Reviews and Press
Feature Article on the school
Studios Magazine: Excellence Without Rigidity
A feature article about the Teaching Studios of Art and the underlying philosophy that makes it special.
Other articles by and about our faculty, courses, and workshops
Essay for the Brooklyn Rail - History Painting and the Problem with Art Education - by Rob Zeller
The art critic Donald Kuspit asked Zeller to write an essay, as a guest contributor, for the June 2017 issue of The Brooklyn Rail . The subject was: James Cooper, editor of the American Arts Quarterly, recently argued that there was an “explosion of new realism across the country,” more particularly a revival of “history painting.” According to Cooper, it involves the restoration of humanism and figuration, filtered through a modern existential understanding of the human condition. Do you agree or disagree?
Article for The Artist Magazine - The Evolution of Figure Drawing - by Rob Zeller
The Artist Magazine asked if Zeller would write an essay that would flesh out one of the main ideas of his book, The Figurative Artist's Handbook. Namely, how he brought together three figure-drawing methods long thought to be at odds, synthesizing these seemingly incompatible techniques to achieve a cohesive and complete understanding of the human figure. Although all three methods underlie contemporary fine-arts practice and education, no-one had ever combined them before:
The Study of Gesture (Disegno): Rooted in the Italian Mannerist style of the 16th and 17th centuries, the gestural method emphasizes life, rhythm, and movement in the human body.
The Structural Approach: A mainstay of 20th- and 21st-century art instruction, this method applies an architectural perspective to the body, using a block conception for anatomically sound, solid figures.
The Atelier Method: Based on the training provided by 18th- and 19th-century art academies, the atelier approach creates sensual, smooth renderings based on meticulous study of the figure’s surface morphology in light and shadow.
Professional Artist Magazine: Teaching Studios Director/Founder Rob Zeller
In this comprehensive article, Zeller explains the origin of Teaching Studios, and how he simultaneously manages the school and pursues his own career as a professional artist.
25A Magazine: Workshop instructor Nanette Fluhr
Nannette Fluhr is a highly accomplished portrait painter and a master copier. She has won countless awards in national art competitions.
Fine Art Connoisseur:
Workshop Instructor Bennett Vadnais
Workshop Instructor BENNETT VADNAIS – Simplifying the city
Studios Magazine:
How to Get the Most From Copying a Masterpiece
An article about Old Master Copying, a class we run, featuring workshop Instructors, Nanette Fluhr and Adam Miller.
An article about a workshop that the artists David Kassan taught for us .