MICHAL ADACH

I started by doing evening classes at The Art Academy and, simply put, I decided to stay. It’s a really cool interesting place. It’s literally central, so there are loads of things going on around it, and The Art Academy itself is really fun!

The Foundation course has been an amazing way to start exploring the Art world. Usually what happens in art schools is that you are left by yourself, where as at The Art Academy you chose different components where are you are actually taught specialist art skills. You are being taught things comprehensively as if you were new to the whole discipline and you can experience everything- painting, digital, drawing, sculpture, and print. It is only slowly that you work out what you’re drawn to and your tutors see that.  For me, taking a Foundation was about looking for that base of knowledge and skills. I was looking for some help and to be actually taught, so that as you launch yourself into the art world, you are starting from somewhere tangible.

One of the best things I have found about The Art Academy is the teacher support and the decent sized classes, not too big, not too small. You always get that personal time with your tutor, always. The tutors are really accommodating and helpful. The fact that they are always there for you has been really important me. It has also been amazing to be taught by practicing artists. They are here teaching you very specific things, giving you their knowledge, and at the same time they are in the art world themselves following their own path. They give you tones of insight and inspiration.

It is because of this teaching approach that you will find your own voice at The Art Academy.  This happened to me throughout the year, particularly through the Personal Project days. In your first term, my work wasn’t quite an articulation of what I wanted to say, but there was a seed in there. In the second term my work became more experimental and the seed started to grow.  Then the Grad show comes and I created something that is the culmination of the whole year, something I’m really proud of. All in all, it’s been a great journey to go through. For me, it has been enlightening. I found my own voice. And I’m going to keep going, hopefully to Glasgow School of Art.