Informative lessons and a structured approach
Watts Atelier Online is our self-paced program – the perfect replacement for traditional art schools. Have real teachers look at your work, provide critique and help you improve— even to a professional level. Check out our student work to see the results for yourself.
Professional Testimonials

Art Renewal Center
Non-profit Art Educational Organization
Watts Atelier has been an ARC accredited school since 1994.

Stan Prokopenko
Founder Proko - Former Watts Atelier Instructor
Jeff’s clear demos, structured lessons, and direct critiques helped me grow as a draftsman and painter. The fundamentals I learned there are still the backbone of what I teach on Proko today.

Jeremy Cranford
Art Director - WotC - Blizzard - Second Dinner
Watts Atelier allowed me, mid-career, to get all those foundational art skills that I completely missed out on.

Katie Silva
Character Designer - Netflix Castlevania
I look back on my time taking classes at the Watts Atelier with both fondness and gratitude. I learned and reinforced fundamentals that I apply to the various styles I work with in my animation career.
Real Results - Hard Work
Jeff Watts designed this curriculum of online art classes to help students get from little to no skills to a professional level of quality.
Watch student Chris Pariano talk about his experience going from student to professional; learning with Watts Atelier, Online and In Person.
Core Areas of Study
-
Fundamentals
-
Anatomy
-
Figure Drawing
-
Head Drawing
-
Portrait Painting
-
Still Life Painting
-
Figure Painting
-
Portfolio Building
Choose an online subscription tier
Full Access Plan
Access To The Three Core Categories Of Learning We Offer Online.
Watts Atelier Online Curriculum
- Drawing Program (charcoal and graphite)
- Painting Program (gouache and oil)
- Masterclass Program (portfolio development)
- 1000+ downloadable reference images
- 50+ downloadable PDF workbooks
- Written critiques on your drawing and painting work from our grading team
- First month $79, then $99 monthly
Mastery Access Plan
Access To Everything We Have – Including Our Newest Programs
Watts Atelier Online Curriculum + New Programs + JumpStart Courses
- Drawing Program (charcoal and graphite)
- Painting Program (gouache and oil)
- Masterclass Program (portfolio development)
- All Reference, Workbooks and Assignment Grading (same as other tier)
- Exclusive Daily Practice Courses
- Every JumpStart course, every term ($300 value)
- First month $105, then $129 monthly
Assignments, Grading and Critique
On all subscriptions, you can receive written critiques on your work. These can be submitted at any time. Critiques generally take about 3-4 days to receive from the date you submit.
Connect with Students
Discord
Discord is for chatting and real time conversations with other students. You can also participate in Discord hosted events, chat with instructors and graders, as well as do video calls and study with other students.

Watts Atelier Forums
The Watts Forums are for more structured and long form conversations. You’ll find a large searchable archive of topics on everything Watts Atelier. In a sense, the Forums also serve as a documentation for Watts Atelier.

FAQ
Are the online classes live?
Our online classes are not live, they are pre-recorded demos that you do at your own pace.
What are the online classes like?
Our online program provides a simple and solid structure. It is a subscription based program, meaning you pay every month. The courses build upon each other in complexity and allow you to slowly move into more advanced concepts. In addition to fundamental drawing and painting instruction, our program also includes an extensive array portfolio building classes aimed to help you utilize the skills that you've spent time honing in the main program.
What are the JumpStart courses in the Mastery Access Plan?
If you sign up for Mastery Access, you get access to all of these as a part of your subscription. The JumpStart Courses are our stand-alone classes that offer a concentrated learning experience on key topics. They are offered as a one time purchase of $49 and you're granted access for 7 weeks. We offer 6 JumpStart courses every term.
What is the online grading?
As part of any subscription, you get access to our team of graders. They have been trained within the program and will provide written critiques on your work that you submit through the online program. Upon submitting your assignment, our team will review it and get a critique back to you within several days.
Can I get as good with the Online School as the In Person school?
Yes, just look at our team of online graders! We have seen many students get just as good with the online school as the in person school. It is all about how much time and effort you are putting into your training. You get out of it what you put into it. Some things are easier online, and some are easier in person. Even if you are at the in person school, if you don’t take advantage of the opportunity and put in the work then you will not improve. In the wise words of Jeff’s teacher, Glen Orbik “Learning this stuff is like hiring a gym trainer, he can show you how to use the machines but to get the really big muscles you have to lift the weights yourself.”
Can I download the main course videos?
No, course videos cannot be downloaded.
Can I download the reference material and workbooks?
Yes, all course workbook PDFs can be downloaded. Reference images from the reference library can also be downloaded.
Do I have to use the same materials?
No, you don't have to. The program will work best if you can use the same materials, especially if you want to work towards doing this stuff professionally. Though, many people have had success with this program by using sketchbooks, regular graphite pencils, acrylic paint or water mixable oils. When it comes down to it, the things taught in our program can be described as foundational art concepts. Each different medium will have specific techniques, and ultimately to get the most out of this course we would recommend using the same materials.
Which courses have grading feedback available?
All courses in the core drawing and painting portion of the online program have feedback available. Specialty classes such as those listed in the masterclass section of the online program do not have grading feedback available.
Watts Atelier Online
Jeff Watts created Watts Atelier in 1992 and has focused on guiding the next generation of artists. Watts Atelier has been internationally acclaimed by both institutions and artists since it’s inception.
Watts Atelier Online is a curriculum of online art courses designed by Jeff to help you learn to draw and paint. This curriculum is built in the traditions of the masters with a focus on modern day efficiency for working in today’s professional artistic fields. The 60+ courses are taught by award winning artists and professional art instructors.
