The Imperial Centre Painting School is a traditional teaching studio run in cooperation with the Maria V. Howard Arts Center at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences. During 2012 our lead instructor, Charles Philip Brooks, will be accepting students into the studio to study time-tested, traditional oil painting techniques. The Imperial Centre Painting Studio is a unique, tailored program which draws heavily from the apprenticeship and atelier traditions of the 19th century. Students progress through a course of traditional exercises, including old master copies, outdoor painting, and painting from life. This method of learning gives students a skill set they could not acquire in a university program.

In the first two years Charles Philip Brooks' students have enjoyed significant success. Three students have achieved solo or large scale exhibitions of their work. They have organized several collaborative group exhibits. One student has sold enough of her own work to fund a continued travel study on a series of South African portraits. Paintings by students have been exhibited in North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania venues, including Art 6 Gallery, Suntrust Bank, and North Carolina Wesleyan College. Their unique education with Mr. Brooks is already giving them the tools they need to build a life focused on excellent art making.

Students are accepted into the School through portfolio review and interview with Arts Center Staff. The cost is $400 per month. Sessions include studio space, weekly talks and critiques. For an information packet please contact Jennifer Rankin at 252-972-1632 or jennifer.rankin@rockymountnc.gov.

Student Work Information

Renee King's Anders Zorn Copy (done in 2009) is from his painting:

Title: Ols Maria
Painted by: Anders Zorn in 1918
Location: Private Collection
Dimensions: 19.49 inch wide x 25.98 inch high
Orientation: Portrait