Art academy marks first anniversary

By Marianne Lucchesi Hamilton Special to the Acorn

For most students, the idea of "staying after school" is about as appetizing as having to listen to their parents’ ABBA records.

But several times each week, local middle and high school students can barely get through the door fast enough to start their after-school classes. When they get to this "second session," their classmates often include a 14-year veteran of major Hollywood animation houses, a 6-year-old skateboarding fan, and a homemaker and mother of three.

So, just what kind of school is this?

Welcome to Sheldon’s Art Academy, now celebrating its first anniversary in its Oak Park location.

Here, professional artists and those who aspire to be joyfully work and learn side by side.

Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Sheldon and Robyn Borenstein, the academy is a unique bastion of creativity in the midst of suburbia.

When the school opened its doors in November 2003, Sheldon’s mission was simple––to provide highly individualized, world-class instruction in what he regards as the fundamentals of drawing and painting: GCAT, or gesture, construction, anatomy and technique.

By sharing the classic drawing tools developed in the Renaissance, Borenstein believes that he can help anyone—regardless of how little talent that person may believe himself or herself to possess—to maximize his or her artistic potential.

A Quest for Perfection

Borenstein knows whereof he speaks. Formerly head of the animation cleanup department at Warner Bros. (where he oversaw a team of 125-plus working on such features as "Space Jam" and "Quest for Camelot"), Borenstein’s list of artistic and animation credits is lengthy.

His career spans more than 25 years as a fine artist, illustrator, animator, portrait artist and teacher. When not ministering to students at his academy, he can be found commuting to San Jose State University each Friday morning, teaching classical figure drawing/animation to nearly 100 students before flying home that evening.

Borenstein’s other weekdays and weekends are crammed full of classes, commissions for portrait work and an endless personal quest to perfect his craft.

"The minute you think you’re good enough and don’t need to keep studying, you’re essentially finished as an artist," said Borenstein. "My mentor, Glenn Vilppu, is in his 60s and still reads and practices his drawing in every waking hour."

High Fun Quotient, Too

Parents who think of art schools as creaky, dark institutions, where the teacher drones endlessly and students slumber in corners, are in for a very pleasant surprise when they visit Shel-don’s Art Academy.

Here they will find bright-ly washed walls and rooms flood-ed with light and laughter ringing through the hallways. Given that Borenstein, a committed rock ’n’ roll fan, has also been a drummer for 25-plus years, rock music typically blares around the clock.

His studio teems with mannequins, still life arrangements, and drawing boards propped up on workbenches. He encourages students to experiment with oils, watercolors, acrylics, charcoals—any medium they choose is welcome in his classes.

Students are also free to use in class any of the more than 350 art books (many of which are out of print) from Borenstein’s personal library at the school.

No doubt inspired by "Pokemon" and similar films, many of his younger artists opt to investigate "animé," or Japanese animation. Borenstein welcomes this approach to art, saying it closely mirrors the core fundamentals he teaches.

"If Michelangelo were alive today, he’d be doing animé," he said. "It all goes back to GCAT and nailing those basic drawing tools."

Hope for the

Artistically Challenged

What does he tell people who say they simply can’t draw? "I tell them I’m no more talented than they are. I just have more training," said Borenstein.

"Seriously, it’s all about the desire to draw. And I don’t want to take away any child’s or adult’s desire to draw by forcing them to do anything they don’t want to do.

At my school we definitely work on the important, basic techniques. But we also have fun! I see my job as helping to shape excited, lifelong learners . . . and if they want to design clothing, paint a portrait, or draw horses, that’s fine by me."

Classes at Sheldon’s Art Academy are Monday through Thursday, and Saturdays, and are available days and evenings.

For additional information, call (818) 706-9444, or visit the website at www.sheldonsartacademy.com.