American Artist Magazine, September 2012

FEATURES

Where to Study Art: A sponsored guide to some of the best educational programs.

Black Mountain College: An Experiment in Art
by John A. Parks
Black Mountain College survived for only 23 years—
during which time its average enrollment was less than 50 students—yet its experimental atmosphere had a profound impact on the evolution of American art.

Ox-Bow: Making Art Happen
by Naomi Ekperigin
For nearly 100 years, this bucolic retreat in Southwest Michigan has served as a haven for artists who seek to create in an immersive, encouraging environment.

The New York Academy of Art: Traditional Skills, Contemporary Discourse
by Allison Malafronte
For 30 years, the New York Academy of Art has been giving students the tools they need to create technically accomplished and culturally impactful artwork.

Home Alone: Winners of American 
Artist’s Self-Portrait Cover Competition
The finalists in our Self-Portrait Cover Competition share the stories and techniques behind their winning work and discuss the importance of self-portraiture to their practices.

The Portrait, Demonstrated (Part 1 of 3)
by James Duncan
In the first installment of a three-part series, Gregory Mortenson explains the steps he takes to create a block-in, including his methods of measurement and how he uses mirrors to create a more natural self-portrait.

The Art of Architecture
by Michael Gormley
The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art and its affiliated programs are working to revive classical architectural traditions, which are as relevant and as inspirational today as ever.

Studio Philosophers: The IDSVA 

Doctoral Program
by Michael Gormley
A game-changing experiment in art education offers a research-based doctorate program for working artists, providing them with an opportunity to expand their involvement in the greater cultural dialogue.

If You Could Create the Perfect Art School, What Would It Be?
We asked an illustrious group of professional artists, graduate and undergraduate teachers, and administrators this very question, and the responses were quite inspiring.