Cow House Studios is proud to offer the only international teen summer art program in Ireland. We present an exciting opportunity to the adventurous, self-motivated student seeking a rewarding experience focused on the visual arts. During this multidisciplinary three-week course, young artists benefit from an environment dedicated to fostering professional arts practice in a country long celebrated for its artistic inspiration. Participants are challenged to experiment beyond their creative boundaries, consider possibilities offered by their teachers and peers, and use their medium to relate their ideas to content. Using a range of materials and skills, participants develop their existing abilities and acquire new drawing, painting and photography skills. During Art on the Farm, students complete excellent portfolio pieces for advanced placement and college applications.

At Cow House Studios we teach drawing, painting and photography through expertly guided classes and rigorous studio practice. Our curriculum is centered around research, experimentation and critical thinking, complimented by practical demonstrations and workshops to advance technical knowledge. Each student documents the evolution of their work by recording ideas through sketches, research from trips and problem solving. Group critiques and individual tutorials form an integral part of our program, as students gain confidence and self-awareness in discussing their artwork. Furthermore, lectures and gallery visits introduce students to various artists working in relevant media, giving context to student’s work and further informing their own practice. We encourage a multidisciplinary approach, which includes exploring an idea or theme through a variety of materials, processes and media. 

At the core of our curriculum is drawing. Each day begins with a lesson exploring the themes of light, space, color and movement, which may then be applied to any creative process. Weeks One and Two involve intensive classes in painting, drawing and photography, as well as projects directed by themes relating to Ireland. In the third week, everyone works on their own final project using their medium of preference. 

Our small class size and intimate setting allow us to approach our curriculum with great flexibility. Our students come to us with diverse backgrounds: some have used oil paints, while others are familiar with developing prints in the darkroom. Some students come to us having had very little practice in the art room, but with a great desire to improve their artistic practice. This spectrum of interests and experience creates an interesting dynamic and great opportunity for new possibilities of creative expression. Whatever your experience, we are committed to helping students develop new skills, and build upon the talents they already have.

Much of our time is spent on the farm and the surrounding area. Outside of the studio, students can enjoy hiking and mountain biking in the Blackstairs Mountains, or gather around one of our regular campfires. We also take two trips during our three week session.  Our first trip is to Dublin, Ireland's largest city, founded by Vikings over 1000 years ago. Home to many historic treasures, we take time to visit some of the numerous world-class galleries and museums where students are exposed to both traditional and contemporary Irish and international artists. Our second trip takes us to the West. Destinations include Galway City, the Aran Islands, the Ring of Kerry, Cork and Cape Clear Island.