The Russian-American Academy of Art
“Let us return to the values and ethics in art. Let us learn to draw and paint like the Masters did – from life. Let us seek to acquire the skills that are not taught in contemporary art schools to continue the traditional school's legacy and make our descendents proud of us like we are proud of the Masters and the Traditional school, the strongest school ever existed.”
~ Igor Babailov, M.F.A.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Russian-American Academy of Art is dedicated to the principles and values in Fine Art, as taught by the Masters of Realism from Renaissance to the academic traditions of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The in-depth study of the human form, particularly in portraiture, is an essential and fundamental pre-requisite for a sound art education and professional career in fine arts.
The intense and deeply profound nature of this instruction will enable the artist to quickly and effectively achieve a higher level of their artistic and professional skil.
HIGHER ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS
The Russian-American Academy of Art offers workshops of classical distinction, therefore they are suitable for both, art students and professional artists. The "forgotten secrets" of the Old Masters' drawing and painting skills are taught by Igor V. Babailov M.F.A ( the equivalent to Ph.D in other fields). He graduated from the world acclaimed Surikov Academy of Fine Arts, representing historic Russian Imperial Academy of Arts (est.1757), which gave the world many outstading Masters, including the great American artist, James A. McNeill Whistler
The years of finest academic experience had empowered Igor Babailov to understand exactly - the needs of his students regardless of their personal and professional levels. In one of his classes, two artists sat side by side - an art student and an accomplished artist who had just delivered an official portrait of a state Governor. The Masters always said, if you want to learn and progress fast, then study the essence and not the shortcuts. Whatever you seek as an artist, you WILL learn in Babailov’s classes in depth, on the level you require and with the most individual attention.
They say 'your knowledge depends on the depth of your teacher's academic education'.
Having studied at the preeminent art Academy, in the direct lineage he is a third generation descendent student of the world-famous Russian masters Ilya Repin and Valentin Serov. ... Read more about Igor Babailov here
Mr. Babailov has a strong belief in the eternal values offered by the artists of the Renaissance, which are love and respect for God's creation, appreciation of life's harmony and beauty without alterations, a knowledge of anatomy, perspective, composition, painting and drawing methods, and a MUST of drawing skill, based on that knowledge.
CURRICULUM OF STUDIES
I will teach you to free yourself from the contemporary slavery of cameras and photography, so you can work comfortably from life, which is the key to the growth and mastery of the higher artistic skill.
~ Igor Babailov, M.F.A.
The level of instruction is designed for art professionals and art students. The academy offers several 3 and 5 day workshops during the academic year. The studies are based on working with live models. Highly individualized attention is given to the students, therefore the workshop sizes are kept to approx. 15 students.
Many contemporary schools offer portrait and life drawing classes and the students enter these stages without having acquired a knowledge of anatomy, so they have been taught to draw the “mask” without knowing what’s underneath. At the academy, anatomy lessons are ever present and woven into the instruction so that the student incorporates this knowledge into their artistic skill.
The focus of studies is The Portrait, which is the most complex and challenging form in realistic art, and it is the essential for strong artistic skill. According to I. Repin, “If you can draw a portrait, you would be able to draw anything you want.”
Another characteristic feature of the workshops is a concentration on developing and improving the skill of drawing, which is essential in the painting as well. That incorporates the knowledge of impeccable composition, perfect proportions, and the right perspective with the proper foreshortenings. And of course, the indispensable chiaroscuro.
Mr. Babailov shares his knowledge and experience of working in the tradition of the Old Masters with the limited number of colors (7-9) on his palette, yet producing vibrant and colorful paintings. This Master method of painting makes his palette very unique amongst contemporary painters.
THE THREE-DAY WORKSHOPS
The 3-day workshop will cover the following topics, dedicating each day to the study of:
- “Solid Drawing as a Fundamental for Strong Painting”
- “Pastel - from Leonardo da Vinci to the Impressionists and beyond”
- “Oil Painting – the Medium of The Masters”.
AGENDA
Day 1
Theme: Solid Drawing as a Fundamental for Strong Painting
9am-12noon:
Completed Portrait Demo by Mr. Babailov: Drawing the character through the anatomic structure and the tonal Values.
Completed Portrait Demo by Mr. Babailov: Drawing the character through the anatomic structure and the tonal Values.12noon - 1pm: Lunch
1pm -4pm: Students work with the life model inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session. Q & A
Students work with the life model inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session. Q & ADay 2
Theme: Pastel - from Leonardo da Vinci to the Impressionists.
9am -12noon: Completed Portrait Demo by Mr. Babailov: Working with pastel medium, as a transition between drawing and painting.
12noon -1pm: Lunch Break
1pm -4pm: Students work with the models inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session. Q & A
Day 3
Theme: Oil Painting – The Medium of the Masters
9am -12noon: Completed Portrait Demo by Mr. Babailov: Painting is Drawing with the brush.
12noon - 1pm: Lunch Break
1pm - 4pm: Students work with models inspired by what they learned in the morning demo session. Q & A
NOTA BENE: Please inquire about our 5-day Workshops for those who would like to have the additional time of two full days to work with the life model in Mr. Babailov's mentring and sharing his knowledge.
FEES AND REGISTRATION (please see "Schedule of Workshops")
ART SUPPLY LIST (Please click to see the Art Supply List)
Master of Ascending Realism
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