wife, who did not critique anyone at all, or usually this other woman named Ann whose only commentary alternated between really liking what they were making or saying nothing to them at all. Utterly useless. Basically I was paying for the space to paint, not for any instruction or critiquing.

If you have any talent or genuine interest in art, don’t waste your time or money here. This is a place for the elderly to check something off on their bucket list, not a place for progressive or modern learning. The teachers are quite skilled and generally very knowledgeable, but many of them are stuck in an outdated and painfully slow teaching system. For example, the classes are taught in a way in which everyone’s pieces will turn out identical. How exhausting and boring. Anyone can sneak into the classes, as the instructor is present 2 days a week, and the class monitors don’t know any more than the students do. The studios are very cramped and the students are clueless and rude, always asking the monitor/​instructor for help with every little thing. The students are also very rude to the live models. I would beg for a refund, especially since I commuted from New Jersey every day to come to a class that was akin to a craft store class for senior citizens. Don’t waste your time.

Very bad. You should be careful your money. They have took my money and then cancelled the class. I need to figure out what’s going but nobody answer. Just gave me a business card and tell me to talk a guy. I called the number again and again. No one pick up the phone.

Incredibly rude staff.
I signed up for a complete beginner’s drawing workshop and was sent a list of supplies to bring to class. A portion of these items we were instructed to «make» with no explanation of how to make them or what they even were. I was so lost. So I called the school to ask for help, but was rudely told by the woman I spoke with that she had no obligation to explain the supplies list to me.
I was so flabbergasted. I’m a complete beginner, with no background in drawing, which is why I signed up for the workshop. The school sends me a list of supplies I’ve never heard of, many of which I am expected to hand-​make and bring to class, and they don’t feel even remotely obliged to help me understand this list? Isn’t the whole point of attending the school to LEARN?
She then hung up on me. I tried repeatedly to call her back, but she kept putting me on hold. After a few times of doing this I realized that she was putting me on hold on purpose to not talk to me.
So unprofessional.

I highly recommend the League for all artists of all ages and all levels. I have been attending studio classes there since 2006.
They offer the most flexible class schedule, most varied art classes, and least expensive courses than any school in New York. Their instructors are all professional artists and great teachers. I have worked in pastel portrait drawing with Ellen Eagle. She is very passionate and very precise in all of her directions. She literally teaches you to see! And to make what you see manifest. I learned invaluable skills in life drawing and portraiture. I also took a week long intensive portrait workshop with David Kassan. Like Ellen, he is very passionate and an excellent instructor.
I’ve worked the longest with Kikuo Saito in an abstract painting studio. He is a magnificent painter and most inspiring of all art teachers I’ve ever worked with. Artists work on their own projects and Kikuo provides practical, and philosophical ways for progressing your work. My entire approach to painting has changed. I’ve discovered through working with Kikuo, that I am capable of producing so much more. I have grown as an artist both personally and professionally beyond my expectations.
It’s also a great place if you want to work with classmates from very diverse backgrounds, culturally and artistic skill level. The League is a great institution and asset to our city and to the the art world. — Mary

Very relaxing and peaceful place.
I was just a guest but a homered one. So many talented students here.
So much inspiration.

I just started with them, they offer many options including one day a week class for only $ 90/​month. My instructor is very knowledgeable as well as entertaining — its been a great experience so far!

Disclaimer: This review has nothing to do with the class I took or the instructor (both were great), but with the AWFUL customer service at this institution – which, having read about it on a previous review, seems to be an ongoing issue.
I registered for part-​time afternoon classes for the month of May, and since I registered a week into the month my tuition was prorated from $ 128 to $ 121. Now $ 7 off is not really much of a prorate, but I thought it would be fine since I thought I would at least be getting three weeks of classes. But what I WASN’T INFORMED ABOUT prior to registering for classes for May was that the school was going to be closed for the entire week of Memorial DAY. So I was pretty much knowingly and unfairly charged by the school $ 121 for only two weeks of classes (just 4 classes in total since I registered part-​time).
So I call in the week after Memorial Day, assuming that I’d be able to at least make-​up for that one week of cancelled classes, but was informed that this wouldn’t be possible – and then was transferred MID-SENTENCE…to VOICEMAIL. I called back and was immediately transferred to a guy from the finance department, who dismissed my problem and said that it wasn’t for him to deal with, but it was a registration department issue, even though the registration department was the one that transferred me to him. So he transferred me YET AGAIN to voicemail. It seemed to me that nobody wanted to deal with the problem. I called back another time and was finally told that I would not be given a refund for the cancelled classes nor be able to make-​up the classes. The lady also not-​so-​subtly implied that everything was basically MY fault for not reading their policy.
While the classes may be good, I am so put off by this experience that I am definitely never signing up for classes at this school ever again.

