The Society of Figurative Arts

The Society of Figurative Arts, founded and directed by Michael Mentler, offers a unique art education experience rooted in the traditional methods of the Italian Renaissance. Michael Mentler is an internationally recognized artist with expertise in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, and photography. He has studied, absorbed, and reinvented those methods to make them relevant to today’s artists. The Society's mission is to cultivate visual thinking skills, essential for success in fine, applied, performing, decorative, and digital arts.

The studio provides hands-on classes, workshops, and apprentice programs focusing on drawing fundamentals, figure drawing and painting, cast drawing, portraiture, still-life, composition, design, perspective, proportion, and constructive anatomy. Students can participate in open figure and portrait drawing sessions, or enroll in structured workshops covering specific techniques like the Mentler Methode. Online courses are also available for those who prefer to learn remotely.

Located in Carrollton, TX, The Society of Figurative Arts maintains a 2100 sq. ft teaching facility equipped with a model stand, easels, academy benches, supply tables, dedicated form lighting, an art resource library, and a collection of plaster casts. The studio aims to provide an immersive environment where artists can master their craft through a blend of historical techniques and contemporary application. Discover the path to mastering the human form and unlock your artistic potential at The Society of Figurative Arts.