The Artist Lab

The Artist Lab offers portfolio academic drawing with still life, portrait, and perspective work, portfolio painting foundations with color, composition, and representation, and portfolio 3D foundation with experimental mixed media and installation art. It also offers portfolio intensive art competition work, digital design and software foundation for 2D and 3D, and design exploration in industrial design, architecture design, interaction design, and game art and entertainment design.

Programs

• Portfolio Academic Drawing Foundation: Still Life, Portrait & Perspective; Research Portfolio & Design Portfolio — 12-18 · Grades: 7th-12th. This course introduces students in grades 7–12 to the fundamental skills of academic drawing with a focus on building a strong portfolio foundation.
• Portfolio Painting Foundations: Color, Composition & Representation; Research Portfolio & Design Portfolio — 12-18 · Grades: 7th-12th. This course introduces students in grades 7–12 to the foundational principles of academic painting with a focus on portfolio development.
• Portfolio 3D Foundation: Experimental Mix Media & Installation Art; Research Portfolio & Design Portfolio — 12-18 · Grades: 7th-12th. This course introduces students in grades 7–12 to the fundamentals of three-dimensional art through experimental mixed media and installation projects.
• Portfolio Intensive: Art Competition; Research Portfolio & Design Portfolio — 12-18 · Grades: 7th-12th. This course guides students in creating artwork for regional and national art competitions.
• Portfolio Digital Design & Software Foundation: 2D& 3D — 12-18 · Grades: 7th-12th. This course aims to train students in the fundamentals of digital art, including design principles, composition, and color theory.
• Digital Art Portfolio Foundation, Competition; Research Portfolio & Design Portfolio — 14-18
• Design Exploration | Industrial Design — 14-18 · Grades: 9th-12th. This course introduces students to creative design and fabrication through hands-on digital modeling, 3D printing, and hand crafting.
• Design Exploration | Architecture Design — 14-18 · Grades: 9th-12th. This course introduces students to spatial design, structural logic, and architectural representation through hands-on drafting, digital modeling, and physical model making.
• Design Exploration | Interaction Design — 14-18 · Grades: 9th-12th. This course introduces students to user centered design, digital product architecture, and rapid physical and digital prototyping.
• Design Exploration | Game Art & Entertainment Design — 14-18 · Grades: 9th-12th. This course introduces students to world building, character creation, and digital asset development for the entertainment industry.
• Intense Visual Art Training 2 (OCSA Prep) — 12-14 · Grades: 6th-8th. This course builds on the skills from Training 1 to prepare students for the OCSA prompts.
• Intense Visual Art Training 1 (OCSA Prep) — 8-11 · Grades: 3rd-5th. This class focuses on deepening students’ understanding of drawing, shape, design, color theory, value, and attention to detail.

At a glance

• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Facility hours: Mon: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Tues - Friday: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Mon - Fri: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Sat: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

About the provider

The Artist Lab was established in 2015. Its leadership team includes Mr. Gabe, Art Director & Instructor; Mr Andy, Portfolio Director & Instructor; Mr. Bin, Digital Art Director & Instructor; and instructors Ms. Beth, Ms. Alyson, Mrs. Anderson, Ms. Agna, Ms. Ring, Mr. Blake, Mr. Ricardo, Mrs. Jasmine, Ms. Michaela, and Ms. Bravo. The studio says it branched out from Little Artist Lab with a vision to unite communities through the arts and keep the spirit of creativity alive across generations, and it attracts over 600 families each week from across Orange County and beyond, both in-person and virtually.

Parents, relatives, and siblings are not permitted inside the classroom during class sessions, with exceptions for a sibling enrolled in the same class or if invited by a teacher or staff member. Students are expected to treat instructors, peers, and materials with care and respect. Food is not allowed during class instruction; drinks are allowed if kept out of the way of the student's project. Repeatedly disruptive students may be removed from class without refunds or credits.

What families say

“I have been in this class for multiple years now. Everyday I come here, I feel a sense of inspiration as I glance at all the amazing artwork around me. The teachers are motivating and enthusiastic allowing the student to expand their creativity and artistic skills. I always love to come back to the Artist Lab knowing all the new skills I may acquire.” — Jayden W.

Last updated October 11, 2026.