The Art Institute Reviews 

This course has opened my eyes to all sorts of art that I might not otherwise have encountered as well as helping me to a greater understanding of art I already knew. It is good to have assignments which get progressively more challenging and enable you to track progress and grow in confidence.

I have really enjoyed the course - the modules have been interesting and informative, and the essays provided the impetus to do research and extra reading. Feedback was extremely helpful Thank you

I have found this course to be an enriching and rewarding experience. What I have valued most is that it goes far beyond learning about artists, movements, dates, and individual works. It provides the tools to truly look at art, understand it, question it, and place it within its historical, social, and cultural context.
The course is very well structured, moving through different periods and artistic movements in a way that allows you to understand not only how art changed, but also why those changes occurred. I particularly appreciate the emphasis on visual analysis and comparison, which has encouraged me to look more carefully at composition, color, technique, materials, symbolism, and artistic intention.
Even with a previous background and a strong personal interest in art and design, I have found the course intellectually stimulating and full of new perspectives. It has helped me connect ideas and movements that I previously understood separately and has considerably enriched the way I experience artworks, exhibitions, and museums.
I would highly recommend this course to anyone interested in developing a deeper understanding of art, whether for professional, academic, or personal reasons.

The assignments are challenging and encourage you to research the literature. The feedback is prompt and extremely useful. The reading lists are also very useful and I have discovered several artists of whom I was totally unaware.
My only regret is that there is no real dialogue with the tutor or with other students.

I am very much enjoying The Art Appreciation course which is a thorough yet highly accessible and enjoyable introduction to art history. I have just completed the fifth module and have learned so very much already. The course materialis well presented and sufficient to allow you to complete each assignment but extensive further reading lists are also provided . Each of my assignments has been marked promptly and the feedback has been so constructive. I am studying this course for leisure reasons to enhance my appreciation and understanding of the art I see in galleries so I particularly like the total control I have over the pace of study. It has definitely been a worthwhile investment.

I have just submitted module 5 . The course materials have been very good, a lot of information and many tips on where to delve deeper . Answering the questions knowing I have to pass has made me remember much more than other online courses where there is not an assessment . The support is friendly and efficient, and the tutors feedback and marking helpful and stimulating. I am now seeing much more in the art I look at. And as a consequence really do enjoy it more .

The art history course is superb. I have always enjoyed looking at art but not known enough about it. Now I am learning more, and in the process, appreciating more than just the art I like. I would recommend this to anyone who has a little time and a love of art.

I am absolutely loving this Art Appreciation course. Coming in as an absoloute novice, each module has introduced me to different movements, artists, cultural and political influences etc etc. I feel like I am looking at the world differently!
What I would have felt helpful is a Terms of Glossary.
Another suggestion is a Movement timeline. Just a basic one, so you can see where each period begins/ends etc.
I would very much love to do an advance module on New Zealand artists, when, if ever, one is produced.
Thank you so much for this learning experience.

The content is really engaging and additional reading suggestions allow more in depth exploration. I find the historical context setting helpful at the beginning of each module. Takes me to places all over the world without ever leaving my desk!

This is one of those 'I wish I'd done that at school' moments! The course is not only an amazing journey of art through the centuries, but also a history lesson in what influenced and shaped artists to create their masterpieces. It has changed the way I look at art and fostered a desire to know the influences and background behind the works. Although the modules contain all the relevant information, the assignments are crafted to encourage deeper research for those who wish it. With the fantastic support of a mentor to guide and encourage, I for one am so glad I took this course!

PROS: Learned a lot through my own research; really good (and tough) questions in the assignments
CONS: adding a module explaining how to write about art, would be helpful I feel
CAUTION: The Great Courses, or Elevify offers similar courses at a fraction of the price, with a more modern approach it seems

The modules are interesting and informative and the tutor's responses are very helpful and timely.

I have found the course on the whole informative and is giving me a wide ranging understanding of Western Art and in particular the myriad of isms / ists especially from mid 19th century onwards. The later modules especially nine and ten were particularly illuminating. The first module on how to look and analyse art was particularly helpful and was a good foundation. I was very disappointed with the Renaissance module which was to be honest pretty short considering its importance and uninspiring. The true test is the questions at the end of each module. To get high marks you do need to research using not only the reading list but the Internet - the module are often not nearly detailed enough to provide a high marks. If you do make the effort answering these often challenging questions in a page is the most rewarding and intellectually challenging part of the course. My course mentor provided very useful feedback and encouragement . I looked forward to Libby's comments. . It is a pity the other students seem to make little use of the Facebook page perhaps the course organisers should get more involved in stimulating debates. Would I recommend the course to others - I am not sure - it is expensive when you pay the full price for module content which is variable and not that detailed and as on line misses the student / student as well as student/ tutor interaction of face to face classes. Perhaps adding some live zooms would help.

An excellent course with well structured modules. Responsive tutors who go that extra mile with feedback and encouragement. Cant recommend it highly enough!

I've learned so much from the modern and contemporary art units, which have given me the language that I needed to talk about modern art. Feel lucky to have Stephen Farthing as a tutor as he encourages independent thinking, as long as its backed up with a logical argument. If The Art Institute ever offered a course in Asian and African Art, I'd be keen (once I've taken off the 5kgs from eating M&Ms while reading about art!)

The content is excellent and very well presented. Tutor feedback is prompt and very detailed. I have thoroughly enjoyed the course.

I have learned so much through doing this course which I think is very good value for money. The modules are easy to read and the assignments challenging enough to really make me think. The feedback from my tutor has been encouraging and helpful. I have been inspired to visit galleries and learn more about individual artists - particularly female artists.

After completing the 10th module, I am really enjoying the course, especially last 4 modules, the ideas discussed and the assignments are great and push you to search and dig deeper into the subject. The feedback from the tutor is helpful detailed and constructive, prepares you well to get better in future assignments. Also the support team are quite responsive. Amazing course, I learned about ideas in Art I never knew existed.

Half way through the ArtAppreciation course,I have learnt so much. The modules I have completed have been comprehensive , giving many insights into the development of art and art movements through the centuries.
Not being a fan of the historic art movements, I have been able to more fully learn, appreciate and understand the works of those eras.
The assignments are thought provoking, encouraging further research, compounding the information given in the modules.
Tutor, Stephen Farthing, has given in-depth and constructive guidance in his prompt marking and feedback.
I am finding the course enjoyable, stimulating and most
informative

I would recommend The Art Institute Art Appreciation online course for anyone interested in understanding more about art. It covers a lot of ground and information about art and artists, what I like is the social and political context of the period under study.