John Asimacopoulos

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John Asimacopoulos

Aged 26

Academy Of Realist Art Boston

Instructor(s): Cindy MacMillan, Emanuela De Musis, Garrett Vitanza, Julie Beck, Eric Johnson

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  • Artworks

Holbein Mastercopy

Carbon pencil

15 x 10 1/2 ins (38.1 x 26.67 cms)

Cast 1

Charcoal

18 x 11 ins (45.72 x 27.94 cms)

Cast 2

Charcoal

22 x 14 ins (55.88 x 35.56 cms)

Cast 3 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chalk and Charcoal

26 x 18 ins (66.04 x 45.72 cms)

Grisaille Cast Assignment

Oil

10 x 10 ins (25.4 x 25.4 cms)

Limited Palette Cast Assignment

Oil

40 x 13 1/2 ins (101.6 x 34.29 cms)

Figure drawing 1

Charcoal

29 x 11 ins (73.66 x 27.94 cms)

Figure drawing 2

Charcoal

21 x 14 ins (53.34 x 35.56 cms)

Figure drawing 3

Graphite

21 x 13 ins (53.34 x 33.02 cms)

Figure drawing 4

Charcoal

24 x 14 ins (60.96 x 35.56 cms)

Figure drawing 5

Charcoal

25 x 19 ins (63.5 x 48.26 cms)

Figure drawing 6

Chalk and Charcoal

20 x 10 ins (50.8 x 25.4 cms)

Self portrait age 26

Graphite

13 x 10 ins (33.02 x 25.4 cms)

Although I am at the end of my student career at ARA Boston, I by no means feel like this is the end of my learning as an artist. The more I learn, the more I realise this is a lifelong pursuit, both as a skill, and as an author of images.

 

One thing I am sure about, is that I would like to teach. In addition to the learning benefits it offers me, I find teaching very gratifying, especially to a willing student, which are abundant in the realist scene. I know how hard it was for me to find this kind of teaching, so I find it necessary to teach these techniques to people, and carry on this important tradition.

 

As far as my own work goes, I know that my focus will mainly be on the figure. I am, and always have been fascinated by human figures, as well as the human experience. Looking at a figure can be overwhelming, but it can provide you with so many different narratives, both overt, and abstract, if you ‘look’ correctly. This fascination is what drives my personal work. That being said, I do not think my work will solely be categorically figurative. I have the desire to also paint still lifes, landscapes, and interiors, where, although not present, the figure will still be an actor in each piece. Our presence is felt in many places, even when we are absent. I seek to explore this throughout my work.

I always wanted to be an artist, and had always drawn as a child and teenager, but there were multiple reasons why I never pursued it. Firstly, I wasn't aware that classical art education existed. On top of that, I come from a family of physicians, which not surprisingly led to certain career expectations. As a result, I obtained a bachelor's in Biomedical Sciences from King’s College London, and a master’s in Global Health and Development from University College London. While I learned a lot, and developed as a person, it felt wrong to not be doing art. The turning point was finding the Art Renewal Center, and discovering the art education I had always been looking for. I gave up a place at one of the top dental schools in the United Kingdom to come to Boston, and study at the Academy of Realist Art full time, starting in September 2015. I am currently a level 3 student, working on my grisaille figure assignment, and full palette cast assignment. The past year has been very exciting for me, as I won a prize from the The John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Fund, the Art Renewal Center (Third Place Prize), as well as the Head Start Student Competition from the Masters Academy of Art, which helped me greatly. As far as teaching goes, I will be teaching both a figure drawing, and anatomy class at the Academy, starting in the fall.