Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art Reviews 3

I'm currently studying at the Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art and couldn't be happier with the experience. The studio environment is inspiring and supportive, the instruction is clear and in-depth, and the life drawing sessions are a highlight. I’ve learned so much already and feel constantly encouraged to grow as an artist. Highly recommended for anyone serious about developing their skills!

Just finished a 5 day Academic drawing course at the Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art, going back again in a few months.
The tutelage was both excellent and supportive.
Lea and Ewan, who run the Atelier, are both accomplished artists and offer support, guidance and critique work throughout the day to ensure the best possible outcome.
The atmosphere is calm, relaxed and friendly.
I would recommend the Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art, for anyone who enjoys realist art and would like to improve their skills, or even a new starter is made welcome and given support.

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE
When I did the Old Masters course at the Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art a few years ago the teaching was excellent. When I signed up for Painting the Human Figure taken by Juliette Aristides this year, naturally I was expecting a similar standard of teaching, only to be extremely dissapointed.
Juliette ( who is a friend of the owners as confirmed by the director Ewan`s description of them as the "three amigos" on his facebook page), seemed to make things up as she went along with no thought going into the course structure. We started our main painting on day one, interupted by frequent quick studies, resulting in few people completing even the first stage of their main painting by the end of the course. Juliette`s instructions were often confusing resulting in me frequently being unsure as to what I was meant to be doing or what materials I should be using. Lea (one of the owners) would tell me not to use a medium which Juliette had previously told me to use! Many items required for the course were not on the list, whilst many items on the materials list weren`t used resulting in me wasting nearly £100!
If you aren`t a demanding student on Juliette`s course then be prepared to be overlooked. Subsequent to her giving most tuition to a young male whilst giving little or no tuition to myelf, after two days I raised this matter with Juliette. Whilst admitting to, and apologising for having overlooked me, Juliette`s defence was that due to me being softly spoken I`d come across as not requiring tuition. This was followed by her instructing me to be more "aggressive" in the class ! (As a consequence of having challenged Juliette I was subsequently met with frosty glances from the owners).
Although we had paid £475 for 5 days tuition on painting the figure, Juliette decided that instead of teaching us on Thursday afternoon, we should all go to an exhibition at the Gallery. Like myself, some students wondered why she didn`t take us to the exhibition between 4-7pm ( when the SNG is open late ) after teaching us in the afternoon ? When myself and another student had the courage to ask if we could work in the studio instead of going to the exhibition (which we had both already seen), although we were obviously viewed as being awkward, they had no choice but to give us studio time with the model as per the course programme . Prior to the other student having asked, Juliette`s response to me had been "you`ll be the only one staying behind" making it clear I`d be the odd one out.
When myself and the other remaining student were painting the model in the afternoon, Lea (one of the owners) started conversing with someone in a loud voice about "opticians and glasses " near to where we were working. Since this went on for at least 15 minutes making it impossible for us to concentrate, I had no option but to politely ask Lea if she could possibly speak in a lower voice. Instead of apologising for having disturbed us, Lea abruptly left the studio.
Based on my personal experience, if you`re happy to pay money for an art course which lacks any progressive structure, during which you have to "aggressively" fight for any individual tuition, and are continually confused as to what you`re meant to be doing, then do a summer workshop at the Edinburgh Atelier with Juliette Aristides. If you`re dissatisfied with any aspect of the course, then speak out at your own peril.
Whereas most professional institutions ask for feedback at the end of a course with a view to making future improvements, instead, Juliette and the owners spent time praising each other!