Teen Summer Program

Enrollment is open for Summer 2025

About the Program

The Ghosthouse Teen Summer Program is a three to six-week fine art intensive designed to give aspiring young artists serious training in traditional drawing, sculpture, and painting. This accelerated program is ideal for students preparing a portfolio for academy or college submission, those exploring a path as a working artist, or those seeking a deeper training in foundational fine arts at an academy level.

Students may enroll in Part 1 (Drawing & Sculpture), Part 2 (Painting), or both sessions, with priority given to students who are interested in attending both.

Who Should Apply

Motivated young artists (ages 13–19) who include any or all of the following:

• Show focus and fluency in visual expression

• Are preparing a portfolio for college or academy applications

• Are interested in developing the discipline and craft of a professional and working artist

Program Dates

Part 1: Drawing & Sculpture – June 16th to July 3rd (3 Weeks)

Part 2: Painting – July 14 to August 1 (3 Weeks)

Monday–Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm, with a 1-hour lunch

Tuition & Registration

• Tuition: $1200 per session (Part 1 or Part 2)

• Full Program (Both Sessions): $2000

Scholarships: A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. See below.How to Apply: Complete the application form and include a portfolio of up to seven works in any medium along with a brief statement about yourself and why you feel you are a good fit for this program. Please be sure to indicate if you’re applying for a scholarship.

Scholarships

We are committed to making this program accessible to all qualified students. A limited number of need and merit-based scholarships are available to support applicants demonstrating strong artistic commitment and financial need. If you’d like to be considered, please indicate interest in the scholarship section of the application. You are also welcome to reach out directly if you’d like to discuss a unique financial situation.

Scholarship Tiers:

• Full Scholarship – $1200

• Half Scholarship – $600

• Partial Scholarship – $300

Award amounts and availability are determined based on enrollment, portfolio strength, and demonstrated need.

Curriculum

Part 1 - Drawing & Sculpting Foundations
June 16 to July 3rd

In Part 1, students will build their visual perception, deepen their understanding of line, proportion, and form, and strengthen their skills in accurate and expressive mark making in both two and three dimensions.

Sharpening Visual Perception
Developing the ability to see abstractly — breaking down the visual world into shapes, angles, values, and rhythms.

Study of Light, Shadow, and Volume
Understanding the behavior and relationships of light and shadow — highlights, halftones, core shadows, and reflected light.

Weekly Art History Lecture and Discussion
Each week, students will explore major movements, artists, and ideas in art history, connecting historical techniques and philosophies to their own studio practice.

Copying from Masters
Bargue drawings, master copies, and sculptural studies from plaster casts to build disciplined draftsmanship and a sensitivity to classical form.

Drawing and Sculpting from Life
Practice with both live model drawing and basic clay modeling to apply principles of structure, proportion, and gesture across mediums.

Momentum and the Skill Trajectory
Learning how focused, incremental improvement leads to rapid growth, and how drawing and sculpting together sharpen an artist’s eye faster than either discipline alone.

Part 2 - Painting
July 14 to August 1

In Part 2, students transition from drawing into painting. Through structured exercises and studies, students will learn to see painting as an extension of drawing — a discipline of mass, tone, and color working together in unity.

Study of Grisaille and Monochrome Technique
Beginning with limited palettes (such as Raw Umber and White) to master value control, modeling of form, and brush handling before introducing full color.

Materials and Craftsmanship
Deep exploration of brushes, paints, mediums, and grounds — including how to mix mediums, prepare surfaces, and understand the working properties of traditional materials.

Mixing and Managing Color
Learning the skill of deliberate color mixing, temperature control (warm vs cool), and palette organization — emphasizing practical color.

Weekly Art History Lecture and Discussion
Each week, students will explore major movements, artists, and ideas in art history, connecting historical techniques and philosophies to their own studio practice.

Direct (Alla Prima) and Indirect (Layered) Techniques
Practicing both direct (wet-into-wet) and indirect (layered and glazed) painting methods,
understanding when and why each approach is used.

Landscape, Figure, Portrait, and Still Life
Students are free to gravitate toward subject matter that interests them. The class will occasionally take plein air painting trips to various parks in Grand Rapids, paint from the live model, and learn to curate and set up their own still life for painting.

Discussions on Professional Practices
Focused sessions on portfolio preparation, applying to art schools, building a working life as an artist, approaching galleries, and developing sustainable creative habits — offering real-world guidance for those serious about pursuing art as a career.

Final Painting Projects
Applying skills to create a finished self-portrait, still life, figure study, or narrative composition, demonstrating mastery of foundational techniques.

We hope you’ll share this opportunity with any motivated students you feel would benefit. Feel free to contact Alec Zemper directly with any questions about the program.

Alec Zemper
Owner & Director
AlecZemper@gmail.com

Application Process

Please submit the form below with your personal information and a answer the short questionnaire. Once that form has been submitted, applicants will receive a direct email to complete the application.

Applicants will be asked to include the following in their response email in order to complete their application:

• 4-7 examples of artwork (see below for details)
• A simple personal statement expressing their interest in why they would like to attend the program.