| The
Unique Stevenson
Academy Approach
The
Stevenson Academy
Program strongly believes
in a structured method
of teaching so that
students learn comprehensively
how to draw and paint
from a defined, classical
perspective. Therefore,
our curriculum starts
with a solid foundation
and progressively
introduces more complex
subject matter and
concepts.
Our carefully
prepared curriculum
is based on our commitment
to the fullest development
of each student's
talent and skills.Students work independently through an orderly progression of study and will see extraordinary results as they progress from one stage to the next.
Our
curriculum has three
stages; Fundamentals
(I & II),
Intermediate and Advanced.
Students begin our
curriculum with Fundamentals
I (Drawing) in
their first term and
are introduced to
classical fine art
concepts through lectures
and demonstrations,
followed by exercises
done in charcoal pencil.
Those concepts are
later applied to the
painting process in
their second term
with Fundamentals
II (Painting).
It has been our experience
that students find
it easier to master
a new concept without
the added complexity
inherent in applying
paint and mixing color.
Fundamentals I and
II are completed within
one term each. Following
the successful completion
of Fundamentals I & II,
students are considered Intermediate students
and learn to refine
the concepts learned
in the fundamental
stages and apply them
to more complex subject
matter. Intermediate
students work at their
own pace and may take
two or more terms
to complete the Intermediate
stage. Advanced concepts
and techniques are
taught to the Advanced student
who has completed
all the coursework
of an intermediate
student. Length of
advanced study is
dependent on the students’ individual
goals and interests.
Each student, regardless
of skill level, will
receive individual
instruction, guidance
and critiques geared
toward their particular
ability, interests
and goals.
In addition to the core curriculum which consists of fundamentals, intermediate and advanced stages, additional courses in cast drawing, figure drawing and painting, etc. are offered at various times during the year.
We
do not teach
the sight-size method
of
drawing and painting
as
this can hinder
students from developing
their
eye to draw
any size and proportion
and
is seen by today's
master painters
as a
crutch. We teach
our students the
correct
way right
from the start
so
they develop a
keen
eye and the ability
to render any subject
in any size.
PROGRESSION
OF STAGES IN OUR
CLASSICAL
PAINTING
PROGRAM COURSE:
Fundamentals
I (Drawing)
This
is a
skills-building
course, stressing
the fundamental
and universal
principles inherent
in all
classical, representational
art, including;
line, light
source and
shadow, edges,
value relationships,
single and
double curvature,
form, texture,
linear perspective
and composition.
Each week
instructors
provide lectures
and demonstrations
on a
specific concept,
followed by
student exercises
and individual
critiques designed
to provide
students with
a comprehensive
understanding.
All exercises
are done
in charcoal
pencil as
we feel
it easier
to master
a new
concept without
the added
complexity of
applying paint
and mixing
color. These
acquired concepts
are then
applied to
painting in
the ‘Fundamentals
of
Painting’ course.
The Fundamentals
I (Drawing)
course culminates
with a
beautifully rendered
still life
that encompasses
all the
concepts covered
during the
course. Lastly,
students will
matte their
drawings for
presentation. Click
here for course
materials
list
Fundamentals
II (Painting)
This
course picks up where
Fundamentals I (Drawing)
leaves off. The concepts
learned in Fundamentals
I (Drawing) will be
applied to oil painting.
Through lectures,
demonstrations and
individual critiques,
students will learn
how to prepare a canvas,
become familiar with
various types of brushes
and painting tools,
set-up a palette,
use painting mediums,
match and mix colors
using the munsell
system and apply and
blend paint. The still
life drawing rendered
in Fundamentals I
(Drawing) will be
transferred to a canvas
and students will
complete a full color
painting of it. Click
here for course materials
list
Prerequisite: Fundamentals I (Drawing)
Intermediate
Painting
Intermediate
Students will learn
to refine the skills
learned in Fundamentals
I (Drawing) and II
(Painting) and apply
them to more complex
subjects. Intermediate
students first paint
a still life consisting
primarily of glass
objects that they
compose themselves,
followed by a painting
composed primarily
of metal objects.
This enables the student
to learn how to render
any kind of surface
found in everyday
life, whether opaque,
transparent, or reflective.
As in Fundamentals
II (Painting), students
will begin with a
realistic charcoal
rendering, which will
be traced and transferred
to canvas for the
painting. All students
will receive individual
instruction and critiques. Click
here for course materials
list
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals I (Drawing)
and II (Painting)
Advanced
Painting
Advanced
students are encouraged
to explore their
choice of subject
matter. Each student
will receive individual
instruction and critiques
geared toward their
particular interests,
ability and goals.
