Annual course. Classic (2 sessions weekly)

Annual course. Classic (2 sessions weekly)
30% Discount
36 weeks • 288 study hours
2 days per week, 4 study hours per day
  • TEACHER: ALEXANDRA CLAPATIUC
  • LOCATION: ROTTERDAMSEDIJK 417A, 3112AP, SCHIEDAM
  • DURATION: 32 academic hours per month • 36 weeks
  • DATES: September - June (Can be enrolled during the course)
  • SEMESTER 1: 18 weeks (2 SEP
Monthly price: €640.00
Original: €960.00
Schedule for the demo sessions:

At ESSE Academy, we set ourselves apart from other art courses in the Netherlands by adhering to the time-honored traditions of academic art. Unlike contemporary programs that often dilute technical skills with speculative theories and socio-political discourse, our curriculum is grounded in centuries-old principles that provide a robust and methodical approach to visual arts education.

Course Overview

The Annual Art Course offers a comprehensive synthesis of educational approaches, contents, methods, and practices historically developed in the greatest Art Academies and ‘Schools of Painting’. 

Course Structure:

  • Three Years: The programme is divided into three years of study, each building on the previous one, forming a cohesive educational journey. Levels include Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced.
  • Semesters: Each year is divided into two semesters, each lasting 3 months and consisting of 96 academic hours. Participants can subscribe/register for at least one semester.
  • Phased Professional Training: The course involves consistent mastery of visual literacy, progressing from simple to complex.
  • Core Disciplines: The study process includes still life, portrait, figure, nude, and landscape, focusing on practical work from nature to cultivate artistic vision in Drawing, Painting, and Composition.

Benefits:

  • Deep Foundation in Visual Literacy: Gain a solid understanding of artistic phenomena.
  • Transformation through Practice: Engage in an intensive artistic practice that transforms participants, providing them with professional tools for visual literacy and a unique worldview.
  • Personal Growth: Learn to express yourself uniquely, understand how to speak 'in your own voice,' and become your own creator.

Who Can Join:

  • Beginners and Experienced Individuals
  • Adults aiming to professionalize
  • High School Students looking to build a career in the visual industry

We welcome participants of all levels and backgrounds to join us on this transformative artistic journey.

Beginners: 1st Academic Year

The first academic year provides a fundamental understanding of the principles and regularities of academic artistic-plastic grammar. This foundational year focuses on the practical study of still life, the human head, and portraiture. Participants will delve into the basics of composition and create their own independent artworks. Additionally, this level offers introductory guidance on various graphic and painting techniques used in academic study, such as pastel, charcoal, sanguine, sepia, Russian sauce, watercolor, and gouache. Moreover, students will benefit from various short-term sessions focused on sketches of the human figure and nude.

Purpose:

Semester I: Dedicated to initial familiarization with practical insights into studying from nature and conducting practical analyses of artworks. This aims to develop specific methodological tasks based on still life and gypsum casts, implying the assimilation of basic principles and patterns of visual literacy. Participants will also be introduced to the primary academic fundamentals of visual literacy in Drawing, Painting, and Composition.

Semester II: Focused on the study of the human head and portrait, with a continued emphasis on the practical analysis of artworks. This semester involves further development of technical skills in various mediums and working from nature, including model drawing and painting. Participants will be actively engaged in sketching and creating short-term ‘etudes’ of portraits and the human figure, deepening their understanding of artistic creation and approach to individual 'artworks'.

Content Units:

Semester I:

  • Geometric bodies
  • Still life
  • The study of the skull
  • Practical analysis of artworks related to still life representation
  • Composition fundamentals

Semester II:

  • The study of gypsum elements (face details)
  • Practical analysis of artworks related to portrait representation
  • Portrait
  • Composition fundamentals

Intermediate: 2nd Academic Year

The intermediate year of study is more complex and requires a deeper understanding of the academic principles of visual representation. This year entails further exploration of portrait representation and the human figure, including the study of hands, feet, and the human torso. Additionally, students will transition gradually from a basic approach to a more sophisticated and artistically original one.

Simultaneously, these sections aim to foster a better comprehension of the academic fundamentals of composition while encouraging the development of original and authentic artistic solutions.

Purpose:

Semester I: Continues the study of portrait, including the study of the gypsum head, shoulder girdle, and thematic portraits. It also introduces the study of the human figure, focusing on the hands and human torso to represent a portrait with hands (half-figure). This semester provides composition training and a general acknowledgment of portrait and figure representation in world art.

Semester II: Advances the study of the human figure, delving into the study of the foot and the 'contrapposto' position of the human body. It develops academic knowledge in representing the nude, progressing from half-figure, nude torso, human figure, and nude figure. This semester also continues to outline composition understanding, implying a more authentic solution-solving approach and gaining knowledge for more complex compositional tasks.

Content Units:

Semester I:

  • The study of the gypsum head
  • The study of the shoulder girdle
  • Thematic portrait
  • Study of hands
  • Human torso
  • Half-figure portrait
  • Composition fundamentals

Semester II:

  • The study of the foot
  • The study of the 'contrapposto' position
  • Thematic figure
  • Nude torso
  • Nude figure
  • Composition fundamentals

Advanced: 3rd Academic Year

The advanced level represents a synthesis of the foundational academic studies in easel Drawing, Painting, and Composition at a higher professional level. This year entails a deeper focus on artistic vision, conceptual approach, and the formation of creativity, building upon the experience gained in previous art practice. The advanced level aims to nurture and refine individual artistic and visionary thinking through personalized artistic solutions. It encompasses a variety of academic and creative tasks, including still life, portrait, human figure, nude, and composition exploration.

