Academy of Realist Art - 2968 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Saturday December 19, 2009
2:00 to 7:00 pm

You are cordially invited to our annual Holiday open house. Everyone is welcome.  We hope to see you there!

Special Lecture Series by Juan Carlos Martinez
Part I - December 17, 2009 7:00 to 9:30 pm
Part II - December 18, 2009 7:00 to 9:30 pm
Academy of Realist Art - 2968 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Overview: This lavishly illustrated two-part slide lecture examines the history of the modern Classical Realism movement from its origins in the ateliers of 19th century Paris; as well as illustrates the important role that ARA plays in the preservation and integrity of the modern Classical Realism movement.

Part 1 will examine the art, the artists, the students and the studios of 19th century academic art through the 1800s to the First World War, from David to Bouguereau and beyond. The lecture will include an overview of the works of the French academicians, along with English, Italian, and other European artists, as well as Canadian and American influences.
Part 2 will continue the story and examine how academic art and training has been kept alive in the 20th century through the efforts of a few artists, including the first “classical realists” in the U.S. Other branches of post-war art that have been influential in ARA’s development will also be introduced, including the works of Pietro Annigoni. Notable 20th century and contemporary classical realism will also be highlighted, as well as examples of the diversity of work that is making significant inroads on the current art scene.
Note:  External guests must reserve a place.  Contact:  info@academyofrealistart.com

This fall, history and art come together in an an exciting combination to help adults learn history!

Event:  History Through Art Lecture
Location:  Academy of Realist Art Toronto
Guest Speaker:  Scott Powell
Date:  Thursday September 17th, 2009
Time:  6:30 to 9:00

Scott Powell, the creator of A First History for Adults™, the acclaimed distance-learning history curriculum for adults, is offering a new learning opportunity to adult students of art. It's called “HistoryThroughArt.” 

This innovative pedagogical approach presents the narrative story of history and uses the integrating power of art to allow students to visualize the events and characters as well as the story's abstract themes. History Through Art will help you:  develop a greater appreciation of the instructive power of art, and a better understanding of the meaning and value of history … because HistoryThroughArt combines the power of history and art in every lecture. 

We'll learn about the Roman Empire and its long-term impact on the world … the Dark Ages, and the rise and disintegration of Feudal Christendom … the pivotal period of the French Revolution and Napoleon, and finally … the revolutions of the nineteenth century that shaped the modern world.

Contact Colleen Johnston (info@academyofrealistart.com or call 416-766-1280) for further event and program details, including a syllabus for prospective students.

The lecture is free to all ARA students.

 

Matt Sissel has recently completed another commission - "Journey of Memories";  14" x 18"; Carbon on paper.  Matt received the commission based on a referral by a fellow student.  The client wanted a drawing that depicted her husband, his motorcycle, and the trips he has taken over the years.  The final work will be given to her husband as a surprise for their 25th wedding anniversary this coming June. 

Matt really enjoyed interacting with the client during the various stages of the drawing.  He made every attempt to understand her needs and desires regarding the final product and advised her of what he thought would be most aesthetically pleasing given the parameters.  In the end the client was very happy with the results.  One challenge that had to be overcome was the lack of reference due to the fact that the piece was a surprise for the subject!  Matt thinks this piece was a very important introduction to problem solving in client-artist relations.

Congratulations Matt!

About Matt Sissel:

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

I've always been interested in realistic art, having grown up with a wildlife artist as a father.  I took an art class for 2 weeks in college and dropped it, realizing they were never going to teach me what I wanted to know.  Because I didn't think I was that good at art, I didn't think of pursuing 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.  I left school and headed to Toronto as soon as it became feasible.

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

The impossible is possible!

To Joseph Pfeiffer-Herbert  pursuing his dream to study art full-time in an atelier seemed impossible. He had commitments. He had established a career as a math teacher, he was newly married and was about to embark on a cross country move in order for his wife to pursue her masters degree in science. As luck would have it his wife Anna enrolled at the University of Rhode Island where the New School of Classical Art Atelier was located. This was a program modeled on the Florence Academy program, being taught by one of its’ former instructors, Dana Levin. With encouragement and support from his wife Joseph’s dream went from seeming impossible to becoming reality. Joseph made a leap from the security of the working world and dove full-time into his art studies.

After a couple of years of operation Dana closed her school in December, 2008. Just as this was happening Joseph received notification from the Art Renewal Center that the Academy of Realist Art was opening its’ new Boston location. Joseph enrolled at the Academy right away without skipping a beat in his studies. 

With his commitment and focus Joseph is plowing through his ARA assignments. Not only is Joseph living his “impossible” dream he’s working to create even greater possibilities. He has organized a one-man show of his academic drawings. The show is at the Paper Cut Gallery, 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island from March 28 to April 24.  All are invited to the opening reception March 28th from 7 – 9 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Cindy
Senior Instructor
Academy of Realist Art  Boston

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

 

 

Ji Hong is a ARA Toronto workshop student.  He has participated in many workshops at the Academy such as the Alla Prima and Sketching the Figure in Oil.  He credits the training he has received in his development as a fine portrait artist. 

Ji recently submitted his portrait of  'Ilana and Jordan' to the American Portrait Society.  His portrait won a Certificate of Excellence.  Congratulations Ji!

Find the perfect session to advance your fine art training with our proven, step-by-step system. Academy of Realist Art's fine art workshops include drawing, painting, figure, portraiture, and landscape, as well as special art travel and tours. Scroll down to see the current workshops.Group sizes are kept quite small, so each participant gets lots of one-on-one attention from our superb instructors. ARA instructors teach year-round so, unlike many artists who offer summer/holiday workshops, our teachers are professional teachers as well as successful, award-winning artists.Workshop Hours & Schedules:Most workshops are scheduled five days per week, Monday to Friday. The hours are usually 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but will occasionally go to 5:00 p.m. If you are coming from out of town and need local accommodations, we have a list of inexpensive places to stay near the Studios.Workshop Fees (in Canadian dollars):One-Week Workshops: $600, 7 Day Workshops: $750, Two-Week Workshops: $975, with the early-registration discount. Full price for late bookings is $1,050, so please register as soon as you can confirm your plans.To enrol or get more info: click a link under your selected workshop to pay an immediate deposit (the best way to ensure you get a place!) or just get more information. Please note: registrations are not guaranteed until a deposit has been paid.

Group sizes are kept quite small, so each participant gets lots of one-on-one attention from our superb instructors. ARA instructors teach year-round so, unlike many artists who offer summer/holiday workshops, our teachers are professional teachers as well as successful, award-winning artists.

Workshop Hours & Schedules:

Most workshops are scheduled five days per week, Monday to Friday, with weekends free. The hours are usually 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but will occasionally go to 5:00 p.m. If you are coming from out of town and need local accommodations, we have a list of inexpensive places to stay near the Studios.

Workshop Fees (in Canadian dollars):

One-Week Workshops: $600

Two-Week Workshops: $975, with the early-registration discount. Full price for late bookings is $1,050, so please register as soon as you can confirm your plans.

To enrol or get more info: click a link under your selected workshop to pay an immediate deposit (the best way to ensure you get a place!) or just get more information. Please note: registrations are not guaranteed until a deposit has been paid.