Specialty Art & Design Programs for Kids & Teens in Richmond Hill – Fall 2026
August 12, 2026- Posted by Richmond Hill Editor in News
Does your child love to draw, create digitally, or wonder where their artistic skills could take them?
This fall, Art One Academy Richmond Hill is offering specialty art and design programs for kids and teens who want to develop their skills beyond a general art class.
Students can strengthen their drawing foundations in SketchLab, explore digital art with Procreate in Digital Illustration, or discover the world of creative careers through DesignLab: Design Foundations for Teens.
Our specialty programs can be taken on their own or alongside a regular Art Combo or Teen Art class, depending on the student’s interests and goals.
Explore Our Fall Specialty Art Programs
SketchLab | Drawing Foundations
For students who love to draw — or want to get better at it.
SketchLab is a focused drawing program that helps students develop the foundational skills behind stronger artwork.
Students work on skills such as:
- Observational drawing
- Proportion and accuracy
- Perspective
- Form and structure
- Shading and value
- Drawing techniques and confidence
Rather than focusing on one particular art style, SketchLab gives students tools they can apply across many areas of art.
It’s a great choice for students who want to strengthen their drawing skills, prepare for more advanced art classes, or build a stronger foundation for future portfolio work.
Explore SketchLab & Register →
Digital Illustration | Learn Procreate on iPad
For students who love digital art, illustration and creating on an iPad.
Our Digital Illustration program teaches students how to create original digital artwork using Procreate, while reinforcing the same art fundamentals that are important in traditional drawing and painting.
Students learn how to work with:
- Digital brushes and drawing tools
- Layers and selections
- Colour and lighting
- Composition
- Digital painting and illustration techniques
- Procreate tools and creative workflows
The goal isn’t simply to learn which buttons to press. Students learn how to use digital tools to turn their ideas into finished illustrations while continuing to develop their artistic skills.
Digital Illustration is a great fit for young artists interested in digital art, character illustration, animation, graphic arts or simply creating artwork on an iPad.
Explore Digital Illustration & Register →
DesignLab | Design Foundations for Teens Ages 13+
For creative teens wondering: Where can art and design skills take me?
DesignLab: Design Foundations for Teens introduces students ages 13+ to different areas of design and shows how creative and artistic skills can connect to future education and career paths.
Students explore four areas:
- Industrial Design — creating and developing ideas for products and objects
- Architecture & Interiors — exploring spaces, environments and how people interact with them
- Graphic Design & UX/UI — learning how visual communication and user experience influence the things we see and use
- Build Your Own Project — applying the design process to an idea based on the student’s own interests
No previous design experience is required, although students should have some prior art experience.
DesignLab is especially suited to teens who enjoy art and creativity but aren’t yet sure which area of design interests them. It gives them an opportunity to explore several possibilities before having to choose a direction.
Explore DesignLab & Register →
Which Specialty Program Is Right for My Child?
Choosing a program depends on what your child wants to develop.
Choose SketchLab if:
Your child wants to improve their drawing skills, strengthen their fundamentals or prepare for more advanced artwork.
Choose Digital Illustration if:
Your child enjoys creating digitally and wants to learn how to use Procreate while developing stronger illustration skills.
Choose DesignLab if:
Your teen is interested in art, design and creative careers and wants to explore different areas of design before deciding what interests them most.
Not sure? Contact Art One Academy Richmond Hill and tell us your child’s age, previous art experience and interests. We can help you determine which program would be the best fit.
Find the Program That Fits Their Interests
Some students want to draw better. Some want to create digitally. Others are beginning to wonder how their creativity could become part of their future.
Our specialty programs give students the opportunity to go deeper into the creative skills and subjects that interest them most.
Fall 2026 registration is now open at Art One Academy Richmond Hill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Specialty programs focus on specific skills or creative disciplines, making them a great complement to our regular Art Combo and Teen Art programs. A multi-course discount is also available when students enroll in more than one program during the same term.
Requirements vary by program. SketchLab and Digital Illustration are designed to help students develop specific skills, while DesignLab is intended for teens with some previous art experience but does not require previous design experience.
Yes. Art One Academy Richmond Hill offers Digital Illustration classes where students learn digital drawing and illustration techniques using Procreate on iPad.
Yes. DesignLab is a design foundations program for teens ages 13+ that introduces Industrial Design, Architecture & Interiors, Graphic Design & UX/UI, and the design process through hands-on projects.