Sara Argue Art Studio

5.0

(5) 5 reviews

855 Islington Street, Studio 325
Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801

Private Lessons

Art Lessons

KIDS 60 Min / Private Art Lessons

1 hr$150

Join me for a private, 60 minute one-on-one art lesson in my bright Portsmouth art studio. These sessions offer fully personalized instruction tailored to your child's experience and interests, within a focused and supportive environment.

Each lesson begins with a demonstration, followed by guided studio time. I work closely with your child throughout the session, offering clear, constructive feedback as they work.

All art supplies are provided! All you need to do is show up in paint-ready clothing with a water bottle and snack. Parents are required to stay for the first lesson to ensure that this is a good fit overall, then after that we will decide together if they want to drop their child off for the next one.

Lessons will vary and may focus on fundamentals such as drawing, painting, color mixing, brushwork, and composition—or on developing a body of work. Working in acrylic, watercolor, chalk and oil pastels, Prisma colored pencils, collage and mixed media—these sessions are designed for young artists who want to explore art with a professional artist in a working art studio, with fun, playful guidance, thoughtful conversation, and real-life art experiences to absorb.
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Many students choose to meet weekly or 1-2 times a month to build momentum and continuity in their work and development.

90 Min / Private Art Lesson

1 hr 30 mins$175

Join me for private, 90 minute one-on-one painting lessons in my bright Portsmouth studio. These sessions offer fully personalized instruction tailored to your experience, interests, and goals, within a focused and supportive environment.

Each lesson begins with a brief conversation or demonstration, followed by guided studio time. I work closely with you throughout the session, offering clear, constructive feedback as you paint. I’m a direct and open communicator, and critique is part of the process — not to judge the work, but to help you see more clearly, build skills, and move forward with confidence. And we laugh and have fun too ;)

Private lessons are open to all levels, from beginners to experienced painters. Students bring their own supplies, allowing us to work with the materials you’re already using or interested in exploring. If you need assistance with supplies, let me know and we can discuss the path forward.

Lessons may focus on fundamentals such as drawing, color mixing, brushwork, and composition, or on developing your own body of work. Working in oil, acrylic, or watercolor, these sessions are designed for artists who want honest guidance, thoughtful conversation, and real growth over time.

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These lessons are best suited for folks who are open to thoughtful, direct feedback and ready to actively engage in their growth process. Many students choose to meet biweekly or monthly to build momentum and continuity in their work.

3 Hour / Private Art Lesson

3 hrs$300

Join me for private, 3 hour one-on-one painting lessons in my bright Portsmouth studio. These sessions are a deep-dive in personalized instruction tailored to your experience, interests, and goals, within a focused and supportive environment.

Each lesson begins with a brief conversation or demonstration, followed by guided studio time. I work closely with you throughout the session, offering clear, constructive feedback as you paint. I’m a direct and open communicator, and critique is part of the process — not to judge the work, but to help you see more clearly, build skills, and move forward with confidence. And we laugh and have fun too ;)

Private lessons are open to all levels, from beginners to experienced painters. Students bring their own supplies, allowing us to work with the materials you’re already using or interested in exploring.

Lessons may focus on fundamentals such as drawing, color mixing, brushwork, and composition, or on developing your own body of work. Working in oil, acrylic, or watercolor, these sessions are designed for artists who want honest guidance, thoughtful conversation, and real growth over time.

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These lessons are best suited for folks who are open to thoughtful, direct feedback and ready to actively engage in their growth process. Many students choose to meet biweekly or monthly to build momentum and continuity in their work.

Discovery Video Call

15 minsFree

Art Workshops

Studio Painting Workshops

Oil Painting / Impressionist Floral Workshop

4 hrs$175

Join me for a 4-hour small-group oil painting workshop in my bright Portsmouth studio. With only six participants, this session offers thoughtful, individualized instruction in a relaxed and supportive environment.

Open to all levels. All materials are provided. There will be an additional 30 min added ad the end of class for clean up.

This is an on-going series of workshops where we’ll recreate some of the most iconic Impressionist paintings while exploring the fundamentals of that style of painting. I’ll guide you through color mixing, brushwork, and layering techniques that make this style such an approachable and rewarding place to begin. We’ll work on canvas using a combination of acrylic and oil paint, allowing you to build confidence quickly while still experiencing the richness of oils. Impressionism is one of the most accessible styles to dive into, and this session is designed to help you loosen up, trust your eye, and enjoy the process of painting. You will leave with a finished piece!

The workshop begins with a brief demonstration, followed by guided studio time. I’ll circulate throughout the session offering feedback, answering questions, and helping you problem-solve as you work.

Oil Painting / Claude Monet Workshop

4 hrs$175

About

Hi, I'm Sara! With a lifelong relationship to painting and formal training at the Rhode Island School of Design, my practice spans oil, acrylic, and watercolor and is grounded in thoughtful studio work. My paintings have been shown in solo and group exhibitions across the Northeast and internationally, including in Brittany, France, and in Assisi and Rome, Italy.

My work grows out of observation, feeling, and curiosity about materials. Alongside my own practice, I run a design studio and teach small group painting workshops in my Portsmouth studio. I love sharing my calm, welcoming space and witnessing the discovery and delight that comes when people explore art with their own hands.

(603) 997-1098

sara@saraargue.com

https://saraargue.com

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Reviews

5 reviews

JoMay Schleicher
··from Google
I truly enjoyed Sara's very recent Monet oil painting class. She is very knowledgeable and an effective teacher. She gave me very helpful feedback and guided me so well that I ended up pretty impressed with my very first oil painting and many of my friends and family were also impressed. I've never painted with oils and the only painting I've done in the past are during those paint and sip events where you don't really learn how to paint at all. I look forward to taking her watercolor class next!
jude
··from Google
I took Sara’s Monet Water Lilies class and I had never painted with oil before, and never finished a project before. Not only did we finish the painting but I actually love it! Sara is a fantastic teacher and artist and she was able to guide the class through all the steps involved in a way that was easy to follow and make it fun. I definitely want to continue to learn from her. Thank you Sara!!! 🎨🎨🎨
Diane Dunn
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I am so happy I took Sara’s oil painting class. I had such a great first experience with oil. Sara took us step by step and then worked with each of us to answer questions and guide us. She was very encouraging and cared about how we felt in the process. We were able to take home a finished painting. I love my painting and I don’t often feel that way with my water color paintings. I’m proud of it! I will definitely take another class with Sara. I highly recommend her class and her approach guiding students.
Brett Vankoski
··from Google
The older I get the more I realize that there are only a few truly special professional relationships in one’s life that result in friendship, admiration and success. Sara is one of those few people who, with great fortune, I have come to know in this way. Sara was the creative force behind several wine brands, helping to reshape and redefine them in ways that would resonate on a deeper level with the customers we hoped to reach. She did this so well that one of her designs ended up tattooed on a young woman, an obvious fan of our champagne. Sara is talented in so many ways. Her creativity and artistry is matched only by her intellect which blends a piercing design eye with a humorous lightheartedness that emanates from someone who knows deeply what she is meant to do in this world. I cannot recommend Sara enough, and truly hope we get to work together again one day.
Stephanie Gallagher
··from Google
We had the absolute best experience working with Sara on the custom map for our new development sales gallery in Portsmouth. The final piece — a stunning 50" x 50" installation — came out beautifully and exceeded our expectations in both design and quality. She turned the project around incredibly quickly and was a true professional throughout the process. The map has become a standout feature in our space, and we’re so grateful for her creativity, responsiveness, and attention to detail. We couldn’t recommend her more highly!