The Bartosz Beda Art Academy: Master-Level Fine Art Instruction in Dallas & Richardson.
Bringing twenty years of international exhibiting experience to the studio. Discover a rigorous, academic "System of Seeing" designed for adults, professionals, and senior communities.
For over two decades, my life has been dedicated to the investigation of the figurative image and the archaeology of the surface. As an artist with an MFA from the Manchester School of Art and a record of international exhibitions from London to Bogota, I believe that art is not a mysterious ‘gift’, but it is a cognitive discipline.
I founded the Art Academy at Art Be You to bridge the gap between hobbyist ‘sip and paint’ sessions and university-level fine art instruction. Based in Richardson, Texas, since 2018, my academy provides a sanctuary for those who seek to master the traditional foundations of drawing and painting in a focused, professional environment.
Moving Beyond the Image: The System of Seeing
In the modern digital landscape, we are overwhelmed by images but have lost the ability to truly see. My pedagogical approach is rooted in the European academic tradition. We focus on the Logic of the Palette and the Physics of Light.
Teaching at institutions like Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the University of Idaho has taught me that students excel when they are given a repeatable system. In my academy, we do not ‘copy’ pictures. We investigate form. We study how a stack of books is actually a series of geometric planes interacting with a light source. We study how Pyrrole Red (the Ferrari Red) vibrates against its complement.
Whether you are an absolute beginner who ‘can’t draw a stick figure’ or an experienced painter looking to break through a plateau, my curriculum is designed to challenge your perception. We navigate the tension between representation and abstraction, learning when to add paint and, more importantly, when to let the image fail so the painting can begin.
Fine Art Classes in Richardson: Drawing, Painting, and Color Theory
The Art Academy offers a rotating schedule of intensives designed for small groups (Max 6 students) to ensure one-on-one mentorship.
Drawing: An exploration into charcoal and graphite. We focus on value scales, contouring, and the ‘archaeology’ of a drawing. This is the essential foundation for all fine art.
Painting: An exploration of painting materials, techniques, color. We focus on proportions, mixing colors and eveloping esential foundation for arcylic and oil painting.
The Science of Color (Painting): Moving beyond the tube. I teach students how to mix ‘Chromatic Greys,’ how to avoid the ‘Muddy Shadow’ trap, and how to create atmospheric depth using a limited palette.
Figurative Abstraction Workshops: For advanced students looking to explore the space where the recognizable object dissolves into the reality of the oil paint.
Private Mentorship: 1-on-1 sessions for artists building a professional portfolio for college admissions or gallery representation.
Specialized Art Programs for Senior Communities in Dallas-Fort Worth
Fine art is a powerful tool for cognitive engagement and motor skill maintenance. I provide ‘Turnkey’ Art Workshops for high-end senior living, assisted living, and memory care communities in the DFW Metroplex (including Preston Center, Richardson, and Plano).
My ‘Still Life with Books’ and ‘Landscape Logic’ sessions are specifically designed to be high-success and low-stress. I handle 100% of the logistics by bringing professional easels, pre-sketched canvases, and instructional guides to your facility. These programs move beyond ‘crafts’ to offer residents a dignified, university-level creative experience that fosters social connection and mental clarity. I am proud to partner with leading Dallas institutions to bring the master’s studio to their residents.
Professional Artist Development and Critiques
For serious practitioners, the Art Academy provides professional Portfolio Reviews and Career Consultations. Leveraging my experience as a founder of Execute Magazine and an internationally exhibited artist, I provide rigorous, objective feedback on work-in-progress.
A portfolio review is a 60-minute investigation into your technical execution, conceptual consistency, and market positioning. These sessions are available in-person at my Richardson studio or globally via Zoom. We discuss the ‘Transformation’ of your work—identifying the moment of revelation that moves a painting from a study to a masterpiece.
Visit the Studio
The Bartosz Beda Art Academy is located within the Art Be You studio in the heart of Richardson, Texas. We are conveniently located near Arapaho and Custer, serving students from Dallas, Plano, Addison, Garland, and the greater North Texas area.
Address: Arapaho Rd, Richardson, TX 75081
Email: info [at] bartoszbeda [dot] com
Bridging the Gap Between the Studio and the Community.
I believe that art is a cognitive necessity. Whether in my private Richardson studio or a high-end senior living community in Preston Center, my mission is to provide an intellectual and creative sanctuary. Art is not just about making pictures; it is about a “system of seeing” that fosters mental clarity, social connection, and the preservation of fine motor skills. For seniors, it is a powerful tool for cognitive engagement; for professionals, it is the ultimate “screen break.
The Bartosz Beda Art Academy (Art Be You) offers “Turnkey” Fine Art Workshops and Intensives. We move beyond casual “crafts” to teach the foundations of European academic painting. We specialize in project-based learning—from “Still Life with Books” to “Vibrant Floral Composition”—using professional-grade oils, acrylics, and charcoal. Every session is designed to ensure that every student, regardless of experience, walks away with a work they are proud of.
I utilize a method called “Instructional Scaffolding.” For large groups and senior communities, I pre-sketch the primary compositions on canvases before the session begins. This removes the initial “barrier of the blank page” and allows students to focus entirely on the logic of the brushstroke, color temperature, and the physics of light. By providing printed instructional guides and 1-on-1 coaching, I ensure that the 90-minute workshop is a high-success, low-stress environment.
Instruction is led by Bartosz Beda, an internationally exhibiting artist with an MFA from the Manchester School of Art. With over two decades of professional experience and a background teaching at institutions like SMU, I bring university-grade expertise to every easel. Workshops are designed for senior living activity directors, corporate team-building organizers, and adults seeking a rigorous creative outlet.
Based in Richardson, Texas, since 2018, I serve the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. I am currently booking monthly residencies and one-off events for the year round classes. My studio is conveniently located near Arapaho, providing a focused, professional space for our weekly drawing and painting intensives.