Inside the One-Room School Teaching the Best Fine Artists in The World

[@slewp]

Have you ever heard of an Atelier or is this video the first time you've heard that term?

[@elbowcitycat]

never, kinda gives me hope tho maybe fine art aint dead

[@Dave_1966]

I have heard you using the word before, and I have read about it somewhere, but for the life of me I can’t remember where lol old age doesn’t come alone 😊

[@creativejargons]

1st time 😮

[@Esiylam]

First time - I love being exposed to new aspects of the art world. Great video, thanks for sharing the experience!

[@WhoCaresAlisha]

Where I live, atelier is a clothing boutique or seamstress workshop. I actually heard it in reference to art for the first time on your channel 😅

[@afterthestorm221]

Art school taught me the mechanics of being a professional artist, but did not teach me how to be an actual artist. I appreciate his desire to return to the basics.

[@Rdeschain19]

how can they teach you the mechanics of being a professional artist but not actual draftsmanship

[@natbrownizzle1387]

@@Rdeschain19 Schools teach you the fundamentals, but how to use those and for what, is up to you. It's like being thought how to wook, but not having your hand held when you go on your own journey. One can learn how to play piano, the technique, one can learn how to read notes, etc. but how to actually play, is something one learns after he learned the first two steps and that is something nobody can really teach you, sure, when you dont advance anymore you go to someone who is further than you are and you ask for help, but AGAINA, the road one will have to walk alone.

[@ProkoTV]

It was a great time being there with you and Jeff. Thanks for taking the time to hang out with us here in San Diego!

[@Eurorack_Goblinmode]

Would love an art school w/o the bureaucracy of universities, that taught these fundamental academic skills, but also went beyond them to the many lessons of modernism and post-modernism

[@MadebyEdgar]

I'm not against the modern school system but it does lack in the art department. Places like these need to be funded by their state. Not places that lack the passion, where you pay more to learn less.

[@jonathanlochridge9462]

Perhaps. If it wasn't for Ai, I think the studio farm/school model more generally could make a lot of sense for Learning. With a short period of cheap instruction, and then learning by a mix of daily exercises and working on less important elements of bigger works. Closest thing I can think of to that which still exists today, is the services where you can get handpainted reproductions of classic artwork online optionally with modifications. Of course a job at a place like that still relies on having a certain minimum level of technical skill at least, even if the mininum draftsmanship might not be as much as in other things. In some places it is common for aspiring artists to work underneath a more established one to produce comics. Of course even getting those positions can be hard.

[@popfaves370]

WOW. An art school and curriculum that teaches real drawing, painting and illustration and study of Masters, in CALIFORNIA! (California seems to promote only modern art in the state schools.) And now online! I hope this Atelier continues on into the future for generations! Let's overthrow modern art and return art to its former glory, and its future advancements! (And don't give me the lie that there is nothing more to do in realistic art anymore.)

[@alanawolf1556]

Why not let people follow the direction and aesthetic language that calls to them? A postmodern work that stirs one viewer takes nothing away from a classically inspired piece that speaks to you. Why on earth would you want to take that away from them? I’m sure no one needs to be reminded of certain dictators’ mandates against “degenerate” art. Let artists make what they like. Every basic studio art curriculum in universities includes two-dimensional illustration classes - a three hour class, several times per week, where students do nothing but draw; they’re also expected to spend additional hours drawing outside classroom time. Nothing is stopping these students from continuing to develop their skills once their initial studio classes are over - and some would benefit greatly from that… but only if their artistic language requires it. The good news is nearly anyone can make Watts-style illustrations and paintings if they have the spare time and interest (and any 20+ min. Skillshare ad on KZbin with its salt should drive that point home!). But not every artist needs those extended skills in their arsenal. While what they produce may not be everyone’s cup of tea, you can bet that the audience who DOES appreciate their work vitally values that connection.

