Shawn working on his cast painting

Here is the interview with Shawn Minogue, who is also a 3rd year student.

1. What brought you to sora?

I was taking part time classes at the Art Institute. I knew if I wanted to learn how to draw and paint  in my life time I needed to take full time classes. I also heard from my teacher at Art institute that SORA was the place to learn how to draw and paint.
2.  What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from studying at SORA?

Discipline is the most valuable lesson. I think any one can learn to draw and paint but it takes determination

3. What is the biggest challenge you face as a 3rd year student?

We need to stay focused on the task in front of us. Mistakes are an important part of the process. The main thing is to keep plowing ahead.

Peter working on his grisaille cast painting

1. What brought you to SORA?

The works of the Old Masters such as Holbein and Giovanni Bellini inspired me to attend SORA. I am just awestruck by the precision and clarity of their work and motivated to accomplish the same qualities in my own art. I want to create paintings that are orderly and harmonious.

2. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned at SORA and how does it affect your artistic style or development?

Learning to see relationships: line to line, line to value, knowing that things relate to one another. I can now see relationships clearer, which has allowed me to accomplish my aesthetic goals, which is to achieve the kind of clarity found in the works of the Old Masters. The act of looking at and emulating nature is so enjoyable that creating works of what you see is exciting. It’s not just about abstracting, but rather trying to record and capture an ephemeral moment.

1. What advice would you give to students interested in studying at SORA?

Know that you want it and that it is something that you like. Be patient with yourself.