frequently asked questions

About Our Studio

​GENERAL QUESTIONS   |   PART-TIME PROGRAMME   |   WORKSHOPS

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general questions

How much do courses cost, and what is included in the price?

PART-TIME PROGRAMME
Most part-time courses are priced at €475 per trimester. (Figure/Portrait courses which including life model costs are slightly higher at €540 per trimester.) This amount covers between 44 to 66 hours of in-class instruction, in addition to homework and lesson materials given to students outside of class. Part-time students are also welcome to work in the atelier outside of class times during open studio hours, and to participate in any extracurricular study groups.


WORKSHOPS
Tuition fees vary more widely per workshop (dependent upon instructor fees & travel, model costs, included materials, etc.) Generally courses are priced in the range of €400 - €450 for 3-day workshops, and  €600 - €695 for 5-day workshops.

​Tuition is inclusive of life model fees (in figure/portrait workshops), complimentary lunch, drinks & refreshments daily, an end-of-workshop aperitif, and any materials marked as "included" in the course materials list.

Which languages are used in class?

Unless otherwise specified, English is the primary language used in all our courses. Courses that are offered in both Nederlands and English are always indicated in the course description.

What materials do I need to bring? Does the school provide any materials?

Easels and drawing boards are always provided by DARA. Any additional materials included with the cost of tuition will always be indicated as such in the course materials list.

Each instructor compiles a list of required materials for his or her classes, which is made available online as a PDF download on each individual course page. All materials not marked as "included" are at the student's expense. We understand art supplies can be quite pricey, so we do our best to limit the materials list to only what is needed and easily found in local art stores.

Students are expected to bring all required materials in order to participate in class. If you would like to substitute an item on the list with something else, please check in with your instructor/the studio first.

How do I register for a course?

Students who wish to enroll in a class at DARA must complete an online registration form (available on the specific course page.)

Registration forms ask for:

• The student's full legal name and age;
• The student's contact information (telephone number, home address, email address);
• The name and telephone number of the person the student would like us to contact in case of emergency;
• Any medical/health concerns we need to be aware of (such as allergies, etc.);
• A summary of any previous artistic training the student has already completed;
• (for the part-time programme only) A brief explanation of the student's long-term artistic goals, and reason for interest in studying at DARA;
• (for workshops only) any dietary restrictions we need to be aware of when providing meals;
• Agreement to abide by the studio's policies.

​At this time, there are no other enrollment obligations, such as sending in a portfolio or conducting an interview in the studio.

Can anyone of any age apply?

Students of any age may apply, but please note that applicants under 18 years of age must provide written permission from a parent or legal guardian in order to enroll. Young students are advised that there may be nudity in some classes (either in figure classes in which a model will be posing nude, or classes in which students will copy after old master works which may contain nudity) and a level of maturity is expected in order to participate.

What does "skill-based training" mean?

We use the term "skill-based training" to denote that our courses prioritize the teaching of practical technical skill. Our teaching emphasizes the importance of observation - either through direct observation from life, or through the reproduction of a master's work - with the goal of working as naturalistically (as close to what can be observed in nature) as possible.

This approach is in contrast to figurative art courses that center instruction around subjective qualities such as expressionism and "finding your own style." We believe that the basis for a professional level of figurative arts training is rooted first and foremost in a high level of (objective) technical proficiency, which we believe is developed through the deliberate imitation of nature.

Do students learn to draw and paint from photographs?

No, we are not a school of photorealism. Limited use of photographic reference may be used occasionally for examples or homework assignments, but in general we do not teach from photographs. Students primarily work from direct observation of nature, or from high quality reproductions of master works.

Is there space for me to store my belongings at the studio?

Yes, every student is given individual storage space to keep art supplies, art works in progress, and other personal belongings at the studio for the duration of the course. Please check in with the studio first before bringing large items or furniture (easels, stools, etc.) as we have limited space.

​Please note that students are required to bring all their belongings home at the end of the trimester/workshop.

Can I bring my pet with me to the studio?

Unfortunately, we do not allow pets inside the studio. This is due to consideration for students who might have allergies, and due to the dangers the studio environment may pose to your pet. Some of our indoor plants are poisonous to cats and dogs, and the toxic nature of many of the painting supplies in use in our classrooms makes the environment especially hazardous to animals.

Although we may not detect any smell from odorless solvents and other oil painting mediums ourselves, prolonged exposure to these fumes may cause irritation or serious health complications for your pet. For these reasons, we kindly request that pets are kept at home.

Can I bring a friend/family member to class with me?

Classes are only open to registered participants. In order to maintain a comfortable, safe, and focused class environment for all students, guests are not permitted to join classes during scheduled class time. If a family member is accompanying you to the studio, please notify us ahead of time. He or she will be asked to stay in the entrance/lounge area while classes are in session.

Do I receive a diploma or certificate when I study here?

DARA is a private institution, and we are not accredited as an MBO or university programme. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer an officially recognized diploma or certificate at this time.

Can I follow courses online?

No, all courses we currently offer are scheduled to physically take place in the studio. We do not have any plans to offer online classes at this time.

How do I reach you by public transport?

​By  bus:
The  nearest  bus stop  is  at  Edisonstraat  (Lijn 80 Amsterdam-Zandvoort), about 5-minutes walking distance from the studio.

By train:

• From  Heemstede-Aerdenhout: At the station, take bus 80 (direction Amsterdam Elandsgracht ) and depart at Edisonstraat. (If walking directly from the station, the distance is about 20 minutes.)
• From  Haarlem  Station: At the station, take either bus 346 (direction Amsterdam-Zuid ) or bus 356  (direction Amsterdam  Bijlmer Arena. ) Depart at Tempeliersstraat and board bus 80 (direction Zandvoort Centrum.) Depart at Edisonstraat. (If walking directly from the station, the distance is about 40 minutes.)