[@lafleched]

We go into art school knowing it’s often not a lucrative profession, but we at least expect to be good if not rich when we finish. I think having those goalposts from other students hanging up is a good indicator that keeps students motivated but also allows them to recognize in what areas they’re lagging behind.

[@sketchartist1964]

Been at it for over 15 years and I'm still not rich.

[@sabinechristiansen4958]

Ich bin jetzt 56 und begann vor 3 Monaten zu zeichnen, ihr seid sooo talentiert wow❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mr.babichslessons7279]

I love how you are interviewing people now! I love it!

[@wattsatelier]

Thanks for coming down! Was great to have you. Good luck with your studio!

[@libertygarciaart]

This video is the reason I’m currently doing the 8-day boot camp at Watts right now!!✨

[@SMOENOVA]

thanks for sharing this epic video. ❤

[@I_am_Lauren]

This guy is truly unique and amazing! He is truly going to leave a positive legacy on the world.

[@Tracyhopkinsontextileartist65]

Watts is so right. I have just passed a fine art degree in UK and we were stirred away from actual painting. I went to get better a painting.

[@PukuBuffet]

Jeff Watts is a hero and spiritual mentor of mine- in the modern world, when the concept of an "artist" is so mired in obfuscation and unscrupulousness, Watt's unremitting commitment to the most bare, honest and unadulterated aspects of art, that is its fundamentals, almost rises above his duty as a professional into something of a legacy; rigor above fleeting vulgar, elegance as a process of maintained structure and lifelong optimism and commitment over faddish impulses and gimmicks. Excuse my melodrama, but as a teenager trying to make my way through life, and amongst all that's happening in the world, he imbues the drudgery and hardship of my daily life with a sense of spirituality- he gives me hope. I listen to his lessons after work and as he drones on about anatomy, I know everything is going to be all right.

[@larrynorgaard5730]

If you are a teenager, your comment is indeed insightful, well thought out and shows matureness at such a young age. I have no doubt you'll navigate life just fine. At 73 and a hobbyist in art, I find Jeff very inspirational myself. Quite frankly, i enjoy just listening to him no matter the subject, because no matter what he talks about he thoroughly knows his subject.

[@theartofcharleen]

I looked into studying here! I loveee “academic,” “pretty” art. Cool video!!

[@JLArts-ud7cz]

Hi! I'm a self tough Artist, and I don't have a formal lesson about fine art , for this video is very useful to me, because its with the basic drawing and sketching with the hunan anotomy, more power of this art studio

[@sky44david]

This is an excellent documentation in video of an art atelier that is teaching how to draw from the live model beyond any other school presently. We have to honor the business acumen of Jeff Watts and his wife for keeping this amazing treasure of a teaching institution alive through the 'covid shutdown".

[@elbowcitycat]

shout out SLEW! i see what you doing bro... its bold. for the love! i see you. you might not get the likes/views but your stuff has substance, similar to this guys principles. maybe thats you in 20yrs, maybe ill come to learn and reignite the passion if im not too old or dead. 1

[@ChuckLeeMBM]

Such a cool video and spotlight! Loved this format for a video and educational insights on different techniques I've never heard of.

[@victoriaculbertson8266]

Thank you for sharing! This was awesome! Looking forward to seeing more in this series!❤️

[@zuescantdie]

MAN !! its not that I don't like or appreciate your art or your style , but you really have knack for this kind of of content ,, I mean really this is shot beautifully and the flow of the conversations and display of the art and the studio ,, cant wait for more ~

[@diem-jr9dz]

I thought the name of this Atelier sounded familiar!! I’ve taken some fundamental classes at a school here, in Wellington, NZ. The teacher studied at Watts Atelier! Such a fantastic video - passionate people with a great behind the scenes look at this school.

[@haroldgarcia726]

One of the greats. Thanks for your work, Jeff.

[@OrgoneDevices47]

This was the Inspiration I needed Today thank you for sharing!!

