Scottsdale Artists’ School: 40 Years of Artist Education

Every great artist has to start somewhere. Pursuing a career in art can be challenging, and many of the artists we interview for Art of the West credit a particular workshop or instructor as being the launch pad to where they are today. Where better to gain these experiences than an art school?

As Scottsdale Artists’ School (SAS) in Scottsdale, Arizona, celebrates its 40th anniversary, we want to recognize the opportunities it provides for aspiring artists. The school was established in 1983 and provides art education opportunities for adults, teens, and children. All instructors are professional working artists, and many of them also studied at SAS.

One example is award-winning landscape artist Matt Smith, who has been both a student and a teacher at the Scottsdale Artists’ School. We caught up with Smith and asked about his experiences at the school. “I wouldn’t be where I am without the help of Scottsdale Artists’ School,” he says, before answering several questions we posed to him.

Read the full article in the July/August 2023 issue.