ARC approved Academy of Realist Art is building its online video and DVD portfolio to familiarize visitors with our programs and provide detailed instruction on realist art techniques. When complete, our online video offerings will include studio tours, as well as workshop summaries and helpful hints from senior instructors at ARA.

We are also planning the launch of a new DVD release “In the Studios of the Old Masters” this summer. A sequel to the highly popular “Drawing the Figure”, this DVD will walk students through many of the painting techniques used by the Old Masters.

Check out the ARA website at www.academyofrealistart.com to view the latest online videos. For pricing information or to pre-order a copy of “In the Studios of the Old Masters” DVD, contact info@academyofrealistart.com.

ARC approved Academy of Realist Art is expanding its reach in North America and Europe in the coming months. While details won’t be available until the official announcements are made, plans are in the works for ARA – with the enthusiastic support of local government agencies - to open a new school in a European resort location as early as June 2010. ARA is also in the very early stages of considering a new site in the UK in response to popular demand.

ARA Boston is undergoing some major upgrades, as it takes on more space to accommodate its growing student population. The studio is in the process of grooming new instructors, as well as expanding its highly-popular workshop calendar. Visit www.academyofrealistartboston.com to learn more.

Last but not least, ARA is also looking to establish a more permanent program in the Ottawa region in partnership with the Monart Art School. Already a popular location for workshops, this site will be home to an extended ARA curriculum, and will feature regularly scheduled workshops with senior ARA instructors.

Updates will be posted on the ARA website at www.academyofrealistart.com or email info@academyofrealistart.com to be added to our mailing list.

 

 

 

 

ARA student Mercedes Cirfi Walton has realized her passion for art and architecture with the publication of her new book, L'architettura di Antonio Federighi - The Architecture of Antonio Federighi. The launch took place at the Palazzo Pubblico (City Hall) in Siena, Italy on December 21, where she celebrated with her many friends, family members and colleagues.

Mercedes was encouraged to publish her research by Italian scholars in Siena after reading her 1996 thesis on Antonio Federighi and his pivotal role in introducing the Renaissance style to the city during the 15th century. Among other noteworthy achievements, Federighi was also the personal architect to Pope Pius II, considered to be one of the greatest humanist pontiffs  in history.

Her new “masterpiece” published by Betti Editori (ISBN: 9788875761462) is now available in the New York through Michael Shamansky, Booksellers Inc.  “For Siena to come to North America and ask me to publish was a great honour and showed me that my work was worthwhile,” she says.

Having entered the world of publishing, Mercedes says she is anxious to get back and continue her studies on Siena’s rich Renaissance history. “It’s so rare to explore something from the 1400s that no one has studied before. This has been a wonderful experience.”

Mercedes is currently looking for a Canadian distributer for her book. If you have any enquiries, or would like to know when her book launch will take place in Toronto, please contact her at: pantheon.group@sympatico.ca

ARA student Heather La Rue has been asked to participate in a 10th anniversary invitational show at the Georgina Arts Centre & Gallery in Sutton, Ontario. Heather will be showing two children’s portraits that she is creating especially for the kick-off event being held Sunday, January 31, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

A part-time ARA student for more than five years, Heather’s portrait work has been featured at the gallery on previous occasions and she has received several commissions from those events. “I couldn't be happier that these kinds of opportunities are now becoming possible thanks to everyone at ARA,” she says.

The Georgina Arts Centre & Gallery is located on 149 High St. in Sutton, Ontario. For information, call 905-722-9587. You can also email info@gacag.com or visit www.gacag.com. Directions to the gallery can be found at http://www.gacag.com/pages/level2/about/location.html.

 

 

ARA graduate Yevgeniya Savosta's tenebrist still life graces the cover of the new Canadian Brushstroke Magazine.

Brushstroke magazine, an innovative electronic artist magazine, has a feature article on Yevgeniya titled Business As Usual Is Now A Joy.

The article discusses how Yevgeniya changed career paths from business and is now a successful young artist after studying at the academy. 

The article displays several of her paintings including; the portrait of Janette Woodroffe in oil, graphite drawing of Lidya, the portrait of Dr. Elaine in oil, and her Still Life with White Flowers.

The magazine is an e-zine and is a free subscription at www.brushstrokemagazine.com

Congratulations Yevgeniya!

Yevgeniya's personal web site www.savart.ca

ARC Salon Top 100

ARA student Yevgeniya Savosta's still life 'Bon Voyage' was chosen as one of the Top 100 Finalists in the Art Renewal Center’s 2008/2009 International ARC Salon.
The painting was judged to be among the best out of 1,600 entries received from around the world.  It is featured on their site www.artrenewal.org.  Additionally, the image will be reproduced in their full color salon catalogue.