[@mojoryse7836]

4:11 proko spotted 👁️👁️

[@aidanbarkerhill6281]

Such a great video!! All the Watts folks are awesome

[@waynesmiley2207]

Loved this video! It's so great seeing someone work to master their chosen craft.

[@Bluebird-p9v]

Yes, Ive heard of an atelier before and Ive also heard ot Watts Atelier.

[@ashleytoltonart]

Heck yeah! So cool!! I'm just getting ready to start their program!

[@JanjaSliskovic]

great guy

[@artofbrettherman]

Jeff and the watts atelier family are second to none! Also check out their teachers Erik Gist and Vanessa Lemen! Incredible artists! Great work Slew! ❤🎉

[@vagabondcaleb8915]

"Love is that which enables choice. Love is always stronger than fear. Always choose on the basis of love." -Forrest Landry

[@greggoreo6738]

The man Walter Elias Disney would be SO PROUD OF YOU!!! he was a felony artist, too, and had your teacher's Soul/ psyche -- VISION!;Bravo!; Respectfully and Gratefully yours Gregg Oreo Long Beach CA Etats Unis

[@jakobsaloner7528]

Great job 👍👏

[@rebekahmaccow2926]

Same here, I open an artschool on the island of Saint Martin. I left the traditional art teacher in the classroom scene to pursue an artist-facilitator role.

[@TheAzhighwayman]

Jeffrey is on o the bests! I would love to learn from him.

[@loves__art]

This was a great video to watch! Excited to see the rest of the mini series especially since I’ve been wanting a more “behind the scenes” look at proko :)

[@ericeakes7733]

As a young man I would have given anything to get that kinda guidance and experience. I trained in commercial art at trade school for two years. Later I went to a community college for fine arts education major, after two quarters, I dropped out for two reasons, one, I was not challenged and I had no intention of teaching art their way.

[@abbasbaradaran9225]

Verrrrrry goooooooood

[@joMojojojo]

How humble.

[@chiefstheatre]

This is incredible!

[@studio107bgallery4]

Sweeeeet🍭. Salty❤❤❤

[@Aruena]

I’m doing the online portrait painting course. (living in the Netherlands) 👍 Love it. Though because I didn’t want to progress that fast, painting in color, I’m doing some of the basics again on NMA. A bit jealous of people who can visit them irl :p

[@kenoathiog1156]

I had only heard the term “atelier” applied to fashion design houses.

[@kerenvalentin7082]

Great video, I learned a lot. Thank you for what you do for those who have dreams of becoming an artist. Great job!

[@DjDestoo]

Very very interesting, the way you drive your channel is unbelievable incrível 👍🏼 congratulations

[@melaniehellum1281]

Oh man.. that's so cool. Love the passion exitment.

[@twalkz30]

Great quality video and concepts, introducing us to the world of art

[@vexxetart]

awesome school

[@MikeNino-hh3ve]

Drawings easy for me also got all of frazetta s art books .

[@Dave_1966]

Great video, very inspiring 😊❤

[@DanIel-fl1vc]

Having become decent at a lot of disciplines I've found out it's always a step by step process that you get better at iteratively. So I'm always suspect of courses that take months or years to complete, because a paragraph is all the information you need before doing the work yourself. In regards to painting I think it's: 1. 1, 2, 3 point perspective. 2. Rule of thirds 3. Negative space 4. Ecorche 5. Thumbnails 6. Line drawing 7. Shadow color, mid range color, highlight color. 8. Reference Those are the key words, read the first sections of wikipedia on each one and you've completed a course. Now you just got to sit down and do the work for 500 hours. I think the guy saying it's a gym is quite fitting. They give you the tools and you have no excuse to not sit down and do the work. But saying the knowledge takes years to understand is a sales tactic.

[@lobstermash]

Atelier is also a mid-range artists' paints company. I think the word atelier implies that there are students working under a senior artist. It wouldn't apply to a single artist's studio. Different in haute couture where the staff are all trained seamstresses.

