Old Masters Academy

How to paint like the Old Masters using modern materials

Old Masters Academy

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Everything I do is to work towards my dream of being financially sufficient through the sale of my artwork

Paintings by Amina Davis

I am a 16-year-old black girl who has been obsessed with art since I could pick up a pencil.
I love the earth and everything on and around it. I excel academically and socially as I charm almost everyone I meet with my wit and charisma.

Art has always been my way of venting and coping with the struggles of my reality. My first media was ballpoint pen; then I moved onto ink and colored pencils, crayons, watercolor, collage, and I finally fell in love with acrylic paint-my true calling.

Art is my life. Everything I do is to work towards my dream of being financially sufficient through the sale of my artwork.

Art is my healthy method of emotional release and raw expression. It is my way of being vulnerable with the world. In my artwork, I have recently struggled with achieving proper proportions, color theory, achieving contrast, and creating a dynamic and emotional composition. …

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Like to learn from old masters techniques

Artwork by Gopi

A retired person I started feeling incredible urge to be creative 4 years back. Some self learning went on but no real satisfaction.

Then realised the vast difference between self taught and professional training. In that quest I continue improving my skills in the areas of visual art. Like to learn from old masters techniques.

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I would like to continue my study and hopefully get a body of work together so that I can have a show

Paintings by Mary Weishaar

I’ve always been interested in art. When I was 18, I studied art at Portland State University, then the Museum Art School, in Portland, Oregon.

Life took me away from my studies, I was the first person in my family to attempt a college education. I had no financial support and had to quit. I again attempted to finish my art degree at age 45. I entered the University of Oregon and intended to get a BFA. But, again my family obligations entered the picture. I was pressed to quit. I managed to finish my BA in Fine and Applied Art, but not my BFA, a fifth year.

Needing to help with my aging mother, I moved to Las Vegas. Needing to get a job with benefits and security, I entered college and got my Masters Degree in Special Education and worked for the school district for 10 years. I thought I could do my art in the summers, but it was not possible. The stress of the job stole my creative energy.

I retired early due to my doctor’s advice. I would like to continue my study and hopefully get a body of work together so that I can have a show. But, my skills have gone down and I find I would benefit from more instruction, especially in the area of painting. …

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I have a goal of putting wet paint on a canvas everyday

Artwork by Noel Wiggins

I am Noel Wiggins for the past 20 years I have been designing for others making their vision come to life, now I want to focus on creating my vision through fine art.

Art is one of the important things to me, I have a goal of putting wet paint on a canvas everyday, and seem to constantly be thinking of how to evolve my technique.

My challenges in art are becoming less and less with each new painting I do, nothing excites me more than uncovering new processes and techniques that inspire my work to go in new directions, I believe there is a lot of new techniques hidden within the old masters and look forward to the day with great anticipation on when I have adapted their techniques as one of my own.

Specifically I’d like to learn more about glazing and how to optically mix colors through layers of colors, currently I try and work in about 8 layers into my works but fantasize about doing dozens. …

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Story from Dwight Jeffreys, Old Masters Academy student

I try to paint and draw whenever I can

I work in the healthcare field that soaks up my time, but I love art and I try to paint and draw whenever I can.

Often, it’s a matter of priority and I just simply schedule the time to do it. Unfortunately, I have art ADD, so I tend to ping between different projects.

This year, I want to focus on developing watercolor techniques and also keep learning the art of the portrait…

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I would like to develop realistic oil painting skills

Paintings by Gail Pean

I love painting in the style of the Old Masters.

I took several classes from Adrienne Kralick who now teaches at The Smithsonian Art program. I started an art Studio in Great Falls VA 5 years ago and brought in fine art teachers to help us develop realistic oil painting skills.

My copy of Vermeer’s Lady with the Red Hat was revelatory learning the old techniques. …