Drawing

Staedtler Pencils 2H, H, HB, 2B
Sandpaper block for sharpening pencils
Utility Knife or X-acto knife
Cooking Metal Skewer or thin knitting needle for measuring. This must be straight.
Kneaded Eraser
Tombow Mono Zero Mechanical Eraser Round, 2.3 mm
Synthetic soft bristle brush, size 2 or 4.
Synthetic Flat brush size 2 or 4
Masking or Artist Tape
Strathmore Series 400 Drawing Pad. Any size between 9”x12” and 18”x24”
Drawing board the same size or larger than your drawing pad

Painting

A “sealed” or “finished” wooden palette
Stainless steel palette cups (clips onto palette)
Gamsol small
Linseed oil small
Metal palette knife. I prefer ones that are slim and flexible, but any will do.
Brush cleaning soap. Zote laundry bar soap & cleaning gloves to protect hands.
(Any brand of brush cleaning soap will also do)
Paper Towels
Small Leakproof jar OR portable brush washer
Canvas Pad or Canvas Panels
Centurion OP DLX panels:
-5×7 (optional 5 pcs)
-6×8 (7-10 pcs)
-8×10 panels (5-7 pcs)

You can also purchase a Centurion OP DLX pad 11×14 instead of the panels

Oil Paints

An affordable option is the Winton Oil Paint Basic Set of 10.
Student grade paints are perfectly fine. Please make sure to have:

Titanium White
Yellow Ochre
Hansa Yellow or Cadmium Yellow
Alizarin Crimson
Terra Rosa, English Red, Venetian Red, OR Burnt Sienna
Ultramarine Blue
Raw Umber
Ivory Black
Cerulean Blue (optional)

Brushes

A variety is good. Cheap brands are fine. Try to have at least:
2-3 Small soft rounds with pointed tips (watercolor brushes works great)
2 bristle round brushes
2 bristle filbert brushes
One flat medium sized (2-4 in) bristle or china bristle
One soft synthetic fan brush (optional

Plein Air Equipment

Plein air set-ups vary from artist to artist. Ideally, you want something lightweight and portable that fits in a bag or backpack. Start with affordable materials and observe what other artists use before investing in a lot of gear.

Option 1. Aluminum or Wood Travel Easel
Brands: Creative Mark, SoHo, Blick, Richeson, Mabef, etc.

Option 2. Pochade Box + a Camera Tripod
To use a pochade box, you will also need a lightweight camera tripod. These come with quick-clip attachment to attach to the bottom of the pochade box.

Brands:
-Sienna Plein Air Pochade Box or The New Wave u.go Plain-air
-SIRUI Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod, 55.1”
-SIRUI Camera Tripod & Monopod Stand, 78.7″ Tall Aluminum Tripod

Other

Hat with brim
Clothing layers (seasonal considerations–a light jacket and
a raincoat are a good idea) and lightweight long sleeves for summertime)
Sunscreen
Insect repellent

Arrival

Drop off at Dorms: 2:00 – 2:30 pm
Introductions & Games: 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Campus Tour: 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Dinner: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Movie Night: 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Dorm Check: 9:30 pm
Room Check: 10:00 pm

Weekdays

Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:30 am
Morning Studio: Cast Drawing: 8:45 – 11:45 am
Lunch: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Afternoon Studio: Skull to Portrait Drawing: 1:30 – 5:00 pm
Dinner: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Sunset Painting: 7:15 – 9:30 pm
Check-in with Dorm Parent: 9:30 pm
Room Check: 10:00 pm

Weekend

Brunch: 9:30 – 11:00 am
Lake Day painting & swimming: 12:00 am – 4:30 pm
Dinner: 5:15 – 6:15 pm
Sunset Painting, Fireside Chats & ‘Smores: 7:00 – 9:30 pm
Check-in with Dorm Parent: 9:30 pm
Room Check: 10:00 pm

Departure

Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:30 am
Pick up at Dorm: 9:30 – 10:30 am

• To be considered for a scholarship, submit the online application by February 1, 2026.
• Scholarship notification by mid-February.
• If you are not applying for a scholarship, notification is 7-10 days after application is received.
• Upon acceptance, 50% deposit to hold the spot. Payment plan available.

