The Realist Academy™
The Structure Your Art Has Been Missing.
Master realism with the kind of precision, thinking, and discipline collectors recognize instantly
and build a career that stops blending into the noise.
No guesswork. No gimmicks. Just the architecture of mastery.
You’re One Missing Structure Away From Being Taken Seriously
(And it’s not “practice more.”)
You’re good.
But “good” doesn’t get collectors.
“Good” doesn’t open doors.
The missing piece isn’t talent,
it’s structure.
The kind almost no realist ever learns.
The kind The Realist Academy gives you.
Learn to see like a trained realist, so your decisions become confident, not hesitant.
Create work that reads as intentional, not accidental.
Skip the years of wandering.
Move from good to undeniable with a structure artists rarely get access to.
You Could Spend Years Trying to Piece This Together…
Or You Could Learn the Structure Now.
Most artists don’t lack effort.
They lack a system.
Endless “practice” without a framework leads nowhere.
So does stitching together tutorials that contradict each other, or hoping intuition will just “click” one day.
And traditional art education swings the opposite way:
weeks of poetic theory…
with very little that actually sharpens your eye or your work.
There is a middle path:
clarity, structure, and immediate application.
That’s what The Realist Academy gives you.
INSTEAD
Imagine painting with certainty
Clear decisions.
No hesitation.
No guesswork.
• You walk into the studio knowing exactly where to begin.
• You understand what your painting needs, and why.
• Your work carries a level of intention that other artists, galleries, and collectors can’t ignore.
Because when your skill becomes undeniable,
the art world reorganizes itself around you.
Collectors notice.
Galleries respond.
Real opportunities start landing in your inbox.
This isn’t wishful thinking.
It’s what happens when you have a clean, logical structure behind your realism.
And that’s exactly what The Realist Academy gives you.
What You’ll Learn
(Only the parts that actually change your work and your trajectory.)
Clarity-Based Painting Foundations
The essential techniques behind confident realism. Distilled, simplified, and immediately usable.
Not academic overload.
Not endless theory.
Just the core principles that make your work read as intentional and precise.
The Realist’s Way of Seeing
A shift in perception.
You’ll learn how trained painters make decisions, what they notice, what they ignore, and why.
This alone elevates your work faster than years of “just practice.”
Artistic Voice & Positioning
Technique matters.
But the art world responds to clarity of intent.
You’ll learn how galleries read style, what makes an artist’s voice coherent, and how to develop depth instead of decoration.
Professional Structure & Visibility
A clean, logical approach to presenting your work:
website architecture, portfolio sequencing, and strategic visibility.
Not hype.
Not trends.
Just the practical scaffolding serious artists use.
A Repeatable, Sustainable Process
No more hoping each painting is a good day.
You’ll build a structure you can return to. One that produces consistent, gallery-calibre work without second-guessing.
It’s everything I wish someone had handed me at the beginning:
clarity, direction, and the tools to build a serious body of work.
Who This Is For (And who should not be here.)
You’re serious about realism, whether you’re already painting or just beginning your journey, and you want a clear, structured path instead of years of guesswork.
You’re disciplined enough to sit down, follow the process, and actually apply what you learn.
You’re not here to dabble.
You’re here to grow.
You want your work to hold weight,
the kind that collectors notice, galleries respect, and other artists study.
You want a professional, coherent direction for your art,
not just better technique, but a deeper understanding of what you’re building.
If that’s you, you’ll thrive inside The Realist Academy.
This is not for casual hobbyists, shortcut-hunters, or anyone hoping the course will “do the work” for them.
If you’re not willing to commit, explore, and take your craft seriously, this is not your space.
Who This Is Not For
This is not for casual hobbyists looking for a weekend project.
This is not for artists who want praise more than progress.
This is not for anyone hoping for shortcuts or “magic tricks.”
And it’s not for people who believe they already know everything,
yet haven’t built a body of work the world responds to.
If that’s you, this isn’t your space.
