Copyright Sean S. McGraw, 2013 All Rights Reserved The Academic Tradition Post Secondary Education...

Copyright Sean S. McGraw, 2013 All Rights Reserved

The Academic TraditionPost Secondary Education in Visual Art

Mr. Sean S. McGraw


Academic Artists vs. Post Modern ArtistsHistory and Theory

Academic: Is a method of learning art. It is also a name used to group a certain type of art. This type of art is usually highly focused on aesthetics.

As you progress through your education you will probably hear the term “academic” when describing a work of art.

In art history you learn about many artists and works of art. The works/artists which inspire you will have a major affect on your personal opinions about art, the “Art” world and your art making, and how you choose to pursue your artistic education after high school.


In the western world today there are two different major opinions about art.These “camps” of ideology can be simplified into the postmodern view and the academic view.

Today the post modern view controls most university level art programs. Postmodern proponents believe in concept over technical facility. So in these schools you learn conceptual ideas and are encouraged to create art with social or personal meaning. There is really no teaching of technical skill.

On the other end of the spectrum, Academic programs are usually taught in private schools or Ateliers. As a student you go to this school as it is a studio of a master artist and you learn from a specific curriculum. In the academic program you are taught technical facility. Concept and creativity is left up to your individual tastes to incorporate after you have learned an artistic skill.


Here are two (simplified) examples of the differences between Academic and post modern art.

Classical Postmodern


As an artist it is important that you think about what it is that you want to do with your art.

There are many ways and places to continue your art studies at the next level but it is imperative that you know the difference between the two types of art and their respective methods of education.

First, lets look at Academic art and the opportunities for academic training/education


Resources and Schools.

Art Renewal Center:The Art renewal Center is an organization that’s goal is to further academic

training and traditional art. They have a list of all the current schools/ateliers in the U.S. They have a huge amount of information on their website and hold

annual salons which have significant cash prizes. They also have scholarship awards for students looking to further their artistic careers in an academic

program. Check them out at http://www.artrenewal.org/


The Savannah College of Art and Design

I am an Alumni of SCAD and have studied at the Academy of Classical Design. It was due to the nature of the education at SCAD that I choose it over other art

programs.

Over the years SCAD has received negative opinions from other art universities and personalities in the fine arts due to the nature of its fine arts programs. SCAD

is one of the only art schools where you can receive an accredited degree and learn realist techniques in art making. SCAD employees many professors from

China and Taiwan, where Academic art is the norm as well as U.S. professors who paint representationally.

So if you want a degree in art SCAD is worth thinking about.


I was fortunate enough to be the student of Chen Hung, who is a professor of Drawing in the Foundations Department.

He passed on knowledge thathe learned as a student at the national academy in Taiwan.


The Repin Academy and Atelier Programs


Academic classrooms at the Academy of Classical Design and the Grand Central Academy


Examples of My Work

Copyright Sean S. McGraw, 2013 All Rights Reserved The Academic Tradition Post Secondary Education...

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