OPB RedSparrow: Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome! I will definitely be posting more work here.
Hey there, you’re welcome! My apologies for the very belated reply, I left town for SIGGRAPH right after you posted and am trying desperately to catch with everything that happened in the meantime! 
As for my background in visual art, I attended a really good high school for visual arts that had specialty courses in drawing and painting as well as independant and self directed art studies. My high school teacher, John Drew was a huge part in why the students in the program turned out some amazing and inspired work. He taught a great deal of traditional techniques and stressed accuracy in proportions. He is an amazing artist and we are still good friends.
That’s awesome! It’s good to hear that there are still good teachers out there acting as catalysts for hs students. I owe a lot to my own hs teacher who really pushed me to do a lot more than I would have on my own. 
After such a wonderful start I decided to attend University and recieved my B.F.A. hons. in Visual Arts. Though that experience wasn’t as fullfilling, as the program preferred abstract and conceptual works. Even in the classes where we had a model or a still life we were told to abstract from the model and not do a figurative representation of the still life. I definitly didn’t fit in so I stayed away from most of the drawing and painting classes as there was no emphasis on techniques and so I took foundry and printmaking because at least I would learn a new skill. Of course when I was at University I was really frustrated with the program and was looking for alternatives
I totally understand this. I transferred schools too after deciding that making sculpture out of string didn’t really appeal to me. 
I really think it’s a pity that university art programs have gone this way, and am glad that atelier programs are alive and well.
and thats when John Drew mentioned he heard of an atelier, The Academy of Realist Art. Though back then it was still John Michael Angel Studios. I went for a tour and realized that I had no idea how to draw like that…but all this time that was what I wanted my drawings to look like. I realized that this was a place that could teach me some skills I didn’t know. Especially drawing from life. As soon as I finished my degree I started taking classes at the Academy of Realist Art.
Oh, very cool! I know that John Michael Angel now has the Angel Academy in Florence. I would really like to go someday.
So I’ve been at the ARA part time for about 2 years now. I go one day for life drawing and one day for studio work. The one thing there that has improved my skills immensly has been drawing from the figure. And the great thing is they don’t just drop you in front of the model and let you go to it. There is a step by step process that breaks things down into their simplist forms. Once you get used to these steps and get faster your figure drawings start looking pretty amazing. Even the drawing excercizes they give you to are to teach you the steps you need to know for figure drawing so by the time you get in front of the model you know exactly how to begin. The strangest part about the program is that there is no portfolio requirements. Everyone comes in with different levels of experience and knowledge yet everyones work is at the same calibur. It’s not just a few talented students doing the best work, everyone is. It has to be the quickest way possible for anyone to learn drawing at a really high level. Right now I’m about through with the drawing program and starting in September I will be a full time student for the painting program. I’m hoping to finish within the next year.
I have also been working the past three years freelancing as a motorcycle airbrush artist. My own company is called Vixen Paint but I do mainly contract work for other paint shops. Its great practice and I didn’t realize it at the time but all those skeletons and flaming skulls do help you learn anatomy! Even if it is a bit exaggerated. I’m lucky to have won some awards for my work, being such a beginner. For part-time work its good money and helps fund my perpetual art education.
That’s great! It’s really cool the diversity of work that you’re doing!
I came across this forum because I’ve been attending Humber College for a 1 year postgraduate 3D program and have been learning Maya, zbrush, Photoshop, After Effects and Combustion. I’m hoping my art skills can help me one day land a good rewarding job in this field as an art director or production artist, also after looking at the forum here, I would love to try matte painting as well. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to teach art because teaching is what I really love to do. Once my 3D stuff nears completion I’ll start posting that here as well. Though I am still having a tough time making that journey into the digital realm, in the end I think it will be worth the effort.
It will be great to see your progress here!
If anyone is interested in more specific details about how the atelier program progresses I will gladly post that too. But for now I must get back to work. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Constructive criticism of my work is always welcome and most appreciated.
I think that would be awesome if you were to detail how the atelier program works. I really would love to attend one myself someday, and am very interested to hear how it is set up.
Cheers,
~Rebeccak
It’s fantastic to see your work, both here and on the Master Copies Thread. You are most welcome to post all work that you post to other threads on the forum to your Anatomy Thread.
I really think it’s a pity that university art programs have gone this way, and am glad that atelier programs are alive and well. 