Purpose:

Semester I: Introduces new challenges building upon the foundations laid in previous years, aiming for a higher level of diversity and complexity in easel Drawing, Painting, and Composition. This semester integrates the understanding and analysis of various art schools, movements, and aesthetic patterns, thereby broadening the spectrum of artistic approaches and encouraging the formulation of one's own views and artistic attitudes.

Semester II: Focuses on more complex tasks, including elaborate 'stagings' and models of nude and thematic figures, which elevate the level of mastery to a truly challenging degree. In addition to these exceptional 'studies from nature', participants will develop and work on a final artwork, covering all stages of its creation from compositional sketches to the finished piece. The final artwork will be chosen based on their level of professionalization, whether it's a genre composition or an abstract artwork.

Content Units:

Semester I:

  • Thematic still life
  • Thematic portrait
  • Nude torso
  • Thematic portrait with hands (half-figure)
  • Thematic figure sketching
  • Composition fundamentals

Semester II:

  • Nude torso
  • Thematic figure (including short-term painting studies)
  • Thematic figure in interior
  • Nude figure 'contrapposto'
  • Nude figure (including sketching)
  • Composition fundamentals

Teacher

Alexandra Clapatiuc
About the teacher
Alexandra Clapatiuc
Ph.D., an expert in Academic Fine Art Didactics

Alexandra is an accomplished easel painter from Eastern Europe, renowned as a professional fine art teacher, lecturer, methodist, curator, publicist, and researcher. With over 16 years dedicated to Academic Fine Art Education and Art Phenomenon, she integrates insights from intensive art practice, art psychology, academic fine art methodology and didactics, art history and theory, philosophy, and cultural studies. Alexandra brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role, ensuring a rich and engaging learning experience for her students.

EXPERIENCE
10+
years of teaching in academic fine art institutions
ARTIST
16+
years of art practice
CONNAISSEUR
18+
years of fine art studying and research
Who is the course for?
The Art courses we offer are intended for both professional artists and beginners, being designed for high school students 15+ y.o., university students, designers and artists who already have a basic knowledge in fine art practice. At the same time, we expect people who were never in touch with any artistic practice before, but strongly desire to shape their knowledge on fine art fundamentals.
Art materials for the course
The price for art materials is not included in the course fee, thus participants should acquire them separately. You will certainly receive a list of needed art materials before the commencement of the course.
Methodical materials
Throughout the course, participants will be able to use high-quality teaching materials (collections of reproductions) from the world heritage of painting and drawing, combined with samples from various Academies and Art Schools. These materials will be used during the educational process on practical artistic analysis of artworks.

Frequently asked questions

Language of instruction

English

Location. Where will the course take place?

The course will be held in our painting workshop at: Rotterdamsedijk 417A, 3112 AP Schiedam, Netherlands You can find the location on Google maps.

Course fees

Classic Annual course per month - € 640 for 32 academic hours/lectures in the workshop. For the Classic annual course (2 sessions weekly) participants can register for at least one semester. Each semester includes 4,5 months of study (32 hours per month), totaling 144 academic hours per semester.

 
Essentials Annual course per month - € 320 for 16 academic hours/lectures in the workshop. For the Essentials annual course essentials (1 sessions weekly) participants can register for at least one semester. Each semester includes 4,5 months of study (16 hours per month), totaling 72 academic hours per semester.

Art materials for the course

The price for art materials is not included in the course fee, thus participants should acquire them separately. You will certainly receive a list of needed art materials before the commencement of the course.

Why is ESSE Academy BEST in the Netherlands for studying fine arts?

ESSE Academy stands out in the Dutch art education landscape due to our unwavering commitment to the classical traditions of academic art. While many contemporary art courses and academies emphasize speculative theories, conceptual art, and socio-political discourse, often at the expense of solid knowledge and skills, ESSE Academy offers a structured and methodical approach rooted in centuries-old academic principles. Our programme focuses on providing clear, actionable knowledge and professional skills, grounded in the practice of studying from nature and learning from the great masters. This ensures that our students develop a comprehensive understanding of both technical artistry and the rich historical/stylistical context of their craft, setting them apart in the contemporary art scene.

What is a DEMO Session?

We are excited to offer prospective students the opportunity to experience our teaching methodology and the atmosphere of our courses through our exclusive DEMO SESSIONS - 100 euro per session. These sessions are designed for individuals considering committing to our Annual Course. You can also contact us for additional information regarding DEMO Sessions.

Enrollment and Contract

We continuously enroll participants throughout the year. After a consultation with the instructor, each participant is placed in a suitable group based on their skill level and available spaces. The enrollment contract is set for a minimum of four months, regardless of the application date.

Do you have questions?

You can contact us by phone on +31 64 114 2777 or by e-mail info@esseacademy.nl. Or, you can make use of our contact form by clicking below
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