Georgetown Atelier

Georgetown Atelier is a classical drawing and painting program, which also recognizes the critical role that imaginative realism plays within the classics. Georgetown Atelier was founded in 2008 by Tenaya Sims (Best of Show in the 2016 International ARC Salon Competition). The Atelier is located within the Equinox Studios campus in the Georgetown district of Seattle, WA. Home to over 100 artists, Equinox Studios is a thriving arts and artisan community. Students enjoy the benefits of being part of this artist community, as well as the ‘family’ of ateliers at Gage Academy of Art.

Along with Tenaya, the teaching staff is comprised of Christopher Remmers (ARC Salon 3rd Place Imaginative Realism award), Tiffany Dae (ARC Salon Finalist, Muddy Colors Rising Star Award 2019) and Riley Doyle (ARC Salon Finalist, Best Artist Under 30 of Plein Air Salon). These highly talented professionals all graduated from Georgetown Atelier. In addition to being excellent teachers and having exceptionally warm characters, they are masters of the craft.  

At Georgetown Atelier, students begin by working observationally as they learn such core subjects as constructive anatomy, value studies, perspective, and cast drawing.  Students then learn how to extend beyond observation into the inventive. The “Rock Project” is one example of the bridge between the observational and the imaginative. Students initially draw a rock from observation through studying its visual properties (planar vs. round, quality of texture, lighting, etc.). Students then draw a rock from imagination, informed by their observational studies of the real rock.  

There are 4 major tiers of the curriculum which students follow a progression of projects along: Drawing, Painting I, Painting II, and Professional Development.  During the Professional Development stage, under the mentorship of the instructors, students build a cohesive body of work and cultivate their “inner vision”.

The curriculum is based on a 3-year timeline to complete but can vary depending on the experience level of the student upon entry, as well as academic vigor while attending. The progression of projects is designed to teach specific skills and techniques that are cumulative. This way, students learn important skillsets in an applied manner.

While significant emphasis is placed on the cultivation of specific skills and techniques, additional importance is placed upon the understanding of why and when to use particular methods. Our philosophy believes a well-rounded painter should be capable of painting broadly in an ‘alla-prima’ type of paint application (think Sargent, Zorn) or with a high degree of rendering finesse, layering, sculptural effects and glazes (think Bouguereau, Rembrandt, Michelangelo). In this way, students gain a greater range of tools in which to ultimately employ their creative vision and problem solve on a systems level.

Please email tenaya@gageacademy.org for inquiries, or to setup a tour.