ARA at ISG

Currently on view at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a marvelous show of 39 master drawings gathered in a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition: Donatello, Michelangelo, Cellini: Sculptors' Drawings from Renaissance Italy.

Coinciding with the exhibit, ARA Boston figure instructor Emanuela De Musis will be working from the live model in the museum's Tapestry Room during the Third Thursdays event, Draw Closer. Choosing a pose from one of the exhibit's pieces, Giambologna's Fountain of Oceanus, she will demo how we at ARA Boston construct a figure drawing.

In preparation for the event, Emmy created a "cartoon" in graphite which she transferred to toned paper and continued in carbon pencil, the same procedure students follow in our figure drawing program. 

This Thursday, November 20th from 6:00-8:30

For more info, please go to: http://www.gardnermuseum.org/calendar/events/5895

Cartoon Detail

Drawing Detail

ARA Boston third annual scholarship competition is open!

The Academy of Realist Art, Boston launched its third annual scholarship competition for promising artists with a love for academic style painting and drawing.

The Academy is one of a select few art schools in the world that teaches the academic approach to figure drawing and painting. We model our curriculum and classical techniques on those used by 19th-century European academies to help students master fine art skills.

The scholarship to be awarded is for one year's free tuition for the school year, September 2015-June 2016. Equivalent value is up to $7,545 for our full-time program in Boston.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Deadline for submission is March 15, 2015. Winners will be announced March 30, 2015.

For Rules and Submission information:
http://academyofrealistartboston.com/scholarship-info/

2013-2014 Scholarship Student Interview

Name?

Rachel Harrison

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am a young artist from Nashville, TN and the scholarship winner from 2013/2014. I am a very serious student; I care a lot about my education and am typically at school 7 days a week during the semester. I'm passionate about all forms of arts and sciences. My favorite painters are Rembrandt, Repin, and Caravaggio. And Ribera. And Zorn.

Where you familiar with Atelier Style Schools previous to competition?

Absolutely! I had been wanting to study at an atelier for years prior to coming to Boston; health issues and location being my main hinderance. I had studied with classically trained instructors but I was missing a consistent and challenging school environment.  

How was your experience different from what you initially expected?

I thought the school was all full time students! Thankfully, it is not a typical frustrating art school experience which completely dumbs down academic art and pushes arbitrary ideologies. The academy's focus is entirely dedicated to improving technical skill, which is exactly what I was looking for in order to express my personal interests through painting.

What do you like best about your first year at the school?

The environment is fantastic, maintaining a light atmosphere but remaining very serious. Seeing my progress and being around likeminded people. The Bougereau master copy drawing I did. The open studio option! Being able to work whenever I wanted was necessary to fostering independence. 

What was your biggest hurdle?

Simplification!! Also for me, just physically standing all day.

Do you plan to continue to study at ARA Boston?

Yes, as long as I keep seeing progress. Good work takes perseverance and repetition. The instructors here are wonderful and inspire me to push myself further. I would highly recommend the atelier program to any artist who wishes to improve their painting skills.

Your advice to future students or applicants?

Just do it! Even if you think your work isn't that great, that's the purpose of training. Draw from life as much as you can. Listen to your instructors and think before you draw. Be extremely self critical of your work. It's very important to be independent, make mistakes, find your likes and dislikes, and be receptive to critique. Always be reading about techniques and researching your favorite artists.

Anything else you would like to add?

Thank you to all of the ARA Boston staff and students for being so welcoming. :)

Saturday Figure Construct Class

Our Saturday Figure Construct class starts in less than a month (September 6th)! This course is a great opportunity for artists of any level to build experience with the figure. If you wish to make great strides in your capability and thorough understanding in drawing the human form, check out this class! Interested students should view the course description and syllabus available on our website.

Long Pose Figure drawing

Long Pose Figure drawing is open for next semester.

Beginning in graphite, students complete a 'cartoon'. This is a preliminary drawing that establishes proportion, body type, gesture and the correct grouping of light and dark. This important phase creates a solid structure.

Students then transfer the cartoon to toned paper and the drawing continues in graphite and chalk. The instructor will assist students in choosing an area of the figure to fully render. Through the articulation of subtle plane changes and correct value assignments, the students work towards a naturalistic and volumetric drawing.

The instructor will provide individual critiques, demos and lectures.

Please note: The Figure Construct Class is a pre-requisite for this class.

Saturdays, September 20th - November 22nd 10:00 am - 1:00pm
Cost: $455.00
Instructor: Emmy DeMusis

Completed Spring Projects

Congratulations to all of our students who have passed Bargues and Casts this semester! Here is a small selection of some of our completed student works from the Spring 2014 Semester:

Keep up the great work students!

Color Study for the Figure

Color study class was a hit this semester! View some of our student's work below. To register for Color Study in September visit our website. Color study runs on Tuesday nights from 5 to 8.