See the other ARC finalists at:  www.artrenewal.org/articles/2009/Salon/winners5.asp

Juried Portrait Exhibition in London, UK
 
Yevgeniya has also been invited to participate in the prestigious Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition.  Over 200 portraits by some 100 artists will be hung in this exhibition. Also some famous portrait painters will have their new works on display.  June Mendoza is exhibiting her new painting of the noted conductor Sir Mark Elder. Sue Ryder is showing a group portrait of the Deacon family. Sergei Pavlenko’s portraits of HRH Prince Michael of Kent and HM King Abdullah II of Jordan will also be displayed. Several of the artists displaying work have also gained fame as previous winners of the BP Portrait Award.  The exhibition will take place in the refurbished Mall Galleries which is a fresh, contemporary and exciting new gallery space.

Date:  May 7 to 23, 2009
Location: 17 Carlton House Terrace (In the center of London in between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar square)
Telephone: 020 7930 6844

Private viewing of the exhibition to be opened by the Right Honorable Baroness Betty Boothroyd on Wednesday May 6th,  2009. 

Painting: Portrait of Janette Woodroffe by Yevgeniya Savosta

About the Royal Society of Portrait Painters:
Since 1891 the Society has been devoted exclusively to the art and development of portrait painting which, continues to thrive and enjoys increasing popularity with artists and commissioners alike. The enormous diversity on display in its annual shows both from its members and from the open selection make it the perfect destination for those wishing to commission a portrait or wishing to explore contemporary life through the eyes of the artist.
One of the first members of the society were James McNeill Whistler, George Frederick Watts and Sir John Everett Millais.

Congratulations and good luck Yevgeniya!

Yevgeniya's website:  www.savart.ca
info@savart.ca

ARA student Matt Sissel has recently completed a dramatic portrait commission. 

The portrait is of Filip, the owner of Phil's Espresso at the intersection of Dundas & Keele.  Matt executed the portrait in carbon pencil on cold press paper.  The drawing measures 16X22 inches.  The portrait now hangs proudly in his cafe.  Enjoy an expresso and the portrait next time you are at Phil's.

Matt met Filip earlier in the year while at the cafe and introduced him to his realist work.  Fil immediately wanted a portrait of himself after seeing one of Matt's grandpa's.  Matt is now currently working on the details of a second commission of a historic urban scene.

 

About Matt Sissel
Student at the Academy of Realist Art - Toronto (at cast painting level)
He is originally from the US. 

Matt was formerly a combat medic for the US Army and served for 2 years in Iraq.  He was part of a small team charged with training and advising the Iraqi military.

Matt indicates that he has always been interested in realistic art, having grown up with a wildlife artist as a father.  He took an art class for 2 weeks in college and dropped it, realizing they were never going to teach him what he wanted to know.  Matt thought 'because I didn't think I was that good at art, I didn't pursue art as a career until discovering the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto.  Based on the student work at the school and their promise that art is a skill that can be taught, it was clear to me that I could get a world class education in realistic art.' 

He soon left school and home and headed to Toronto as soon as it became feasible.  Well done Matt!

Matt's personal website:  www.mattsissel.com

Congratulations to Diliana Popova who recently graduated from the ARA program.

Diliana has been a student with us for a number of years.  She teaches the ARA children's program as well as various workshops throughout the year.

Well done D!

About Diliana:

Painting for me is a ritual. It provides for me a window of perception which is unequalled by any other act. I find my inspiration and drive in the often imperceptible nuances of personality and the endless capacity for expression and meaning found in the human form.

My work consists mainly of studies of the human figure and portraiture. It is through these subjects that I have found the greatest freedom within my craft. My aim, every time charcoal touches paper or paint canvas, is to capture the unseen through the obvious; the tiny mechanism of the internal clock that all put together, show the uniqueness of a subject.

My greatest influences are found in El Greco and August Rodin for their unparalleled ability to animate the human figure.
I have been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember and have always been attracted to the more traditional side of the art spectrum. To me craft has always held a high place in the hierarchy of creating and the communication of the visual narrative. This led me to study Art History and Traditional Painting and Drawing techniques.

Diliana's website:  http://dilianapopova.com/painting/

Date:  April 2 - May 4, 2009

Location:  Joseph D. Carrier Gallery - Columbus Centre (901 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto)

Gallery Hours:  Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Exhibit:  Praxis:  'Beauty and Truth' - The Inaugural Salon of Classical Realism in Canada

The show will run for 6 weeks and highlights Canadian graduates of Florentine Academies and professional Canadian classical realist artists.

Many graduates and former students of the Academy of Realist Art are in the show with some of their best work.  These include Matthew Mancini (shown above with his still life), Juan Martinez, Katherine Stone, and David Gluck to name a few. 

More information can be found at

http://www.villacharities.com/carrier/carrier_main.asp?View=Events

or view the show online at

http://www.underthemoon.ca/Praxis beauty and truth.htm

 

 

A still life painting by Toronto art school alumnus David C. Hancock is featured on the cover of the October issue of Art and Antiques. The painting is an example of the curriculum at Academy of Realist Art, where classical painting and drawing techniques are taught.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) October 29, 2006 — A still life painting by Academy of Realist Art Alumnus, David C. Hancock, is featured on the cover of the October Issue of Art and Antiques Magazine. Read more about –> Toronto Art School Alumnus Featured on Cover of October Art & Antiques Magazine