We recommend completing a registration on a laptop or desktop computer, as opposed to using a phone. Please visit the corresponding individual course description page to find the registration links.

• If a workshop is currently open for registration, there will be a button on the page labeled Register Now. Click the Register Now button to proceed with the registration process.
• If the workshop has been filled, the Register button will display “Register for Waitlist”. You will not be charged for the course if you register for the waitlist. If a spot becomes available in the workshop, we will contact the waitlist. If you are on the waitlist, only after we have confirmed there is a spot for you in the workshop, and you have confirmed you are still available and interested, you will be added to the course and asked to pay. It is very unpredictable whether or not a spot will open to the waitlist, sometimes a spot opens weeks or days in advance, sometimes the night before.
• Additional details can be found on our Registration Policies Page.

Payments can be made by credit/debit card in the Active registration portal. Upon receipt of payment and registration, a confirmation email/receipt will be emailed to the student. Tuition is listed in USD on our website. To convert the amount to your own currency, we recommend using a currency converter.

Additional details can be found on our Registration Policies Page.

Yes, students can pay a deposit of half of the workshop tuition upon registration and cover the remaining workshop tuition a month prior to the start date. Please note:

• Payment plans close on June 1, 2023. Anyone registering for a summer workshop after this date, must pay full tuition at the time of registration.
• Workshops must be paid in full a month before a workshop begins or a late fee of $50/per week may be assessed.
• Failure to pay deposits or balances on time can result in forfeiture of spot and any refunds/credits will be made according to our cancellation policy.

No. Scholarships are only available for our Teens workshops and our full-time core program.

No. We have an onsite studio manager facilitating workshop needs.

Not at this time.

Yes, if a workshop is full only the waitlist button will be displayed on the workshop page on our website. There is no fee for registering for a waitlist. If a spot becomes available, students will be contacted in the order of the waitlist registrations.

Studio Workshop Cancellation Policy

• Students must fill out the studio workshop cancellation request form by clicking here.
• If GCA cancels a studio workshop, student will receive 100% refund.
• If a student cancels more than four weeks before the start: refund to the credit card paid minus $50 cancellation fee per week per workshop.
• If a student cancels four weeks or fewer, but more than seven days before start: refund to the credit card paid minus $100 cancellation fee per week per workshop.
• If a student cancels seven days or fewer before start date: there is no refund or credit
• Please note GCA is not responsible for any fees associated with a student having to cancel or change travel plans, including hotel and flight if GCA or the student cancels a class, workshop or changes its schedule.
• No refunds are given after a workshop has started.

All of this information in on our Registration Policies Page.

It is important that you keep your most up-to-date contact information in your registration account so that we can easily reach you by phone and email. Course descriptions and material lists are available on each individual course description page on the website. Additional studio information is emailed to students within a week of the workshop start date.

Unless otherwise indicated, all of our workshops are taught in English. Some of our instructors are bilingual, but demos and critiques are all held in English.

We highly recommend you start by taking our Online Drawing Orientation class. Even if you have experience at other ateliers, each methodology has its differences.

GCA offers an effective approach to drawing, painting, and sculpting from life.  This approach provides students with the opportunity to engage with the physical world in a meaningful way and to consequently achieve a high degree of verisimilitude in their work.  Students can expect thorough guidance in every course, including what materials to buy and how to use the system of comparative measurement (as opposed to sight size measurement) that is essential to our pedagogy.

The GCA approach to drawing and painting requires patience, persistence, and dedicated practice.  Work by GCA artists represented on Instagram is the result of a long-term commitment to drawing, painting, and sculpture.

Adopting an attitude of curiosity, motivation, and a willingness to accept critique will result in progress and success.  Personal growth is generally relative to the amount of hard work and practice a student is willing to invest in their practice.

Unless otherwise indicated, students who are of high school age and older are welcome to enroll in any of our workshops. For a second summer in a row, we are offering teen workshops specifically geared towards teens ages 13 – 18. Please note: Studio figure classes will have a model posing nude and any underage students should be mature and have the approval of their guardian to take the workshop.