Can I park at the studio?

Yes. There is a large parking lot directly in front of the studio building with free parking.

part-time programme

Can I sign up if I am a beginner?

New students, particularly beginners, are strongly encouraged to start with Introduction to Classical Drawing before joining other classes.

Although students will find it helpful to have prior experience in drawing and painting, it is not required to have completed any former training before enrolling. We only ask for a sincere commitment towards the pursuit of skill-based training. What we mean by this is that our courses are centered around technical skill, in which the teaching of drawing and painting is developed through the deliberate imitation of nature.

​Our courses are intended for students of all levels who agree with this philosophy and are committed to following this approach.

Can I start classes at any time?

Part-time courses are scheduled on a basis of 3-month trimesters during the Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons. Students can start at the beginning of any trimester. The registration period begins 3 months in advance of the start of each term.

Once a trimester has started, it is not possible to join the class in the middle of the term. Please wait for the next intake period.

Can I take a trial lesson before I decide if I want to continue?

Unfortunately, we do not offer trial lessons. Our class sizes are kept very limited, and the course curricula is organized around the progressive development of skills (meaning that each class builds upon the skills taught in the last.) It is difficult to get a sense of the entirety of atelier training from one session. For these reasons, it is not practical for us to offer trial lessons for drop-in students.

However, we are more than happy to welcome prospective students to schedule a visit to the studio to meet with the instructors, discuss the course curricula, and see the classroom environment firsthand before deciding whether or not DARA is the right fit. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Do you give any any scholarships or discounts?

Regrettably, we do not offer scholarships at this time. We do offer a 10% student discount off the cost of tuition for any part-time course for the following students:

• students under age 21;
• students who are enrolled in a full-time university programme during their trimester at DARA.

Students who qualify must send a copy of a valid photo ID and/or student card prior to the start of the course to claim the discount.​

Do you teach using the sight-size method?

This depends on the class. The course description of each part-time class will differentiate between the following methods that will be instructed:

• Working at a 1:1 scale. This does not denote the use of the "sight-size method," as it is commonly taught in ateliers, because this approach discourages the mechanical plotting of points that commonly characterizes the sight-size method. Instead, students sketch their drawings freehand (by eye alone) and adjust their work through making numerous careful measurements in order to correct their proportions.

 

• Comparative measurements. This denotes that the work will not be completed at a 1:1 scale with the original reference. This approach requires students to find the relative scale of each element of their drawing in proportion to all others, and is more difficult than the other two methods.

 

• The sight-size method. This denotes that the student's work will be completed at a 1:1 scale with the original reference, and the drawing will be realized through mechanical measurements. Our general stance is that the sight-size method has some limited benefits for beginners, as well as in courses in which learning to draw is not the primary focus. In general, we aim to limit its use in our classes.

I will have to miss several classes during the trimester. Can I still sign up?

We understand that some absences are unavoidable. A few absences over the course of the term are not generally an issue (though please be in attendance for the first lesson of the term if you are a new student.)

That said, the course curricula is intensive, and is designed with the full three-month schedule in mind. Regular attendance is required in order to keep up with the course work and get the full benefit of the class. If you know ahead of time that you will not be able to maintain at least an 80% attendance rate during the trimester, it is not advisable to enroll.

For the occasional absence, instructors will send any notes, homework exercises, or other missed class materials to you, and you may make use of the studio outside of class during our open studio hours to catch up on missed class work (although please note that instructors are not giving critiques during this time.)

Can I work at the studio on my own outside of class times?

Yes. During the trimester, the studio is open for students in any part-time class to work independently on Saturdays from 10:00 - 17:30. The cast room is also open for Cast Drawing & Painting students to work independently on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 18:30 - 22:00.

In general, please be respectful of our opening and closing hours. We kindly ask that students do not arrive more than 30 minutes before the start of class, and clean up promptly when class ends.

Is there an option to follow private lessons outside of class hours?

Instruction at DARA is only offered during our regular course schedule; private lessons are not offered at this time.

Are extracurricular study groups open to anyone?

Extracurricular study sessions are open to currently enrolled part-time students only. (Former part-time students may also request to join, if there is space available.)

workshops

Can I sign up if I am a beginner?

In the course description, each workshop will denote the recommended level of student ability. Although many workshops will be accessible to students of all levels, some courses are intended for more experienced painters, while others are targeted specifically for beginners.

In general, some prior training and basic drawing skills will allow students to fully benefit from all workshops on offer.

Please feel welcome to write to us with any questions you might have about enrolling in a specific workshop and whether the skill level will be suitable for you. 

Do you give any scholarships or discounts?

At this time, unfortunately we do not. Some workshop instructors may offer discounts on individual courses, and in these instances, the discount offer will always be published clearly on the workshop page.

I will be traveling to you from abroad to attend a workshop, and there are some materials on the supply list that I cannot take with me on my flight. Can you help?

Yes, absolutely. We have some* materials available for purchase directly at the studio which we know students may not be able to travel with, such as small jars of linseed oil, odorless mineral spirits, and other flammable mediums.

(*We do not commonly stock oil paints, brushes, palettes or palette knives, or pre-stretched canvas. These types of supplies should be purchased by the student ahead of time.)

What if I cannot transport wet paintings home at the end of the workshop?

Typically the studio is open the day after the workshop ends for students to collect any paintings that were too wet to take home on the last day of the course.

Please notify us if you will not be able to collect your artwork the day after the workshop ends (for instance, if you are flying back home right away) so that we can make alternate arrangements to ship your work to you. (Students will be asked to pay for shipping.)