Not bad at all, I went here on a monday night for an art class and I would definetly be coming back.
The prices are not bad at all and the people are very friendly.

While The Art Students League isn’t the answer for everyone, I think it provides a service that you can’t get anywhere else for the price. Yes it’s true that the classes can be fairly large, and you don’t get too much one-​on-​one time with the instructor, but what do you expect? For the price they charge you, you’re not going to find anything better. It’s definitely the cheapest place in the city to take regular art classes, and the quality of instruction that I’ve experienced is great.
I am currently taking a drawing class twice a week at the League. The office workers have always been helpful and kind to me, and the class monitors and assistants are also amazing and helpful. The classes are very relaxing, and there is such a wide range in ability that no one ever judges you or makes you feel uncomfortable. I started taking classes there with no prior art experience before, and although the first few days were difficult and I kind of had to figure some things out on my own, I believe I have gotten much better since I started.
If you start out in a class, you probably won’t get the most basic instruction that some people need (like me, who had never even really drawn before) but they do have workshops every once in a while for that. Some workshops will sit you down and explain to you the different types of drawing or painting materials, how to use them, and what types of subjects they are good for. However, if you start a class halfway through the year, you’ll probably be on your own for a bit of that kind of stuff.
Some people have mentioned having unhelpful or rude teachers, but I have to give credit to my current teacher, Ephraim Rubenstein. He is AMAZING. Not only does he try his hardest to spend as much time with every person as he can, sometimes coming around multiple times per class to help you one-​on-​one, but he is very kind, welcoming, and encouraging. His comments are extremely helpful and he always manages to make my drawing look so much better by pointing out areas that need a tweak or two. If anyone is interested in taking a life drawing class, take his class!
I take one star off because although the League is extremely flexible with their «start anytime!» policy, it also creates a bit of confusion and chaos. On my first day the class was a bit disorganized, and no one really told me where to go or what to do. It was a bit stressful to try and figure it all out by myself, but I have noticed that my experience was a bit unusual. Since then many other people have joined my class and they seem to have received more of an introduction than I did. I probably started on a unusually busy day.
Try it out! They have a fairly good refund policy if you don’t like it, and you also can switch classes once for free if you find out the teacher isn’t a good fit.
*I apologize to anyone who reads this review and notices all the grammatical errors (not to mention run-​on sentences). It’s been a loooooong day.

It is worth the money to have access to their very good models. The quality of instructors varies widely. If you take a full-​time five day a week class, know that you will only see the instructor twice per week. If it is a big class, you may barely get to ever speak with the instructor. Grimaldi’s class is supposed to be one of the best, but he very often has a substitute (who is very young and has only studied under him for a few years) and he is a prickly guy. They charge you up to $ 10 if your cell phone goes off, and they will often lock you out of class if you are 15 seconds late and they are just shutting the door. It’s pretty ridiculous, and I’m not sure the instruction you get is worth the crap you have to put up with. The staff at the league, in general, are pretty unhelpful and rude. The place has a bit of an attitude.
That being said, the models are great, some of the other students are fabulous and you can learn a lot just watching them, and it’s a good price. Definitely ask around about the quality of the instructor if you can.

