Our 12th Anniversary!

The Inland NW Drawing School is an art school based in Spokane, WA.  We have been teaching art in the Spokane area for over 10 years by providing a sequential progressive art curriculum that teaches kids and adults the fundamentals of representational drawing and painting. At our school, you will find a quiet, non-competitive, non-judgmental environment where students are encouraged to draw at their own pace without performance pressure. The Inland NW Drawing School emphasizes the process of learning to draw, improving art skills, and expanding creativity. Students include kids ages 6 to 12 as well as adults and teens.  Our ongoing art classes run from October til June with open enrollment throughout the school year. We also offer seasonal art camps.

At the Inland NW Drawing School, we understand drawing is the foundation for all art forms and learning to draw has been shown to increase levels of concentration, problem solving, and math and reading skills.  Art can also boost confidence in kids and adults.  Join us and see how you and your kids can thrive with art!

Why Choose Our Program?

We believe ANYONE can learn to draw and paint and have fun while doing it. We have an age and skill appropriate class for you… kids or adults. We specialize in teaching absolute beginner adults (those who say they can only draw stick figures). Art lessons are step by step to make art skill building easy and non-stressful. Art curriculum for school-aged kids is aligned with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements for the Arts (EALRs). Our art school has highly trained staff who care about the success of each student. We provide all art supplies needed for each drawing class.

Come join the fun of creating art at the Inland NW Drawing School and join others who are learning art basics and beyond!

Our New Director Susan Whaley

I graduated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a degree in Art & Art History. Art has been a constant in my life since childhood. In the 6th grade I won a First Place prize in the annual J.C. Penney Art contest, and again during high school. During college I was an Art counselor at a private camp in Maine. After college, I taught art in both a public school and a parochial school. The summer between I spent in Europe, seeing art everywhere. Before starting a family I was the Co-director & Art counselor at the Girl Scout camp at Mt. St. Helen’s for two summers. Before moving to Spokane we lived outside Washington, D.C. where I was painting, drawing & visiting many galleries in the area. Later in Spokane I operated my own business creating courtroom graphics called Litigation Graphics. I call this my Left-Brain art period! Most recently I’ve been teaching art at Inland NW Drawing School & now I am the new owner. Currently I am painting in oils exclusively, with portraits & landscapes my specialty. Teaching allows me to share my passion for art & learn from my students about their personal experiences with it. We all learn from each other!

About our Founder

Valerie Frey, a native of Spokane, began her artistic pursuits at the age of 10 taking private painting lessons. Later at the University of WA she studied art & science. Years later living abroad in Malaysia she studied under acclaimed batik artist Sam Karuna, and while residing in South India she taught art at the local Indian elementary school. Currently she is marketing her own art work of watercolors, oils & batiks. Her work is full of brilliant layering of color, delicate floral shapes and expressive lines which you can view on her website www.valeriefreypaintings.com

Artwork by Valerie Frey