But if you’re reading this and thinking,
“This is exactly the structure I’ve been missing,”
then you’re in the right place.
The Investment
You could spend years trying to assemble this on your own,
moving between tutorials, theories, and conflicting advice,
hoping clarity arrives with time.
You could pursue traditional art programs that cost far more
yet rarely teach the structural thinking realism actually requires.
Or you can learn a complete, distilled framework now.
The Realist Academy is €1,997 (VAT included)
or 4 monthly payments of €597.
You receive:
• long-term access to the full curriculum
• a structured system you can return to for life
• a process that makes painting clearer, not harder
If what you want is confidence, coherence, and a professional foundation for your work,
this is the most direct, logical path.
Begin the Realist Academy Curriculum
A self-paced online curriculum designed to give you a clear, structured foundation in realist painting and a professional framework for presenting your work with coherence, intention, and direction. Choose the plan that suits you: • One single payment • Four monthly payments
What do artists of the Realist Academy say about the program:
In case we haven’t met yet
I’m Tereza Barnard, a realist painter whose practice blends precision, psychology, and quiet provocation.
Before my work reached collectors’ homes across Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, before the 110k following, before the exhibitions and publications, I spent years trying to make sense of realism on my own.
I knew what I wanted my paintings to feel like, but not yet how to build them.
What changed everything wasn’t more effort.
It was structure. Learning how trained eyes see, decide, and construct.
The Realist Academy grew out of that clarity.
Not as a shortcut, and not as a “paint like me” program, but as a distilled framework for artists who want to take their work seriously. Visually, conceptually, and professionally.
Since opening the Academy, I’ve had the privilege of watching artists move from confusion to coherence, from hesitation to intention, and from “promising” to professionally compelling.
It remains one of the most meaningful parts of my practice.
To see my current work, visit :www.terezabarnard.com
For studio glimpses and works in progress: www.instagram.com/terezabarnard
I believe every artist deserves a clear, grounded path into their practice.
a way to enter the studio with intention, not hope.
Inside The Realist Academy, that structure becomes yours.
Program Structure
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Learn the fundamental structures behind confident realist painting. These principles give you a clear way of seeing, deciding, and constructing your work so your results become consistent and intentional.
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Access a range of concise demonstrations that break down specific elements such as skin, jewelry, small objects, and other details. Each session is designed for clarity and can be revisited whenever you want to refine a particular skill.
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Many artists feel blocked not by technique, but by uncertainty about what their work is truly aiming for. This module helps you identify the patterns that keep your practice circling the same ideas and guides you toward a clearer, more grounded sense of direction.
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Explore how artists create work with coherence and emotional weight. You will study how visual decisions shape meaning and learn how to strengthen the qualities that make your work distinct. The aim is to help your paintings carry a clearer presence in the world.
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Learn a practical, structured approach to using Instagram as a visibility tool without relying on trends. This module covers a clean system for creating content that supports your artistic identity and helps the right people discover your work.
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Gain insight into how different types of galleries operate and how they evaluate the artists they show. This module helps you understand what makes a gallery the right fit and how to approach the professional side of the art world with clarity.
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Learn how to present your work in a way that supports long-term growth. This includes structuring your online presence, communicating your practice clearly, and creating opportunities for the right collectors and galleries to connect with your work.
By the End of This Curriculum, You’ll Have Built
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You will work through the core principles of realist painting, supported by demonstrations that break each decision into clear steps. This gives you a dependable way of creating form, depth, and detail with consistency.
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You will learn how to think about visibility in a broader, more strategic way. The aim is to help you understand the long-term avenues available to artists and how to use social platforms as one part of a larger, more considered plan.
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You will learn the key elements that help your website support your practice, as well as the common mistakes that can unintentionally create confusion or distance for galleries and collectors.
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With a clearer understanding of how your work communicates, you will be able to create social media content that feels aligned with your practice instead of reacting to trends or algorithms.