Advanced topics covered
include advanced
picture composition,
color harmony and
advanced color theory,
glazing, hierarchy
of light, aerial
perspective,
grisalle painting,
poster studies, modeling
factors, etc. Click
here for course
materials list
Prerequisites:
Fundamentals I
(Drawing) and II
(Painting) and
Intermediate Painting
(or previous painting
experience in lieu
of Intermediate
Painting)
ADDITIONAL
COURSES
Cast
Drawing
Students
will draw from casts
of antique, classical
sculptures with an emphasis
on lighting, proportion,
blocking-in shadow shapes
and turning form with
value, creating the
impression of mass.
Drawing from casts gives
students the opportunity
to practice rendering
the human form from
a stationary, monochromatic
figure, bust or anatomical
feature. Demonstrations
of technique and individual
critiques will be offered.
Beginning students are
encouraged to study
from cast parts of the
face, allowing them
to focus on shape and
proportion of the eye,
ear, lips, etc, before
studying a cast of the
whole head. Students
may choose to work in
charcoal or graphite
on smooth, drawing paper
that is 60lb weight
or higher.
Prerequisite:
Fundamentals I (Drawing)
Introduction
to Figure Drawing
and Anatomy
This
course
is designed for students
new to figure drawing.
It introduces
students to the same
fundamental figure
drawing methods used
by the great masters,
while discussing
anatomy
of human figure.
It provides students
with the fundamental
knowledge and tools
necessary to draw
from a live model
with confidence and
effectiveness. Click
here for course
materials
list
Prerequisite:
Fundamentals I
(Drawing)
Figure
Drawing
and Painting
(Intermediate/Advanced)
Through
demonstrations and
individual critiques,
students will learn
concepts and tools
necessary for naturalistically
depicting the human
figure while working
from life. Based
on 19th centruy
French Academic
techniques, students
will learn a clear
yet flexible method
in which to construct
their drawings and
paintings.Topics
will also include;
the anatomy of light
and shadow, structural
and physical anatomy,
proportion and achieving
a likeness, color
and visual perception.
Paint handling issues
such as underpainting,
window shading,
scumbling and glazing
will also be discussed. Click
here for course
materials list
Prerequisite:
Fundamentals I
(Drawing) and
Fundamentals II
(Painting) or prior
experience
Portfolio
Development
In
this course,
students
will meet
with the
instructor
once a
week to help
them decide
which college
is the best
fit for
them, help
them create
a portfolio
that will
get them
into the
art college
of their
choice, put
together
a winning
presentation, apply
for scholarships
from colleges, learn
about other sources
for scholarships,
and help
get their
work on
the top
on-line
galleries
and art
blogs. In
addition,
the instructor
will share
his sketch
book and
explain
what colleges are
looking
for in
a sketchbook.
Students will
meet with
the instructor
every week
for a three-hour
consultation
and lesson.
Students
may work
then on
assignments
at home
or up
to five
days a week
at the art
league with
the help
of instructors.
Students
already
in college
can benefit
by learning
how and
where to
get additional
scholarships, and
how and
where to
put their
work on-line
in preparation
for securing
jobs and
commissions
after graduation.
Prerequisite:
None -
Call art
league
for supply
list
Young
Artists
Program
This
course
is for
children
aged
8 to
13 who
are serious
about
learning
how to
draw
and paint
in a
traditional
manner.
The program
teaches
the skills
that
are taught
in the
renowned
Stevenson
Program
for adults
in a
way that
is easy
for children
to understand.
Students
will
gain
confidence
by learning
how to
realistically
draw
and paint
what
they
see.
Through
demonstrations,
exercises
and individual
attention
students
will
learn;
how and
when
to use
the various
drawing
tools,
how to
accurately
draw
straight
lines
and circles,
the five
basic
shapes,
how to
draw
objects
by breaking
them
down
into
the five
basic
shapes,
how to
shade
objects
so that
they
look
three-dimensional,
basic
principles
of perspective
and composition,
etc.
The first
term
is spent
learning
the fundamental
concepts
of classical,
traditional
art.
All concepts
are taught
with
charcoal
pencil
as it
is easier
to do
the exercises
with
pencil
then
to add
another
layer
of complexity
with
paint.
Once
the student
has learned
the fundamental
concepts,
they
may continue
to develop
their
drawing
skills
the next
term
by learning
to draw
different
types
of surfaces
and subjects
or they
can learn
how to
paint.
Painting
concepts
include
how and
when
to use
the various
painting
tools,
how to
set up
a palette,
the properties
of color
and how
to combine
primary
and secondary
colors
to get
the desired
color,
and how
to apply
paint
to the
canvas.
Prerequisite:
None -
Call art
league
for supply
list
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