Art school: a new journey
As a WordPress website designer, I am always thrilled to see a client begin (and keep on – yay Melanie Rudnick!!!) blogging and managing their website. Here in this blog, I’ve decided to partake in some of my own ‘dog food’ by blogging about my experience as a student in contemporary realistic art at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia.
Note: I am still taking on new web clients on a limited basis (must fund drawing and painting supplies – don’t ya know ;-D). You can see the details here of services and prices that I offer. And, I will continue to share helpful tips and processes for updating your WordPress website as well as blogging tips. But I will be sharing my drawings and experiences at art school here in this blog, too.
It has been nearly a month since we packed up and moved to Philadelphia and I have so many experiences and thoughts noodling around in my head about this adventure. First, I’d like to describe the setting to create a sense of where I am and the people with whom I’m working. I’m enrolled, full-time, in a professional artist program with 11 other artists ranging in age from 18 to 57. Our class is relatively ‘young’ in age compared to some of the other classes that are ahead of us.
For instance, the fourth year class includes a ‘student’ who, prior to coming to Studio Incamminati, was a professional portrait painter for 30+ years and is a young 70+ year old! This fabulous woman is just one example of the strong ‘draw’ (no pun intended – really!) the program at Studio Incamminati offers artists of all ages. The countries of origin of my classmates are diverse as well: Ukraine, Venezuela, Korea, Russia and – a country unto itself – Texas!
I and my colleagues took many different paths to reach this destination including newly graduated high school students, a retired oncologist, a former opera singer and an ESL teacher in Japan to name a few. Our goal and focus unites us, however. We’re eager and willing to learn to draw and ultimately paint the human figure and still life work, too.
The most challenging adjustment for me has been building up strength to stand in front of the easel for 6-hours a day. I also realize how much I miss the ambient (and gentle) noises of our home and neighborhood near downtown Raleigh, North Carolina (bird calls of hawks and bluebirds, the wind in nearby trees, and chirping crickets). I confess that it has taken several weeks to adapt to the brick and concrete and rough and tumble landscape of the warehouse district of downtown Philadelphia. That brick building in the middle of the photo in this paragraph is our apartment – a big, huge visual shift from the green lawns and tree-lined streets of Raleigh! Fortunately, we live close to school so I’m walking and/or riding my bike – everywhere.
I initially heard about this program during a weekend workshop where the instructor told us that first year students draw in charcoal and graphite almost exclusively. Every other person in that workshop groaned at the thought; I, however, gasped in excitement. Next thing you know, I’m evaluating my drawings and small paintings for purposes of submitting a portfolio to Studio Incamminati. As soon as I mentioned the possibility of applying to my amazing drawing instructor, and accomplished, professional painter, Alia El-Bermani, she offered to help me by taking photographs of my art. I am still grateful for her help and generosity! Then, after submitting my portfolio and statement of purpose/application – whooosh – I found myself riding on an Amtrak train from Raleigh to Philly for an interview at the school. Classes started on September 5, 2014. The sketch here is from a 6-hour gesture drawing session from Friday, September 26, 2014. Our focus is learning to see the figure in its simplest form and to show the thrust of the gesture as well. As of Friday, we started to block in dark and light shapes to begin to show volume in the figure.
I realize there are so many other topics to cover including the faculty and founders of Studio Incamminati who are dedicated artists in their own right as well as some of the outreach programs at the school. There are also basic questions that some former co-workers and friends have asked me such as why bother learning how to paint realistic art such as the figure and still life; hasn’t that all been done before? But these and many other thought-provoking questions are sure to be in future posts.
The daily drawing practice is in place but the learning curve is steep. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the volume of work (and homework) but will share periodic updates and look forward to any advice, questions or tips you might have to share along the way.
19 Comments
Annie Nashold
September 28, 2014Julie, its so exciting to read about your new adventure. 6 hours at the easel, wow what a challenge. Its going to be great to see your development.
Julie Holmes
September 28, 2014Hi Annie,
It’s great to hear from you here. Ya – six hours is a chunk of time and – yet – it seems to fly by when I’m drawing. You may have the same experience of losing track of time when you’re creating your art?
Callie Warner
September 29, 2014Hey Julie,
I’m so glad to now be a part of your blog. It’s exciting to be able to live through your entries and to see the work you are doing!
A few of us may need to take the train to come visit you soon!
Thanks for sharing. Love it,
Callie
Julie Holmes
September 29, 2014Hi Callieeeee,
It’s great to hear from you here. Why? Because being an artist, of any kind, is hard work requiring daily discipline. Discipline (daily creating, singing and writing) is something I know you and your husband practice in your lives. Proud to know you. So thank you for your support and energy and please send a teeny tiny ounce of your energy my way. I need it!
I would love it if you and any of your crew took the train up here. We’re in a tiny 1 bedroom but there’s a comfy futon with your name on it!
What’s new in your world? Please share, too!