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As you progress through the curriculum, you will gain more clarity about the kind of work you want to create and the qualities you want it to carry. This helps you make decisions with intention rather than uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You can start the moment you enrol. The course is entirely self-paced, so you choose when you begin and when you complete it. All lessons are prerecorded and available on demand.
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It only matters that you’re serious about improving. The course walks you through the entire process from surfaces to brushes to colour choices. If you’re ambitious, you’ll have everything you need to begin.
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Yes. While the first four modules focus on oils, many principles apply to any medium. Texture, light, form, composition, and realism translate across materials.
The second half of the course is about developing and presenting your work, which is relevant to any painter. -
Not at all. Artists from any country can join.
Please note: the course is taught in English.
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If you’re uncertain, send your question to studio@terezabarnard.com and we’ll help you decide.
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You’ll have at least 24 months of access from enrolment, often longer. Most students keep access for years. As long as the course remains available, your access stays active and you’ll be included in any platform moves or upgrades.
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The course works because it is a complete method. You’ll naturally be drawn to some parts more than others, but skipping modules means missing crucial pieces of the overall process. Enrollment gives you access to the full structure, which is what creates results.
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Most artists have blind spots. Revisiting foundations and tightening gaps always strengthens your work. If your goal is mastery, reinforcing your knowledge is never wasted.
Refund Policy
Because this is a digital curriculum with immediate access to all materials, enrolments are non-refundable.
Please join only if this is a clear, intentional “yes” for you.
The curriculum is yours to return to for as long as the program is offered.
Course Outline:Here’s what you’ll study inside The Realist Academy.
The curriculum is divided into eight modules, each built around clear concepts, demonstrations, and practical applications.
Every module is designed to give you structure, not noise, so you can absorb the material efficiently and apply it immediately in your own work.
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Get to know the tools, surfaces, and materials that actually matter.
You’ll learn what to buy, what to avoid, how to set up your studio, how to care for your supplies, and how to build a colour palette that fits the way you work. -
Learn the core principles of realist painting.
We cover texture, shadow behaviour, edge control, light direction, and how to guide a viewer’s attention so your work reads professionally at any distance. -
Apply everything you learned in Modules 1 and 2.
Start painting skin, features, and the subtle transitions that make a figure feel three-dimensional and alive. -
Build on your foundation with more complex elements.
Practice hair, earrings, fabric, and clothing… and learn how to keep your work clean, coherent, and polished.
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Shift from “technique mimicry” to creating work that feels unmistakably yours.
We’ll dig into artistic voice, creative blocks that sabotage your growth, and the psychological patterns that stop artists from moving into a professional lane. -
Create work aligned with your long-term identity as an artist.
This module shows you how to move toward the galleries and collectors you want, how to position your work correctly, and how to shape a direction that makes sense for your future. -
Learn the final steps that separate amateurs from professionals:
varnishing, signatures, certificates of authenticity, and the finishing touches that your collectors will notice. -
Build your online presence with clarity.
Learn what to put on your website, how to structure it, and what choices unintentionally repel galleries.
We cover your Instagram strategy, long-term content arcs, and how to present your work to collectors and gallery directors in a way that makes you memorable.
What Artists Say About The Realist Academy
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“I also want to send a huge thank you to @terezabarnard and her @therealistacademy. The class is beyond amazing, it has completely changed my art and let me finally paint the images I see in my mind. There are no words...just thank you, Tereza. And if you haven't seen her work, it's stunning! I highly recommend a look."
Lauren Knollmeyer
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Love, Light and Congratulations. This is not a surprise. It is a truly amazing course. 100% would recommend!!!
@cararoberts_art
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“Module 5 is just brilliant!"
Shelby Shields
More reflections from artists inside the Academy
Enter The Realist Academy
A self-paced online curriculum designed to give you a clear, structured foundation in realist painting and a professional framework for presenting your work with coherence, intention, and direction. Choose the plan that suits you: • One single payment • Four monthly payments
Do you have questions about The Realist Academy?
You’re welcome to reach out at studio@terezabarnard.com
(And yes, the hand you see here is one of the demonstrations inside the Academy.)