Old Masters Academy

How to paint like the Old Masters using modern materials

Art Competition Archive

Leave a Comment

I paint as often as I can whenever I am inspired

Painting by Edward Merrell

I am educated as an engineer and view the world in physical terms of light and color rather than emotional. Thus my paintings are realistic.

I paint as often as I can whenever I am inspired. Inspiration is a challenge however. My other challenges involve the use of color and composition. I would like the use of color to be natural without excessive mental turmoil.

I like to copy old masters and think the Academy fosters the values that make this art timeless. I would hope the course supports this concept. …

Leave a Comment

I want to learn to paint like Vermeer…

Paintings by Victoria Sonstegard

Hello, My name is Victoria Sonstegard and I live in Southern California. I have been an artist and art educator for a LOOOOONNNNNGGG time and love to learn and grow. Every job I have ever had, including those as an actor in my youth, have somehow been connected to art, as in drawing and painting.I majored in art in college, but put aside fine art to do graphic design (and to eat and pay my rent). I got back into it when I was hired to teach drawing, painting, and Art History.

My artistic challenges are a frustration at not really knowing what I’m doing with paint. I have strong drawing skills and am a realist, but I can’t seem to get the brush to behave as I’d like. I want to learn to paint like Vermeer – luminous, glowing, light-filled canvases that are filled with beauty. …

Leave a Comment

I love drawing

Artwork by Abdurrahman Barka

I grew up in South Libya. I grew up in the family of a talented painter who participated in many local art competitions.

I love drawing from my childhood. The challenges are to become an artist able to coordinate his life. I want to learn. Improve my skills in painting. …

Leave a Comment

Creating art feels like you’ve suddenly become god …

Paintings by Mariela Guerra

My name is Mariela. I am a self taught 18 year old artist. I aspire to change the world through the power of art, no matter how far fetched it sounds.

Before painting overtook all my other hobbies and convinced me to dedicate my life to it, I dabbled a bit with music, literature, and illustration. One day I decided to pick up a paintbrush and a canvas and since then my reality has changed dramatically. Something magical occurs while painting—as passion sweeps you off your feet, time ceases to exist. I remember finishing my first painting after working on it all day and feeling my reality soften. Not just metaphorically—but everything literally felt softer to the touch. Of all my hobbies the only one that has altered my perception of space and time is painting, and if that’s not enough of a reason to dedicate myself entirely to it, I don’t know what is!

Art honestly means everything to me. To me, looking at a work of art is like a chemical reaction between you, the artist, and the painting. The moment you look upon it, you, the painting, and the artist merge into one. You walk away from that painting never feeling the same again. …

2 Comments

I finally gathered the courage to quit my day job to learn art

Artwork by Parul Pancholi

My name is Parul. I am 30 years old and I reside in India. I completed my graduation 8 years ago as a software engineer. I never could find my heart with my career as a coder. Painting always came to my rescue then.

I left my job to find more jobs that paid the bills. I worked in fashion, in marketing for startups and also started my own online jewellery store but I got the feeling of belonging only during times I held my paint brush or my charcoal pencil.

Last year in May, I finally gathered the courage to quit my day job to learn art and pursue what I loved the most in life.It took me 8 long years to do this. Art courses are expensive and India doesn’t have courses that teaches classical art. So I had the intent but no direction and guidance. I realised very soon that I have to teach myself instead because it’s not going to be an easy path. Going abroad to study was not an option because I would never be able to afford the expenses. But I did not give up nor I succumbed and went back to the day job.

I am and have always been fascinated by works of the great masters like Rembrandt, Sargent, Repin, Bouguereau and so many others. I couldn’t really control the urge. So I started teaching myself to draw and paint. …