COVID-19 updates

Our physical location will reopen on February 16. Students are welcome to join us for Open Studio Monday-Thursday from 10-4 and Saturdays from 11-5. Figure and portrait classes are planned to resume in March.

Contact Colleen at info@academyofrealistart.com or 416-766-1280 to schedule an appointment so we can ensure enough physical distance between you and your neighbours. We will not accept drop-ins at this time, and we ask anyone experiencing symptoms to stay home and self-isolate.

We are looking forward to welcoming you back to ARA.

Discover our approach to drawing and painting in your own studio.

Now you can learn the techniques of the Old Masters online. The Academy of Realist Art is pleased to offer a new online instructional program on how to master realist drawing skills using the same step-by-step methods taught by the French academies of the 19th Century.

  • NEW! Still Life Painting Online

    Direct painting is a synthesis of techniques that allows for efficiency of execution, but without compromising any of the principles of quality, craftsmanship, and draftsmanship. In this instructional video, instructor Esteban Rodriguez will guide  read more...

    $80.00

    Add to cart

  • Drawing the Figure Online

    Learn to draw from the live model using the techniques of the masters with ARA’s popular Drawing the Figure instructional video. Principal instructor Fernando Freitas walks you through our proven step-by-step process to help you achieve realistic r  read more...

    $60.00

    Add to cart

  • Bargue Drawing Companion Online

    Learn the training techniques of the masters in this easy-to-follow instructional video, The Bargue Drawing Companion. For the first time, artist and instructor Fernando Freitas of the internationally acclaimed Academy of Realist Art, shares his prov  read more...

    $60.00

    Add to cart

  • Drawing the Figure DVD

    Learn to draw from the live model using the techniques of the masters with ARA’s popular Drawing the Figure instructional DVD. Principal instructor Fernando Freitas walks you through our proven step-by-step process to help you achieve realistic res  read more...

    $60.00

    Add to cart

  • NEW! Old Masters Painting Online

    Follow along with principal instructor Fernando Freitas in this step-by-step instructional video as he executes a master copy of William Bouguereau’s portrait painting “Disdain”. Bouguereau was famously known for his superlative draftsmanshi  read more...

    $80.00

    Add to cart

  • French Academic Painting Online

    Learn anywhere with our online instructional video, where principal instructor Fernando Freitas takes you through a step-by-step process of the stages of painting in the tradition of the French Academic ateliers. Starting with the imprimatura, the  read more...

    $60.00

    Add to cart

  • Bargue Drawing Companion DVD

    Learn the training techniques of the masters in this easy-to-follow instructional DVD, The Bargue Drawing Companion. For the first time, artist and instructor Fernando Freitas of the internationally acclaimed Academy of Realist Art, shares his proven  read more...

    $60.00

    Add to cart