Our Fine Art School Program at Academy of Realist Art

The Fundamental program consists of four levels, beginning with drawing "from the flat" (copying master drawings) which efficiently teaches the student basic rendering skills. With these skills the student progresses to working from the cast, first in charcoal and then in oil. In the final level the student works on a series of still lifes, the best arena in which to learn colour, texture and illusion of three dimensions. Working from the live model begins in the first level and continues throughout our program.

1. Four drawings in graphite using the Charles Bargue Drawing Course textbook. Students accurately copy Bargue plates of increasing difficulty.

2. Two cast drawings in vine charcoal using the sight-size method with an optical emphasis on big form modeling.

3. Three paintings in oil from the cast, beginning with a monochrome study and progressing to 2 subtle colur studies in sight-size.

4. Four still-life paintings each with distinct criteria.

To acquire the utmost in accuracy and execution the school uses the sight-size method. In conjunction with this method ARA teaches a system of comparative measurement in which the student learns to associate the conceptual with the realistic. This system is unique amoung modern day realist academies.