About P.A.W.
Eve and her portfolio, age 13
Since 2019 Julie Peppito has taught classes in her studio to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to prepare for entrance to NYC’s specialized art high schools. Alumni of PAW’s Portfolio Prep have gone on to highly ranked art programs across the city including LaGuardia, Murrow, Art & Design, Sinatra, and Brooklyn High School of the Arts. She gives individualized instruction to students in an inclusive and fun environment. Small groups work in Peppito’s own Brooklyn studio, a richly creative space filled with sculptures, art books, art supplies and equipment. Julie is from Tulsa, OK and received her BFA from The Cooper Union in New York City in 1992 and her MFA from Alfred University in upstate New York in 2004. She has been a full time exhibiting artist based in New York City for over three decades. You can see her playground art in Park Slope, Prospect Heights and other parks in Brooklyn. You may have seen her 14 ft. high bird house at The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens or in front of her house on East 7th Street.
She has also taught popular programs to older and younger artists such as Draw the City, Upcycled Sculpture, Mask Making, Gouache Painting, Watercolor, Fiber Art, Fantastical Dioramas, Drawing 101 and Mixed Media Collage. New classes will be offered this summer. Sign up here to receive news about upcoming classes! Location: East 7th street, between Church + Beverly in Kensington, BK. 10 minute walk from the F/G or Q/B, 2 minute walk from B103, 4 minute walk from B68. PAW is near PS 839.
Scroll down to read about Julie Peppito, Owner / Director, see pictures and more.
Bea & Lila, age 17
More about Julie Peppito, Director
Julie Peppito in front of one of her mixed media tapestries, 2023
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Julie Peppito has been an exhibiting full time artist in New York City for over 30 years. Her colorful, engaging and playful mixed media art has been the subject of ten solo exhibitions and included in many group shows. Combining reused objects with craft media to transform waste into strange and beautiful objects, her sculptures, tapestries, and installations evoke ideas like oneness, repairing the Earth, and the human condition. Peppito’s teaching and art are grounded in our collective connection to each other and the planet.
Since receiving a BFA from The Cooper Union and an MFA from Alfred University, Peppito has created sculptures for New York City Parks Department playgrounds, made art for political activism, and taught at institutions including The Long Island Children’s Museum (Long Island, NY), Brooklyn Apple Academy, Philbrook Art Museum (Tulsa, Oklahoma), and Heartwood in the Hills (Grantsville, WV).
A mom of a teenage son, in 2019 Peppito created Peppito Art Workshop to utilize her unique artistic vision and experience to magnify the voices of middle and high school students, while helping them develop impressive portfolios for NY’s specialized art high schools. PAW also offers classes to adults and private instruction to individuals, prioritizing listening, respect, experimentation and fun.
For more info: www.juliepeppito.com
Lily and her diorama, age 11
PAW Policies
COVID : We follow CDC protocols
Missed Classes: No make up classes or refunds are available due to the short run of the program and because each class builds on the previous one. Please look at your calendar and confirm the dates before signing up. I will email students make-up work to do art home if they have to miss a class. If there is an unavoidable emergency that makes it impossible for the student to attend many classes I will discuss remedy with parents on a case by case basis.
Conflict resolution: Julie fosters inclusiveness and kindness in her classroom. Bullying is not allowed. Students and parents are encouraged to reach out to Julie if students are struggling so any problems can be solved together with open communication and grace.
Cell phones: Artists are asked to only use their phones for music and looking up reference images.
Lily’s oil pastel still life, age 13
“Julie’s art classes and advice provided an abundance of useful skills. For example, I’ve become more comfortable in shading, composition, proportions, and creativity as a whole. I attended Julie’s portfolio classes in hopes of getting into an art high school, and thanks to her guidance I’ve made 9 pieces I was genuinely proud of and felt confident in my portfolio submission.”
Lily, LaGuardia student
Sofie working on her portfolio in PAW’s outdoor studio, age 13
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
When is the best time to start a portfolio? If artists begin in 6th or 7th grade it makes the process more fun and less stressful. Portfolios are due in early December of 8th grade. It is stressful it is for parents and artists to begin building portfolios in the fall of their 8th grade year. It is very hard for students to hone their observational drawings skills and make all of the required pieces in such a short amount of time. They are trying to balance so much: studying for SHSAT, attending open houses, homework and portfolio prep.
How do I get approval for my artist to skip “Portfolio 1: Intro to Observational Drawing + Still Life” as a prerequisite for self portrait, figure drawing, fantastical sandwich and advanced portfolio programs? Email Julie with images of your young artists work and a description of their experience with art classes at peppitoartworkshop@gmail.com.
Do I need to buy supplies? All supplies are included.
Where is PAW located? In Julie’s Kensington, Brooklyn studio on East 7th between Church and Beverly (near PS130/MS 839). Near the F/G, B/Q, B103 & B35. Exact address will be given after registration.What is your typical class size? Between 6 - 10 students usually around 8 students. A minimum of 6 artists must be enrolled for a class to run.
Can I get a discount if I can’t afford the program? If you are unable to pay the full amount due to financial hardship please email: peppitoartworkshop@gmail.com
RBG watching over students in PAW’s indoor studio