Dora
September 29, 2014Julie,
I am so glad we have met in our journey at Studio Incamminati. I agree that the learning curve is steep at school and I sometimes have to take deep breaths not to flat out panic. I think though, that the coming weeks will be getting easier as we get our bearings and hone our skills. Your a good writer and I look forward to seeing more of your writings as well as your artwork!
Dora
Julie Holmes
September 30, 2014Hi Dora,
You are one of the reasons I love Studio Incamminati!!! It’s exciting to see the growth that we’re going through – even though it feels as if we’re ‘wandering into the mist’ on some days. Don’t you think?
Ellen Ciompi
September 29, 2014Hi Julie—I love it that you’re posting about your life change and great adventure. Good for you for pursuing your dream! I’m looking forward to reading more. Are you taking some time to explore Philly, too? I’ve been there only once (probably 20 years ago) but I’ve heard often that it’s a great town, especially if you love food. Hugs from Durham! Ellen
Julie Holmes
September 30, 2014Hi Ellen,
Thank you for reading about this adventure! We have done some exploring in Philadelphia. This past weekend we took the bus to the Italian Market in South Philly. Oh my goodness – I’ve never seen so much food so reasonably priced – anywhere! We had all good intentions of going to a free broadcast of the Barber of Seville by the Philadelphia Opera on Saturday night but we pooped out and fixed an amazing dinner and stayed in. ;-D
Hoping you’re singing as much as you can these days?
Hugs back at youuuuu!
Evelyn Ward
September 29, 2014Hi Julie- you’re gonna love Philly. If you miss nature head over to Fairmount Park, it’s huge. Plus there are a ton of neighborhood parks I’m not that familiar with your neighborhood but we lived in center city for a couple of years, then in roxboro for a few more before moving to Durham. Go check out old city and the Rittenhouse Square area. I love the architecture in those older neighborhoods.
So glad you were brave enough to make this big leap! How exciting!
Julie Holmes
September 30, 2014Hey Evelyn,
You are right – I do love Philly and we have wandered over by the museum and have ridden our bikes along Kelly Drive to get a green/tree fix. Two of my school classmates were in a show in Rittenhouse Square two weekends ago. So I walked up to see their work. The park in Rittenhouse square is really nice and I swear I saw a woman walking an ocelot (or some kind of HUGE cat) on a leash.
Wondering how things are on your farm? Also, we brought our handmade mugs with us and they look pretty darn excellent in this loft apartment but I think I used yours so much that…well…I dropped ’em both (not at the same time but – boo – I miss them). So I hope to find my way to one of your shows or your studio at some point. In the meantime, I have a chipped but well-used Marty Fielding mug that is working for now. Say ‘hey’ to Aaron and all those critters – ok?
Barb Keyworth
September 29, 2014great to have another way to keep up with you, I’m looking forward to your updates!
Julie Holmes
September 30, 2014Thanks Barb! I miss you and promise to keep the updates coming ;-D
Beth
September 30, 2014This major move to nurture your creative self has become my daily inspiration of late. I have always been pretty good about sitting at my desk every morning. But that doesn’t always mean I produce anything. So here’s my question(s): When do you have time ruminate? When you paint do you need the reflection time to let ideas percolate the way I do when I’m trying to sort out where to go in a story or essay? Does Studio Incammanati believe in that part of the artist’s training too?
Julie Holmes
September 30, 2014Hi Beth,
Great question!
One of the biggest issues for me was to develop a daily ritual (discipline) around creating art. I also was frustrated with the experience of taking a class or a workshop and then returning to my own easel or sketchpad and being unable to recreate the skills I thought I had learned in the workshop. Lastly, I have lots of ideas in my head but have had difficulty being able to produce – with technical proficiency – the ideas because most of them involve the figure and I wanted to learn how to create images of the figure more accurately so I can focus on the concepts in my head and not …hmmmm…how do I draw a head or an arm.
So – Studio Incamminati’s program is helping me address all of these issues. We are also keeping sketchbooks so I feel as if I have plenty of time to incorporate ideas into the sketchbook that I’m keeping.
I won’t be painting till spring term so – for now – I’m just drawing and I feel so lucky to be able to focus on this fundamental skill.
In a sense, I think the ideas will come but for now it’s proficiency that’s getting in the way and I”m so excited to be in the midst of this program.
Beth
October 7, 2014So…a response coming in much later, but it seems to me you’re saying that the reflections are being captured in your sketchbook as a way to get them down. But right now it takes nearly all your energy to master the skills needed to express those ideas?
Julie Holmes
October 9, 2014Hi Beth,
In a word – Yes!
Steady ongoing practice combined with occasional struggle seems to be the name of the game here.
Kathy Michaud
October 2, 2014Hi Julie,
Love that you’re blogging about your adventure!
Julie Holmes
October 4, 2014Thank you Kathy! It’s an amazing adventure. Stay tuned and lot’s o’ love your way!
Julie Holmes Design Building a new foundation as an artist - Julie Holmes Design
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