Old Masters Academy

How to paint like the Old Masters using modern materials

watercolor

Leave a Comment

I wanted more – to create my own art

Paintings by Roman Jaskolski

My name is Roman and professionally I work as a software engineer.
I remember that as a child I liked to draw, but then PC era began and I focused on the programming.
This kept me 100% busy for over 30 years.

Three years ago I got as a gift a set of pencils. I can say this changed to some extent my life.
I created number of clumsy drawings and was very surprised. This kind of activity was much more exciting than programming!

I focused on the art knowing that I know nothing about it. I read many books about Old Masters, impressionists etc, visited some galleries, bought and watched various instructional cd’s.
This gave me more understanding what art is. But I wanted more – just to create my own art.
As the result began to experiment with various media (watercolor, pastel, oil, tempera), techniques and subjects.

Now art consumes 100% of my free time.
I found that the academic (traditional) approach to the art and Old Masters techniques is the direction I want to follow. …

8 Comments

Story from Elise Johns, Old Masters Academy student

The only thing I knew about watercolor was which end of the brush to wet

I didn’t know I could even draw, much less paint, until I was 55 years old.

I have known some successes, raising children alone, starting and running an ad agency for 10 years, owning a quilt shop and so on. My main hobbies/interests enduring throughout my life have been needlework, history/genealogy, and in-depth study of the Bible and Hebrew. I have achieved Master level of Fine Hand Embroidery, specializing in White on White from the 18th – 19th century. I have traced our family back to William the Conquerer and discovered amazing accomplishments of my forefathers. I taught people how the study the Bible for 20 years (classes at night and weekend workshops) and taught myself to read Hebrew and even speak it.

And yet, I didn’t think I was really good at anything and often wondered why I didn’t have a gift, a talent. There has always been a part of me looking for “something” that was missing in my life. …

Leave a Comment

I hope to improve my art skills and finally have an exhibition

Paintings by Karin Kuilmam

After my four children were all grown, I finally started painting as an almost daily practice again.

I love watching old master’s paintings, learn from them and try to make paintings inspired by them. I am trying all kinds of materials, like egg tempera, acrylic paint, watercolor and pastels, and I bought oils but die not use them because they kind of impress me.

When I was young I was always drawing and when I was eighteen I went to art school. But my parents were not very happy with it so I became a primaryschool teacher instead, and I loved teaching children, and loved doing art with them.

All those years raising my own children and teaching at school there never seemed to be time to do some painting myself. …

Leave a Comment

I think the Old Academy Masters is exactly what I need!!!

Artwork by Vladimir

I started to paint almost as soon as I learned to walk.

The first canvas for me was a new wardrobe, which my parents bought the day before. On the main door I painted a handsome man. I thought everyone should like it. And immediately learned the first lesson: I’ll be not understood by my contemporaries.

For the next 50 years, I skipped painting classes :). But a year ago I decided that it’s never too late to start.

Now I study the academic drawing and watercolor. At the moment, I was very interested in classical oil painting. I would like to master the technique of old masters. …

Leave a Comment

Artwork by William A. Wachter

Art has become my primary occupation since retirement

I am an old man who does not deserve to win this prize. However, if I do win I promise to never compete for funds or payment that takes away from younger professional painters.

Art has become my primary occupation since retirement. Everything I have painted I have given away. (Think of me as a loss leader in the art market. If my art works, potential clients might say, “I need to think about buying art.”)

I am a watercolor student in a class with 30 other talented seniors. I also do water miscible oils.

My challenge is to do enough art on a daily basis that I become proficient in making recipients delighted with my gifts. …

Leave a Comment

Painting by Pushpalatha Kollappa

Reflection

I’m interested in oil painting.

When I saw the Old Masters Academy website I instantly understood that it is one of the best oil painting courses available on the Internet as it offers the authentic ways of how to paint in oils.

This educational resource is packed with helpful information and that is why I would like to study in this Academy. I have so much to learn about art and oil painting in particular. …