United Artists of PA is a student-founded nonprofit bringing hands-on art enrichment — drawing, color theory, and painting — to kids who've lost access to it in school.
We're high school students in Palo Alto. Some of us grew up with art classes — a teacher who handed us a pencil and said just try it. Some of us didn't.
When a school budget gets tight, art is usually the first thing to go. It gets treated like the extra — the thing you get to if there's time and money left over. There usually isn't.
But think about what happens when a kid who's never called themselves creative finishes a drawing they're actually proud of. Something shifts. They start asking questions — about light, about how things are put together, about how to get the thing in their head onto the paper. That's not extra. That's the whole point.
So we built UAPA. It's a 23-week course — drawing, then color, then painting — completely free, with every supply provided.
We're not experts. We're students who had access to this, and we think everyone should.
United Artists of PA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Every donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law, and goes directly to art supplies and materials for students.
Twenty-three weeks, in three phases — from the first pencil lines to a finished piece.
| Wk | Theme | What we cover | Optional homework |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro to Drawing & Materials | Icebreaker + overview. How to use graphite, blending, erasers, sketchbook basics. | Draw 3 household objects. |
| 2 | Line & Shape | Contour drawing, blind contour, gesture lines. | Draw your hand or a plant using contour lines. |
| 3 | Value & Shading | Light source, value scales, creating depth. | Shade a sphere and cube using pencil. |
| 4 | Form & Volume | Turning 2D shapes into 3D forms (cylinder, cone, box). | Sketch objects with basic forms. |
| 5 | Perspective Basics | 1-point perspective (rooms, boxes). | Draw a simple room or street. |
| 6 | Still Life Composition | Arrange and draw objects with attention to light and shadow. | Redraw a corner of your home. |
| 7 | Texture & Details | Explore different surfaces (metal, fabric, glass). | Practice rendering textures. |
| Wk | Theme | What we cover | Optional homework |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Intro to Color | Primary, secondary, and complementary colors. | Create a color wheel. |
| 9 | Layering & Blending | How to blend colors smoothly and add depth. | Color a small landscape study. |
| 10 | Warm vs Cool Colors | How temperature affects mood. | Draw something warm/cool themed. |
| 11 | Light & Shadow in Color | Translating graphite shading to color. | Redraw a shaded object in color. |
| 12 | Composition & Balance | Arranging elements to lead the eye. | Thumbnail sketches for a larger piece. |
| 13 | Landscape Drawing | Work from photo references. Discuss atmospheric perspective. | Sketch an outdoor scene. |
| 14 | Colors and Values | Expressing feeling through color choice. | Color an abstract mood piece. |
| Wk | Theme | What we cover | Optional homework |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Intro to Painting | Materials, setup, and brush care. | Mix paint to create value scales. |
| 16 | Acrylic Techniques | Layering, blending, texture. | Paint a simple still life. |
| 17 | Color Harmony & Contrast | Using color to guide composition. | Small color study. |
| 18 | Planning the Final Project | Brainstorm & sketch ideas using a personal photo reference. | Take or choose a reference photo. |
| 19 | Blocking In & Underpainting | Transfer sketch to canvas, begin color blocking. | Continue at home if possible. |
| 20 | Detail & Refinement | Focus on edges, contrast, and color adjustment. | Work on refining painting. |
| 21 | Final Touches & Feedback | Group critiques and finishing techniques. | Prepare statement for showcase. |
| 22 | Final Showcase Prep | Mounting or framing, writing artist blurbs. | Practice talking about their art. |
| 23 | Art Showcase Day! | Students present final works; feedback and celebration. | None |
Our team has hands-on experience tutoring and mentoring students.
Materials are provided at no cost, sized to fit each class.
We widen access to art education — and every class strengthens UAPA too.
Offers guidance and strategy, helping the team work through obstacles.
Built and maintains this site, from mission to student showcase.
Works alongside the finance team to lead fundraising efforts.
Tracks the budget and oversees funding for supplies and program costs.
Organizes classes and runs monthly founder meetings.
Runs social media and outreach to spread the word about UAPA.
Supports the CFO and CDO with day-to-day fundraising work.
Works under the CTO to help build and maintain the site.
Leads UAPA's overall direction and coordinates across every team.
We're finalizing our giving platform. Every dollar goes directly toward art supplies and materials for students — nothing else. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your gift is fully tax-deductible. Check back shortly, or reach out below if you'd like to give directly.
Donate — coming soonWhether you're a teacher, a parent, a fellow student, or just curious about UAPA — we'd love to hear from you.
Send us a message and we'll get back to you within a few days.