Before the Virtual Art Academy
When I started to learn to paint, I couldn’t find an art school that covered all the aspects of painting from traditional to modern approaches.
The learning process was very difficult, and it took me many years to gather the information I needed. I sought out some of the best contemporary painters I could find, attended many specialist courses at various art colleges, and devoured dozens of books I found in their studios, many of which are now out of print.
The hard work paid off though. After a few years I was juried into the Carmel Art Association, followed shortly after by being juried into the California Art Club, one of the oldest professional art organizations in the United States, and the heart of the now worldwide Plein Air Painting art movement.
I became a member of the group of Central Californian Coast artists known as the ‘Informalists’, and began to win awards in plein air painting competitions. Over the following years I was invited to participate in many juried exhibitions, solo and group shows with other professional artists, and found representation in art galleries in the US, the UK, Italy, and more recently in China (you can read the details of my Awards and International Exhibitions on the bio page of personal website.)
I was invited to author a column for many years on how to paint for the International Artist Magazine, as well as many articles on understanding master paintings for the Plein Air Magazine.
How the Virtual Art Academy came about
I started to run workshops in California in the early 00’s, but one thing struck me. It seemed to me that artist workshops were an inefficient way to learn painting. In one week, I could only teach my students a tiny fraction of what I knew.
That was when I came up with the idea of documenting all the knowledge I had learned on my journey to becoming a full time artist, into what was to become the Virtual Art Academy Reference Library, which I first published in 2003.
Over the following 20 years, this library evolved into the Virtual Art Academy: an Online Art School with a full four-year program, now consisting not only eBooks, but assignments, video lessons, and in 2013, an integrated Online Campus, where my students could interact with each and discuss their assignments together.
Today
With my new Virtual Art School, I can now give my students in two to four years, the same knowledge that has now taken me 30 years to acquire.
Many members have now been with me for over ten years, taking advantage of my Spiral of Learning℠ approach—a unique way of helping you continually strengthen your foundational skills, and improve the quality of your paintings. They all say that with the Virtual Art Academy they can learn something new every day. I have been happy to see that many of my students have won awards, found galleries to represent their work, been elected as members of art societies, and become full time professional artists.
Take a look at the Curriculum of online painting classes, and if you are not ready to begin your journey on the path to learning how to paint but would rather like to stay in touch then feel free to signup for the email newsletter and follow the Virtual Art Academy on the social media.
This is a far more superior school than anything I have seen being taught at colleges across the country
This is a far more superior school than anything I have seen being taught at colleges across the country and have learned much more from the Virtual Art Academy® than from any art course I have ever taken! I cannot begin to tell how the Virtual Art Academy has improved my observation of potential compositions… Read more “This is a far more superior school than anything I have seen being taught at colleges across the country”
The equivalent of a 4 year art education at a fraction of the cost
This is a great course for anyone who is serious about improving their painting. I have been a student here for several years. When I am finished, I will have the equivalent of a 4 year art education at a fraction of the cost. I can do the lessons anywhere and at my own pace.… Read more “The equivalent of a 4 year art education at a fraction of the cost”
No need to buy expensive art books…. Just do the VAA 4 year course. I still refer to it
I finished the VAA course a few years ago, but always refer to the notes, rereading the course many times. This is not a course the day you are finished, you are done. No, you keep practising the assignments getting better and better over time. When I look back at my work when I had just… Read more “No need to buy expensive art books…. Just do the VAA 4 year course. I still refer to it”
Only online learning program I have ever discovered using a training industry best practice
Before repurposing my vocation into avocation, I spent 20 years in the corporate world as an instructional designer and performance consultant creating training curricula for diverse clientele from NASA to General Motors. I know curriculum development and how to guide a learner from beginning to certification. VAA is the only online learning program I have… Read more “Only online learning program I have ever discovered using a training industry best practice”
An excellent foundation on so many aspects of painting
I never had formal training in painting and my style has always been very realistic, slow and not at all artistic, just a copy of a photograph. When I got word of the course available through Virtual Art Academy, I was very excited for the opportunity to learn what I never knew about painting. VAA… Read more “An excellent foundation on so many aspects of painting”
The most comprehensive art instruction I could find anywhere online, and trust me, I had been looking for a long time.
I joined 2 years ago with my daughter. We have both learnt so much and have enjoyed our VAA time together. My daughter is now 13 and already produces amazing paintings. The Virtual Art Academy is simply the most comprehensive art instruction I could find anywhere online, and trust me, I had been looking for… Read more “The most comprehensive art instruction I could find anywhere online, and trust me, I had been looking for a long time.”
The small steps are easy to do
I am extremely impressed with the process that Barry has developed for VAA. Learning to paint can be intimidating, but when broken into many small projects it is very do-able. I just did my first live model painting session- a 5 hour, one day session. Thanks to VAA, I was able to break the painting… Read more “The small steps are easy to do”
Since I started the programme I can see improvements in my composition and use of colour
My painting “Primitive Pots” recently won the award given by the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour at the recent selected exhibition of the Society of East Anglian watercolourists. I have been working through the VAA course for over five years and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their painting. There is… Read more “Since I started the programme I can see improvements in my composition and use of colour”
‘Ladder of Learning’ adds to overall positive experience of this awesome course
The VAA course is built on four main building blocks including PROCESS, REALISM, MUSIC AND POETRY. These are further divided into topics that are continuously developed throughout the curriculum. Drawing, Form, Observation, Colour, Brushwork, Notan, Composition and Poetry are all thoroughly taught. Working on-line we meet students from all around the world, interacting with them… Read more “‘Ladder of Learning’ adds to overall positive experience of this awesome course”
