ICA&CA course offerings

The Institute of Clasical Architecture & Classical America has some great course offerings this year, including continuing education classes; studio-based seminars; lectures; conferences; travel; and walking tours. Check out all the options HERE. Some specific courses that may be useful to painters and illustrators are:

Introduction to Linear Perspective, taught by Patrick Connors

One All-Day Session: Saturday, October 24; 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

This course is an introduction to linear perspective, which is the intellectual basis for representational thought and spatial illusionism. The principal perspective system studied is based on Leonardo’s model aswell as that of eighteenth-century Englishman, Brook Taylor, and of nineteenth-century American, Thomas Eakins. The phenomenon of camera-conditioned thought, which includes camera obscura and photography, and its relationship to linear perspective, will also be investigated. At the end of the course students will have completed approximately four sets of plates covering such drawing exercises as one- and two-point perspective.

Basic Proportion: Geometrical Proportioning in Practice & Application taught by Richard Sammons

One All-Day Session: Saturday, November 7; 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Proportion is the most crucial, yet most misunderstood aspect of architectural design. It exists today as the last bastion of objective logic in the realm of aesthetics. Indeed, without an understanding of proportion and the closely related problem of scale, no architectural endeavor can be successful in the aesthetic sense. This course will present practical methods of geometrically describing the elements of classical architecture and how they relate to an overall architectural composition, as well as provide techniques and practice for applying proportion to design with special emphasis on the orders.

Scholarship Winners

We are very pleased to announce the winners of GCA Scholarship Awards for Academic Achievement in 2008 – 2009! The $7,500 and $2,500 prizes for first and second place, respectively, are applied towards the following year’s core tuition.

Figure Category:
1^st Place – Will St. John
2^nd Place – Angela Cunningham

Cast Category:
1^st Place – Carla Crawford
2^nd Place – Emilie Lee

This year’s awards in the figure category were based primarily on a group of figure works. Will’s figure painting over the last year displays a deep understanding of the human form and conveys a mood that transcends academic study while showing a commitment to a classical aesthetic. Angela’s figure drawings are a meditation on form, expertly supported by a foundation of solid anatomy. From her figure drawing to figure sculpture to cast painting, she is developing into the sort of well-rounded artist rarely seen over the past century.

This year’s awards in the cast category were based on the completion of a single spectacular piece. Carla displayed constant focus during class and did some of the best block in and form work seen this year. Emilie chose one of the most difficult casts and inspired us all with her patience and perseverance to bring her piece to successful completion.

Congratulations!
GCA Scholarship Committee

Santiago by Will St. John, 16x20, oil on linen, 2008


Ana Nina, by Angela Cunningham, graphite on paper, 2008


detail of figure sculpture by Angela Cunningham, 2008


Winged Victory by Carla Crawford, graphite on paper, 2008


Laocoon by Emilie Lee, graphite on paper, 2008

Tony Curanaj at the John Pence Gallery

Tony Curanaj, Red, Oil on Canvas, 32 x 54 inches, 2008-09

GCA instructor Tony Curanaj currently has a show at the John Pence Gallery in San Francisco, California. The show will be up from September 11 to October 10. Tony teaches still life painting and figure painting in the core program on a weekly basis. He also teaches a still life painting workshop in the summers.

New Casts

Classes are back in session and the studios are looking great. Over the summer our cast hall grew a bit, thanks to the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America. They have a really unique collection of nineteenth century casts of antique and Renaissance sculpture that were donated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Below are some photos of the new additions, we're feeling very lucky to have them!










instructor Camie Davis working with Challen Berg