New Beaux-Arts Atelier information session

Tuesday April 5th at 4:30 PM Richard Cameron will give a short talk about the new Beaux-Arts Atelier - a one year intensive program in the study of architectural design at the Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America. Please follow the link read a full description of the program - which includes a term in Rome and internship placement.

Stop by the South Studio at GCA tomorrow afternoon to find out more and ask questions!

Application deadline is May 15 2011!

The original New York Penn Station before it's demolition in 1963

some of Benini's initial sketches for the Navona Fountain

students sketching outside the New York Public Library

events happening TONIGHT!!!

6:00-7:30 PM public viewing of work in progress from the sculpture competition

ongoing this week 10:00AM - 9:30PM student work on view in all the studios

Beguiling Nature of her Custom: An Illustrated Talk on Sculpture and Architecture

7:30-8:30 PM in the south studio

“I am aware that it is commonly held as a fact by most writers that sculpture, as well as painting, was naturally discovered originally by the people of Egypt, and also that there are others who attribute to the Chaldeans the first rough carvings of statues and the first reliefs. In like manner there are those who credit the Greeks with the invention of the brush and of coloring. But it is my opinion that design, which is the foundation of both arts, and the very soul which conceives and nourishes in itself every part of the intelligence, came into full existence at the time of the origin of all things, when the Most High, after creating the world and adorning the heavens with shining lights, descended through the limpid air to the solid earth, and by shaping man, disclosed the first form of sculpture and painting in the charming invention of things. Who will deny that from this man, as from a living example, the ideas of statues and sculpture, and the questions of pose and of outline, first took form; and from the first pictures, whatever they may have been, arose the first ideas of grace, unity, and the discordant concords made by the play of lights and shadows?” Giorgio Vasari— Lives of the Artists

In which we will look at work by Masacio, Ghiberti, Bramante, Michelangelo and other artists, and try to answer the question —Did Shakespeare visit Italy, and was Giulio Romano a sculptor?—in recognition of the commencement of the second annual sculpture competition of the Grand Central Academy of Art.

Special Workshop Week

This week we are all taking a break from our regular routine to participate in workshops that focus on value, color, and architectural drawing.


The value workshop is being taught by Tony Curunaj. Students in this workshop are being introduced to the Munsell color chart and learning to mix and match the neutral values. We just finished making value strips (shown above) and will tube up some of these grays to use for painting this week.


Carla, Andy, & Remi working on value strips


The color workshop is taught by Graydon Parrish. Students in this group are also working with the Munsell chips to learn about the flesh tone range. They are making some funky color charts that I'll post as they progress.


The architectural drawing group has been spending the mornings walking around Manhattan drawing from some local sites of interest, and in the afternoon they're doing this kind of thing in the class room. Richard Cameron is teaching this workshop.

Classical Architecture 101

On Monday nights, Richard Cameron teaches a class for GCA students and teachers that introduces the fundamental principles of classical architecture. Cameron co-founded the Institute of Classical Architecture and has taught drawing and the history of architectural theory at the Institute since its foundation in 1991.



The class has been studying renaissance drawings, with a particular focus on Michelangelo. They have also been drawing the Doric order from the treatise by James gibbs, and have done some drawing at the New York Public Library (2 blocks from school). Coming up next, the class plans to spend some time studying shadows using india ink wash rendering and getting to know the great classical buildings of New York City. Some introductory design exercises will also be covered by the end of the year.



Richard Cameron is also the co-founder of Ariel, The Art of Building. Ariel specializes in the hand drawing of architecture and design, and in high-end residential and institutional projects.

Studio Talk Alert!

Studio Talks: Artists on Artists

Please join us for informal, afternoon studio talks by artists about artists.
GCA's South Studio
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Refreshments will be served

Richard Cameron talks about THE NEOCLASSICAL DIVIDE
Tuesday, November 18, 2008

rsvp: grandcentralacademy@gmail.com

*Next in December: Patrick Connors on Eakins: Philadelphia School of Painting

Noted architect Richard Cameron will discuss the legacy of Stuart & Revett's seminal work, Antiquities of Athens and its important place in the debate over the 'neo-classical divide'-a debate that continues to influence classical work today.


About Richard Cameron
Richard Cameron is principal at Ariel - The Art of Building, LLC and co-founder of the ICA&CA. Mr. Cameron has taught drawing and the history of architectural theory at the Institute since its founding, and currently serves on the Board of Directors as its Vice-Chairman. He was awarded first prize in the Royal Oak Foundation's Annual Architecture Competition in 1993. His work has appeared in numerous publications including House and Garden, The New York Times, Period Homes, New Old House, and Traditional Building. For more information, please visit www.ariel-llc.com


*A recent reprint of Antiquities of Athens was published by Princeton Architectural Press in association with the ICA&CA's "Series in Art and Architecture."