I previously raved about this place, overlooking the POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE I have received, but what happened 2 days ago is the last straw. I have been LIVID and even contacted my friends in LAW.
In short, I had a painting that I spent several hundreds of dollars on in classes and materials that was literally THROWN IN THE TRASH. Based on New York Legal Codes regarding abandoned property, proper notification is required prior to disposing of abandoned property. HOWEVER, my painting is not even considered abandoned property AND it was thrown out…
I spoke to a «manager» named Winnie Huang who said «I dont know what your claims are but we have never sent an email out to notify students when clean out sessions are.»
Several minutes later I locate said «claimed» email from last year and forwarded it to this Winnie Huang.
I asked to speak with her supervisor but of course no one else is available. Everyone is on vacation…
And why should I be upset? THERE ARE MANY REASONS.
1. The painting I spent a ton of money and time on was THROWN IN THE TRASH.
2. I work in a hospital on the weekdays and a free clinic on the weekends, I found a 2 month window where I sacrificed time with patients in order to paint. This has gone to WASTE — literally.
3. I was called a LIAR and BELITTLED.
4. Management displays ZERO EMPATHY and becomes ACCUSATORY when I realize how DISORGANIZED they really are.
5. The continuing EMOTIONAL DISTRAUGHT over losing a special piece. Artists out there — how would you feel if some random person tossed your piece of art in the trash??? I think you know how I am feeling right now.
6. The fact that no one even ACKNOWLEDGED MY LOSS???
I’m pretty sure my previous post over the ways I love The Art Students League has completely been negated by this experience. I FEEL NOTHING TOWARDS THIS STUDIO AND I CAN NO LONGER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. EVER.

I love this place. Very relaxing, peaceful, and inspirational. People here are really nice and are serious about what they are doing. I came here a few times and recommended my friends and family here too. They also enjoyed their experiences. I’ve only taken the nude drawing class since I wanted to practice my quick drawing skills for portfolio purposes and I believe I had the best pieces from this class.
I love the fact that you can pay per visit. Allows flexibility with my job, school, and etc. The instructors are helpful too.

So many great artists have walked the halls and taught at this art center. The art classes are excellent. I love how you can take a class for one day, two days, one week, one month or longer. The teachers are all working artists who are extremely skilled. The best part is how reasonable and affordable the classes are compared to a taking one at a university in the area. If you’re looking to brush up on your art skills, or have always wanted to learn how to draw I highly recommend The Arts Students League of New York.

The greatest and cheapest place to reconnect with your love of drawing and painting. James McElhinney will break your bad drawing habits and teach you how to see right and Dean Hartung’s Saturday class will get you (re)started as an oil painter in a relaxed, improvisational, home-​cookin’ sort of way.
The facility, located almost across the street from Carnegie Hall, seems to ooze history and artistic energy. Even if you’re not ready to sign up for a class, it’s worth a peek inside. No need to wait for the next NYC art fair, either — there’s often a art sale going on in the mezzanine with some very reasonably priced works.

This is an institution. You are talking about possibly the most influential art educational experience on the planet. This is the kind of place that defines the term «You get out of it what you put into it». This is not a typical art school. There is no curriculum. This is a place to practice picture making in a setting that is stripped down and hot-​rodded for pure art making with zero baggage. You walk in, you plop your canvas or pad on an easel and at the designated time you do your thing. An instructor, usually a famous or influential artist in his/​her own right, will amble over every once and a while and give you a pointer or not. If you are on the right track the instructor will guide you to bring your work to the next level. If you are a rank beginner you will hear something completely different. This is not a place for hand-​holding. It is a place for doing. It takes years to become a great representational artist. Plan to spend alot of them here. Nothing beats mileage. And drawing/​painting from the live model is perhaps the hardest thing one will ever do, but it is also the best way to become better. Put away your photos, come to the League and draw/​paint from life.
One added note, you cannot beat the price. Not ever, no place, Never. Even if you take a five days a week class and come once a week it’s worth it. And you can get a locker. So go pay $ 50,000 per year for Yale art school or spend every waking hour here for four years. I’ll give either one the same chances on the open market…

best best best best ART SCHOOL!!!
This place is better than going to art colleges because you will also learn from other student here who graduated art school& artists already.
Teacher Albert’s drawing class is ao great!

Dropped in to see the Student Concours exhibits. It was a voyeuristic experience of looking at art-​the-​process as opposed to art-​the-​product. Since the work of each class is exhibited together, you can really see how each artist reinterprets the same stimulus in different styles or even different media. The art is not as polished as what you generally get at museums or galleries, but the Concours has its own significant charm and valuable contribution. Plus, there’s free food!
Oh, they also offer a broad range of art classes but I haven’t taken any so this review is for the gallery only.

I went here, when I was in the High School of Music & Art, and it was an invaluable addition to my art education.
It is not for beginners, but you can ask for help from your instructors.
They have live models, and you can also work on still lives.
The teachers can be ‘rough’ on you, but that is the only way to improve your technique. An unforgettable experience for the serious art student.