A gap year at the Académie Charpentier in Paris...

One-year immersion

Spend a gap year at the Académie Charpentier, one of the most prestigious French Art Schools in Paris, in complete immersion in French culture, studying Graphic Arts, Interior Design, and Design.

The Académie Charpentier is located in the heart of the Montparnasse disctrict.
The area became the most important artistic hub for 20th century artists from all over the world : from Pablo Picasso, Chaïm Soutine, Marc Chagall, to Ernest Hemingway, and so many more.

The Académie Charpentier is located a stone’s throw from all the famous cafés and bars of Montparnasse (Le Dôme, La Closerie des Lilas, La Rotonde, Le Select, and La Coupole) where the likes of Tsuguharu Foujita, or Marcel Duchamp as well as American socialites Peggy Guggenheim and Edith Wharton would meet.

The Académie Charpentier, one of the leading Art Schools in Paris since 1945, will welcome you in its mythical premises (where world-renowned artists Giacometti, Modigliani, Balthus - amongst others - have studied before), and offer you a unique opportunity to learn about French Art and Culture.
The curriculum takes place over a ten-month course, preceded by a two-month induction period to get accustomed to your new French environment.
The courses start on Monday 2nd September 2019 and end on Friday 26th June 2020

Académie Charpentier Art School in Paris

The curriculum covers 12 major areas of Graphics, Interior Design and Design:

30 hours / week over 43 weeks (including 4 weeks holidays)

Observational and Outdoor Drawing: painting; drawing (studies, composition, shape, contrasts, color, framing, proportions), perspective, architecture, space (position the subject into space, build a picture, create an atmosphere)
2 hours / week
Life Drawing: morphology, movement representation
3 hours / week
Painting: development of one’s own pictorial identity, through various techniques. References to renowned French artists and experimentation.
3 hours / week
Color: theory and practical implementation
2 hours / week
History of Art: the main artistic movements in applied arts, decorative arts, and architecture
2 hours / week
Computer Graphics: Computer Assisted Drawing (CAD: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator…)
3 hours / week
Graphic Design: marketing material, branding, editorial
2 hours / week
Marketing / Business Acumen: market research, positioning, business approach and presentation (both written and oral)
3 hours / week
Illustration: Answer briefs using all techniques studied, from initial researches to finished work. The narrative dimension of the picture, the layout, taking into account format and quality of presentation are an integral part of the projects.
2 hours / week
Interior Design / Fashion Design / Textile: pattern, color and material approach for the Fashion and Furnishing industries
3 hours / week
Design: use of material, function of the object, its impact on everyday life, and answers to the requirements of its time. Introduction to sustainable development and eco-friendly requirements
3 hours / week
French for Foreigners: from basic conversation to perfecting your practice, this course will give you the tools to enjoy speaking and writing in French during your stay in Paris.
2 hours / week

ALL-YEAR ASSESSMENT:

- Methodology : develop one or more projects to be presented in front of peers and teachers, followed by an end-of-year assessment in front of a jury
- Practice of oral and written presentation in view of future competitive exams
Developed during free time (after school and weekends); can be done individually or in pairs or more.

WORKSHOPS:

1. Monday 21.11.2019 to Thursday 31.10.2019 (2 weeks)
2. Monday 10.02.2020 to Friday 15.02.2020 (1 week)
3. Monday 06.04.2020 to 11.04.2020 (1 week)

HOLIDAYS:

Back to School: Monday 02.09.2019
Christmas break: Saturday 20.12.2019 to Sunday 05.01.2020
Winter break: Saturday 15.02.2020 to Sunday 23.02.2020
Easter Break: Saturday 11.04.2020 to Sunday 19.04.2020
End of year: Friday 26.06.2020