Art Competition Archive

Artwork by John Fowler

Hi, my name is John Fowler – that’s a good place to start if it’s all about me. Is it all about me? This was certainly the feeling I got when I went to Art School in the 1980’s. A friend asked me recently what I had learned during those five years and I struggled to think of anything apart from how to drink, how to survive with zero money and how to tolerate the personalities of art students. Certainly the tutors seemed to have mastered the art of drinking many years before and were pretty good at avoiding students too.
On beginning my painting degree I found myself disillusioned and disappointed with the course and the environment. It was my own fault really – I had worked really hard on the foundation course and had fired myself up with the thought of being accepted onto the degree. But I had this fantasy that I was actually going to be taught how to paint there! How silly of me to think this. The vision I had projected onto the college was sadly disappointed. Why was this? What was Art School supposed to teach you? I can only imagine now that we were all thought of as geniuses and we were left alone for three years in a 6’ x 10’ white box so we could express our creative genius without the burden of the tuition in skills and techniques.

How could this happen? What was it about the history of art that had led to this situation? Why was there so little emphasis on the learning of craft and practical skills? Perhaps it is the ‘myth of the genius’ that has pervaded art history. The selective mythology of the ‘great artist’ whose creativity springs from a well of imagination that cannot be taught. Of course there is some truth in this but art historians often ignore the study and tuition that these ‘great artists’ received and continued to seek out in their lifetimes. I cannot imagine the same approach for other art disciplines. Would a music college put a student in a white room with a violin for three years and tell him/her to ‘just be creative’? …

Artwork by Brandon Jackson

… The biggest challenge to pursuing my art is ever increasing clarity in my artistic vision whilst enjoying the process that is life. Blending the passion of existence with technical proficiency and a desire to spread knowledge is what I have and only wish to continue learning through the pursuit of fine arts.

To me the Old Masters Academy is a boon for the education of not only artists but all creatives, who wish to learn more and dive deep into the fundamentals of art creation.

With a thirst for knowledge and a deep need to master it for use to help and motivate all in my circumference, I am a perfect candidate for this course as well as the very reason why people should vote for me.

Artwork by Pamela Becker

… I know it is my destiny to study and learn the old master techniques. I literally dream of art study in Europe, but that seems farther and farther out in light of our current pandemic and cultural misfortunes. The only travel left is the inner world. As such, I seek this old-world training and the inner travel of art. I am also aware of the time going by. No longer in my 30s and 40s, I see the time when my body will slow down, and these dreams must be made manifest. Are you willing to assist another in becoming their bigger self? I am, and I have devoted my business, Big Vision Arts to helping children and my clients to becoming their bigger vision of themselves. Now I am asking you to help me do this for myself by giving me this grant to study with Old Masters Academy.

I watched Old Master Academy video yesterday and can not stop thinking about what it could teach me. I agree that these techniques are not taught in school, and these are the techniques I most want to learn, the specifics about how to achieve the old master knowledge with modern supplies. I will add another note to that, that I prefer to use newer non-toxic supplies whenever possible.

Winning the Old Masters course would offer me a boost in my artistic confidence, which I have to admit is something I have always lacked. …

Artwork by Antonius Michael

… I’ve been drawing since i was a kid and some people would praise me for good art except my family never encouraged that as a career path, so unfortunately my skills didn’t develop too much.

That said, I love drawing, I love painting, and I want the opportunity to take all the dozens upon dozens of ideas I have in my head, put into the world for others to enjoy. …

…Lately, i discovered old master works and that topics really make me interested again as an artist.

I was really excited to start practicing and was happy to start quickly improving on old masters academy because i think its the most comprehensive old master course in the internet right now.

Artwork by Ujjwal Rathore

I am an 16 years old artist from India and I have been following your academy from a long time and old masters and atelier training inspired me so much, but never able to afford a training.

Art is one of the most important things in my life, right now I am in my high school and after completing that I would surely pursue career in art field. …

Artwork by John

I’m a Marine Corps veteran, who later in life received a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). I started drawing to help with my cognitive functions (problem solving). From there I went on to painting by numbers, then oil painting. I’m at a point now where I’m stagnant, I’m not growing as an artist. I’m not even close to where I’m comfortable to be. I had a dream which put me on the path to oil painting. I want to accomplish that dream. …

I spend most of my extra money on art supplies. So I have nothing left to spend on any kind of instruction videos. I do at times I am able to watch a YouTube video, but as you know it’s not the same as having hands on instruction.

Artwork by Lisa Adams

I am really just a nobody who absolutely loves to paint. This painting is probably one of my best. I hear a lot of “WOW”s when I show folks this one. …

I hope to try selling something of mine eventually. Due to health issues I really need to increase my income while working from my home. My internet speed is not fast enough for me to get a work-from-home job. I have tried numerous times and done a lot of interviews. It always comes down to slow internet speed. I have the fastest available in this area but apparently it is not fast enough for that type of job. …