Our Visit page has more detailed information and links to help you with these questions.

No. We can recommend some resources to seek out accommodations in the area. There’s a list on the Visit page. But GCA does not have any housing of its own.

GCA does not have a parking lot. Please go to our Visit Page for more information.

Some of our core students and instructors have reported generally finding parking on the street near the studios.

Most of our studios use natural light from skylights. These are supplemented by artificial lights arranged to mimic a high angle natural light at night or on an overcast/rainy day. We also have an artificial light cast studio.

Materials lists are available for immediate download on each individual course description page. For workshops that include both drawing and painting elements, students new to GCA should contact either Admin or their instructor before buying or bringing oil paints, as the instructor may recommend the student focus solely on drawing at the onset of the course.  Our approach to drawing is specific and instructors may recommend you draw even if you have experience in a different methodology.

No. GCA does not have an art store onsite. Please make arrangements to purchase supplies in advance and bring them with you to the workshop.

This is a list of a few art supply stores in New York City:

https://www.dickblick.com/
There are a few locations, where most supplies can be found.
111 4th Avenue, New York,  NY 10003
443 Broadway, New York,  NY 10013
650 6th Avenue, New York,  NY 10011

https://artistcraftsman.com/
There are a few locations. Good for stretcher bars, paper, most supplies, etc.
1449 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11221
761 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
307 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

https://sohoartmaterials.com/
This is a pretty good spot as well, expensive, they have some stuff that you can’t find elsewhere.
3 Wooster St, New York, NY 10013

For specialty paints and pigments, here are a couple spots: 

https://shop.kremerpigments.com/us/ located at 247 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

https://www.vasaricolors.com/ located at 547 W 27th St #628, New York, NY 10001

No. At this time we are not able to receive any packages.

During the workshop, artists may leave their items in the studio overnight but please note, GCA is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.

At the end of your workshop, please bring all of your materials home. We are unable to store work or supplies past your workshop end date.

GCA is not responsible for any lost or stolen materials. Therefore, please do not leave any valuables unattended. Keep your wallet and any electronics with you at all times. While we foster a respectful studio environment, there is a lot of traffic in and about the studios. Please clearly label all of your materials and do not borrow anything from anyone else without first asking, even if the item appears untouched for some time. If you have lost something, you can email the office with a description of the item and where in the studio it was last seen and we will send an email to current students.

The studio hours and policies will be sent to you a week before your workshop begins.

The instructor(s) will set the pose with the model. The instructor will conduct a lottery to choose spots for the duration of the pose. If the workshop is alla prima or has multiple poses, the spots in the class may change with each pose.

Each still life instructor uses a different method. Sometimes there will be a lottery, sometimes it’s according to arrival. Let the instructor choose their demo spot first. Please do not arrive into your specific studio before the allowed arrival time.

The studio hours and policies will be sent to you a week before your workshop begins.

No. GCA studios and programs are only open to workshop participants only. Please check with the office for approval before giving anyone a tour. We encourage artists to meet up with guests in the lobby or at a nearby restaurant before/after or during workshop lunch breaks.

No. If you have a service animal, please contact the office.

For summer 2023, masks are optional and proof of vaccination is not required.

Students are required to follow our fire safety guidelines while on site.  By registering for a workshop, students are agreeing to our Code of Conduct and Registration Policies.

• Clean brushes and sculpture tools only in the slop sink.
• Dispose of paper towels with turp in red safety cans. If the can is full, alert the studio manager immediately.
• Use only odorless mineral spirits kept in small-mouth jars that remain covered as often as possible. Dirty or spent mineral spirits should be disposed of in the large, red safe disposal containers in each studio.
• Sharpen your pencils into a trash can.
• Don’t leave canvases or drawing boards on the floor in communal spaces.
• Pick up after yourself before leaving for the day.

We do not recommend oil painting if you are pregnant.  While the choice to do so is ultimately up to you, please keep in mind turpentine, mineral spirits, and many pigments are toxic.

Thank you for your interest! Visit our Model page for more information.