About ISS
What is The Institute for Studio Studies (ISS)?
The Institute for Studio Studies offers intensive programs that bring together students from diverse fields of study to work on individual research investigations in painting and drawing. ISS provides rigorous training in the attitude of response – how to observe, how to listen, and how to act on what is seen and heard. This training complements a liberal arts curriculum and contributes to effective study across academic disciplines.
What can I expect from the ISS Program?
At the beginning of the program, students propose a personally significant interest that becomes the focal point for their painting and drawing investigations over the next four weeks. These proposals frequently involve Pont-Aven itself – previous students have focused on the area’s specific geographic and cultural features. The Program’s intensive schedule and remote location facilitate total focus.
What can I hope to get out of the ISS Program?
The institute's ultimate goal is not to teach just successful painting and drawing, but to promote an ongoing experience of self-direction. Students develop the habit of prompt response, explore the process of idea development, and produce outstanding work that is the result of a rigorous process. The initial dislocation that participants experience gives way to a more meaningful relocation that is both physical and philosophical.