[@Lxgisya]

Cool to see stan here

[@cynthiamarston2208]

For some people it helps tremendously to have a routine like a class provides. Just a place, time and other artists so long the teacher doesn’t suck the inspiration out of it. But even that is better than flying solo at home under own discipline for some people because it becomes tedious and frustrating at same time and often with unusual distractions irrelevant to your efforts at hand. For some people anyway. Myself.

[@KristianNeeTV]

Heck yeah dude

[@philnasmith9755]

I like the concept of an “art gym” .

[@cloudsofsunset7323]

"Everybody does the same" "Yeah, really good" Hands down

[@KEYDUPInc-xt7rs]

Super Dope!!!

[@alegolding2192]

Jeff's one of the most inspirational artists for me, I hope to meet him someday

[@artfundamentalsbyvikrantsh889]

Very inspiring! I have a dream to make very well-equipped studio.

[@Die.Trying]

I love that Stan is just around

[@Christolphi]

art school was fun, but something more focused like this would have been vastly more beneficial

[@hotlineoperator]

Awesome creative workspaces.

[@plumeretbonnet]

thank you.

[@claudiamanta1943]

1:03 This guy is like ‘Shit, Heaven is real!’ 😄 This is what it looks like- books and painting.

[@CaEkJu]

i would love to learn at this school. just to bad im 15 and live in Denmark. but maybe someday

[@mjpete27]

Look around in your town! I am willing to bet there is a struggling artist trying to keep their small studio open for the local students that are simply unhappy with their university education! You can always start a place for learning yourself! Who’s to say that you must wait for someone else to start an Atelier? Be the dream you want to have!

[@CaEkJu]

@@mjpete27 thanks for the tips. But i live in no man's land. And I don't have the skills to teach yet, nor is it my goal to be an art teacher.

[@mjpete27]

@@CaEkJu I offer this thought watch some videos on KZbin about the old masters. I just watched one about Renior and he was learning and had friends that when they got together they are responsible for the Impressionist movement and learned from one another! We all must spend time at our craft! Nobody just IS AN ARTIST! you gotta work at it and keep going and sometimes the teacher is one step ahead of his students or friends hashing it out together! I have friends I do not see for years at a time, when we do get together we talk about what we are doing and trying to do. Most often we talk about what failures we are struggling with! EVERYONE is a student and a possible teacher for one or a room full of people, Just by learning for yourself you can teach others. Just something to think about!

[@conniewhall3109]

Hey Slew - You betcha I have heard of Atelier. "What's the big deal?" "HOW do you pronounce that, for crying out loud?", I would say to myself. Then, when I went to a channel of an Atelier: "What was the big deal?" "What made them think/ believe that they were that title?" "What made them 'worthy' of this title?", I would ask." And now: "WHAT IS UP WITH SLEW not knowing about this...whatever this is!!!?" Shee-ee-oot. What a phenomenal concept! ...idea! ...way of thinking. ...way of being. Wow. I have seen this concept elsewhere. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity to learn more from/ through you. You really make a difference, Slew. Thank you. Best day now. Theory: Probably true. From the President Reagan administration. 1) Decreed that ketchup is a vegetable. This, I absolutely believe, that this was the precise 'beginning of the end'. 2) Decreed that were no homeless people. Then proceeded shutting down hospitals for the mentally challenged. Thus, making hundreds of U.S. citizens, who had no clue how to take care of themselves, homeless. Hopeless. And ignored. Treated inhumanely. 3) Stopped U.S. government funding for extra-curricular in Jr High & Sr. High schools. Art - Band - whatever. Except for boys sports. Just theorizing. More blessings for you And I hope you had the BEST TIME EVER!!! at 10 100's.

[@abhedpatil7822]

Lord Ganesha Idol.....❤❤❤

[@killerwill]

This was great when you can ill love to see a video with what available in NYC for learning simular to this

[@WhoCaresAlisha]

Great mini doc! Perhaps Studio Slew is more of a small-scale art society considering the non-profit aspect?