How to apply

• A brief statement (4-5 sentences) about why attending this program will benefit your artistic studies.
• 3-7 images showing a drawing, painting or sculpture you have done. Each image must be smaller than 1MB.
• Ideally, some of the works you submit are drawn, painted or sculpted from life vs. from photographs.

If you have questions before applying, email us:
info@grandcentralatelier.org

What should I bring?

Please note that we do not offer a laundry service in the summer. Laundry machines are available in the dormitories.

Wear comfortable clothing!  All students should consider bringing swimming and athletic gear including athletic shoes for using the gym or hiking. Bring a hat with a for outdoor painting.

Each dorm room is supplied with a bed, mattress, bureau, desk, desk chair, phone, and closet space for clothing. Remember insect repellant!

Campus Store

All basic toiletries can be purchased at the campus store, located on the lower level of Main Building. Students who require specialized products or prescriptions should make sure they bring enough for the duration of their program.

Will I have a roommate?

All students will have a single room.

Should I bring my own linens?

Yes! The mattress size is twin extra long. If you find including bed linens in your luggage a challenge, please consider mailing your bedding (pillow and towels!) ahead of your arrival.

Shipping address

Your Name
Hotchkiss Summer Partner Program – GCA Teen Art Intensive
11 Interlaken Road
Lakeville, CT 06039

What happens on arrival day?

You will be greeted by Instructors and Counselors at your dorm. We will direct you to your dorm and assist you with the moving in process.

What if I lose my key card?

Let your class monitor know immediately. They will assist in locating your misplaced items or helping you replace them.

How do I do laundry?

There are laundry facilities in the basement of most dorms. You will need to bring your own detergent.

Can I receive mail?

Yes, please ask friends and family to use this format:
Your Name
Hotchkiss Summer Partner Program – GCA Teen Art Intensive
11 Interlaken Road
Lakeville, CT 06039

How can I make & receive calls?

Cell service is limited in the NW Corner of Connecticut. You will have a landline in your room where you can receive calls. To make a long distance call from your room, you will need a calling card.

About Grand Central Atelier

Grand Central Atelier (GCA), the world’s leading destination for artists seeking an authentic classical art education. The studio provides rigorous training in drawing, painting and sculpture, resident artist studios, exhibitions and fellowships – including its signature, longstanding Hudson River Fellowship landscape painting residency. The Hudson River Fellowship at GCA is a coveted prize, awarded annually to twenty classically trained, emerging landscape painters who convene for a collaborative fellowship in various stunning locations in the Northeastern United States.
https://grandcentralatelier.org/about/about-us/
https://grandcentralatelier.org/opportunities/hudson-river-fellowship/

About Hotchkiss

The Hotchkiss School is an independent boarding school located in Lakeville, Connecticut. Founded in 1891, the school provides an education of academic distinction to 599 students in grades 9 through 12, and to a small number of postgraduates. The school’s mission is to develop students who are academically excellent, responsible citizens, and have personal integrity.
https://www.hotchkiss.org

My daughter was in the teen course this summer. I wanted to say thank you so much for all that GCA has done for her and thanks to all the wonderful instructors she had. She learned so much and is really trying to figure out how to continue to produce works to the level she was at this summer. I’ve never seen her so committed to advancing her skill. 
-Parent

I began my studies at GCA around the time I was in high school. At that time, art was an interest for me but I was unaware of how much I could pursue in this field. Through a friend, I was able to visit GCA and the fist time I saw cast drawings I was blown away. It felt like I finally knew what style of art and training I wanted to study. I enrolled in a part time cast drawing class and delved into the training that GCA and its incredible teachers had to offer.
-Rachel Li, Artist and GCA Alum

I was first introduced to GCA’s teaching at the age of 12. I attended my first part time cast drawing class with Justin wood. Even at age 12, it really resonated with me and I felt more inspired than anywhere else. I remember being absolutely fascinated entering the Cast Hall and seeing the drawings of the students at the time. It seemed unreal to me that there were people were able to draw so beautifully.  I wasn’t used to being at a school that fostered so much growth and hard work in me. In my early teens, I continued taking part time classes on the weekends and in the evenings. After one particular teen summer workshop, I knew I wanted to attend the core program and commit to my studies full time. Instead of attending my senior year at LaGuardia High school, I made the decision to start the Drawing Year at GCA instead. The GCA community had my back and showed a lot of support for my endeavors. I knew it was the right decision ever since.
-Lara Saunders, Artist and GCA Instructor