School works in the footsteps of the great master. It is the dream of every person who hopes to…read moreget real information to build high skills in the art .

I want to be fair in saying that REAL Academy of Art Colorado was very clear that this is a…read moretraditional master-style art school. That was explained before I enrolled, and I take responsibility for not fully understanding what that style of instruction would actually mean in practice. I paid for a full semester of 12 sessions, and because of their schedule I had to complete them over four weeks, attending three days a week. I was driving a significant distance each time, so I was investing a lot of time, money, and energy into the program. What I found was that a large portion of the experience consisted of standing at an easel and drawing for very long periods with relatively little hands on instruction. I understand that sustained drawing is part of traditional atelier training, but personally, I could do that at home. I was paying for instruction, critique, demonstrations, and clear guidance, and I did not feel that I received enough of that to justify the cost. One thing that especially bothers me in hindsight is the lack of guidance around basic studio tools. They had mahl sticks available, but I was never instructed to use one. I was struggling significantly with fatigue in my arm and hand from holding my arm up and trying to draw straight lines for 3 hours at a time. I had also specifically explained that I had health issues that made prolonged arm positioning difficult. As I have continued studying art, I have learned how useful a mahl stick can be for exactly this kind of problem. Knowing now that such a simple tool could have reduced a substantial amount of the fatigue I was experiencing makes me very frustrated that nobody thought to suggest it, especially when the tools were right there. My experience with the instructors also varied. Ali was very disappointing for me. When I tried to express that I was unhappy with the amount of instruction I was receiving, I often felt that the conversation turned into long explanations rather than practical help or a concrete change in what I was being given. James was different. When I told him I was frustrated, he did listen and would try to give me something specific to work on. I appreciated that effort and want to acknowledge it. To be more specific about what I actually did during my time there, much of the work consisted of straight line blocking. They would draw simple shapes, star like forms, and I would the break them down into straight lines, working from the largest lines to progressively smaller ones. I later learned that this exercise had a name, but that was never really explained to me at the time; I was essentially just told what to copy and how to proceed. We also copied Bargue plates, again using straight line blocking. In my experience, there was very little actual instruction or critique during this process. Ali specifically told me that he did not believe in giving traditional feedback and instead preferred to tell students that they had done better than they had the day before. That may work for some people, but for me it made it extremely difficult to understand what I was doing incorrectly, why it was incorrect, or what specifically I needed to change in order to improve. I also found it frustrating that even while I was attending three days a week and clearly expressing dissatisfaction with the experience I was already having, I was pressure to purchase additional classes and and told i needed to spend even more time there. That did not sit well with me. Another thing prospective students should know is that many of the additional activities, painting workshops, and other offerings are not included in the regular tuition. They are separate and can be quite expensive, so the total cost of participating in everything the school offers can add up quickly. I also heard other students express similar frustrations about wanting more instruction, so I do not think I was alone in feeling this way. I do not think REAL Academy is necessarily a bad fit for everyone. If you specifically want a very traditional atelier environment where you spend long stretches of time independently drawing and observing, with relatively limited hands-on teaching, you may enjoy it. But if you are looking for an instructor who is actively teaching throughout class, demonstrating techniques, introducing tools and methods that make the work easier or more effective, giving frequent practical feedback, and helping you progress through varied exercises, I would strongly recommend asking very detailed questions before enrolling. I wish I had understood all of this before paying for a semester and making the drive several times a week. I hope this review saves someone else some time and money if this is not the type of art education they are looking for.

I attended a Yelp elite painting class here and it was so much fun…read more They offer a huge schedule of art classes in all different mediums. I am planning to do some drawing and possibly more painting over the Summer. They offer kids classes too. We used water colors as the base today and she started by teaching several techniques, which was incredibly helpful once we started our abstract pieces. We also used pastels on top, which I thought added a really cool texture to my work. The teacher made each part seem so simple, everyone in the class was able to make something really beautiful. So much fun! Go check it out.

I was really excited to get in to the Yelp Elite event as I only just started to embroider January…read moreof this year. Being that the event was on a Saturday the parking lot was relatively empty so I didn't have to find street parking, but I did notice many of my classmates found street parking. No one complained do it must have been easy. The class was small and intimate with 8 of us present. The instructor Karin introduced us to the Art Students League of Denver, the offerings, and some history. We went around the room and discussed everyone's level of experience and interests. She really listened and worked to tailor our experience based on our responses. Each seat was set up with the materials we needed and we started off with introductory stitches. After an hour we focused on our Art piece and near the end of class picked up remaining supplies to finish our work at home. 10 mins before leaving we all did stretching exercises and cleaned up the room. I'd recommend attending if others are interested in learning something new or expanding their skill set.

My oldest daughter auditioned at DSA last winter and after several weeks of waiting for that letter…read moreto arrive it finally did and after screaming so loud she scared the tar out of our mailman the celebration began. Samantha had been accepted at DSA and her middle school career was about to begin! She has been at the school as a theater major for almost 8 months now and I must say, I am most impressed. Actually impressed doesn't quite cover it. I am completely and utterly floored, flabbergasted and blown away.... The talent here is ridiculous and like Colin mentioned in his review, DSA offers some of the most wonderful plays, musicals, concerts and dance productions in the entire Metro area. Last night's performance was a Broadway review which the kids will actually perform downtown tonight for a big fund-raising gala for The Kempe Foundation. There are simple not enough ways to describe just how talented these kids are and how spectacular the show was. As the first act began and the young lady opened her mouth, my God the sound that came out was quite literally unreal. To be so young and so gifted it was enough to bring a person to tears. Things got better from there, which is hard to believe considering it started out at FANTASTIC! There were dancers and singers and actors which easily rival anything on Broadway. Numbers from Annie, and Hair, Joesph and the Technicolor Dream coat, Hair spay, and several others, for 10 bucks. It was a night for the record books, and as a mama so full of pride and awe I must say... my baby kicked some series Broadway booty last night. Way to go kiddo! So if you are looking for some raw and insane talent for a very reasonable price and feel like contributing to a great, local and PUBLIC school in Denver, get yourself on their newsletter list and ENJOY!!! You'll be toe tapping and singing along I guarantee it!

Here are Denver's talented children. Brilliant and talented…read more Theater, song, dance, artists, cinema production, writing,stage techs. It covers all bases. If you have a child who has any interest in the arts, the academic program boasts a high college acceptance, and the talent is boundless. If you get an opportunity to see a show, it is likely you are going to get the glimpse of a future world talent. Great environment! The only issue I have with the school is the parking lot... Dear God, please give these people a piece of land so that they don't have to park on the grass and in intersections. If you build it, they will come.

This studio, and these classes, are the best around. She,…read moreJudy, is a truly gifted teacher, and the atmosphere is perfect for learning. Judy can teach almost any style of painting, and she is a gifted teacher and artist. In addition they have presentations by famous artists from all over the country. A wonderful atmosphere and experience.

I requested a one-on-one teacher to learn business French after having four years of conversational…read moreexperience so I called to ask about the process and I was told to submit a request online. I did as I was told and it's been over a month with no response. If there's no teachers available, I would appreciate a heads up, but the lack of communication is severely concerning and highly dismissive, and I would not recommend working with this institution due to their unprofessionalism and apparent bias against potential learners.

J'aime le Allliance…read more Six years of attendance and my French is still pathetic, but it is my fault not theirs. All the classes are taught in French by native French speakers. This helps you (forces you) to learn. The instructors teach here because they love their language and it is reflected in their enthusiasm. Friendly and helpful staff. I would encourage anyone who wants to learn French (a little or a lot) to attend the Alliance Française de Denver.