[@angelruizrisueno2729]

Maravilloso vídeo 👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@sanjaykambleart8195]

Nice Info and interesting to watch..Can you post detail (or make a video) about your folded sketching table it will be great for Artist..Thanks🙂

[@doninis1354]

I am German I think it is here probably really common, ad least it was. I ones was ask to be akt model for designer class. I passed on that...but I have not seen such Atelier. My friend is a atelierista it is a educational job on kids and young poeple. To us nudity is different, I am not saying those kids learn to paint naked poeple but they few art differen. Talent is interrest and the will to dive into something (musik, art, sports)! Jus courosty...know more, practice more, fail a bit, and start over.

[@fuzzydragons]

Def looks like a nice place and A LOT cheaper than college/uni. I'm a tad claustrophobic, and I think I would need meds to calm me down in the small space lol

[@Tat2TankT]

Great video I’d love to go there but too broke thanks for sharing

[@Millionairemind2.00]

Nice they even have online classes

[@st.valentineArt]

the goat.

[@kekog-1924]

"You want to create student that are better than you" Unfortunately teachers at the academy in my country dont think like that. They are insecure and dont want their students to be better than them😢

[@davo-ju6er]

ALWAYS REMEMBER 17+17 = 50

[@Kaylan0713]

I was like what??😂😂

[@Beehive66]

Just go to china if you want to study like this. Or Russia, but China, yeah, they have small schools to learn this everywhere. It's about 20 bucks a class.

[@bozoclown2098]

It would be nice to hear answers to Courtroom style questions.

[@lenatomas9266]

I wish I could attend this school. 🙃🙃🥲🥲😍😍🥰🥰

[@devinreese1397]

You must hire me. I belong there.

[@justincombs3157]

Ganapati! 😊

[@MoltenImaginings]

Would love to hear your thoughts on art teaching in the age of AI art. I feel like it must be very difficult for new art students these days.

[@KpxUrz5745]

What I am not seeing here is some good creative art. I see student work and illustrations.

[@manualbreathing1stform]

here i am complainin about 15 k in school debt lol (not from taking art but other courses) 350k mind as well be my life and that wont even cover it. i really want to learn but tutorials on youtube only get you so far without proper guidance. my anxiety makes it hard to communicate in person but i feel like id progress so much faster. even if it were online courses.

[@OrgoneDevices47]

The area with the Ganesh Statue feels like a Shrine to Creativity

[@Miggi8Pie]

It makes me so sad and depressed that I can't attend that school... It would be my dream to go there and learn from Jeff to master my skills, but unfortunately I am stuck in SA

[@lepain0278]

There’s online classes, I might sign up for that

[@Risha_tae]

What about the imperial academy of art in St. Petersburg?

[@aradhya-jp2tc]

I couldn't find reily method course anyone have the link

[@Jayvante]

Art school has taken away my creativity and has not taught me any actual technique. Drawing still life’s everyday in my first drawing class was more of showcasing what I already knew. I want to learn helpful anatomical techniques and such things. The most helpful thing we went over was diagrammatic line structure.

[@naga2015kk]

what are those paper that looks like flipcharts? think I will need to get me some of them. Looks are a good idea.

[@wesleypetersen4916]

Interesting

[@fatgressor]

Eastern Europe art high schools are like the his even now

[@adamwest3266]

The biggest trend I am seeing these days, and it started I think with Millennials is a big lack of humility. Everybody these days LOVES to talk about themselves and they try to shade it with a little "shout out" to someone else here and there because at some point people realize that they've been bragging on themselves. Talking about yourself and your accomplishments is never a good look, but it's become so commonplace and dare I say accepted now, that I think most people will say that what I'm saying about this is CRAZY talk, or I am just hating on people. Nope...none of that. I am certainly seeing a trend whereby people can just talk for hours about themselves. No one cares really.

[@caifrank7425]

Very Very Nice

[@allenvoss7977]

My question is since we have photography where is the future of portrait?

[@arlevalin]

There will always be clients of portraiture painting.