With the end of the school year approaching, it’s a great time to start thinking about continuing education programs available for summer. The Da Vinci Initiative strongly recommends art teachers broaden their horizons – both literally and figuratively – by considering a summer atelier program in Florence, Italy. There is truly no better place than the birthplace of the Renaissance to hone your technical art skills, boost your experience, and bring back new inspiration to your classrooms in the fall. If you can’t resist the idea of learning to draw and paint like the masters while tracing in their footsteps in Italy, check out these DVI approved atelier programs:
- The Russian Academy of Art: Located close to the heart of Florence, The Russian Academy offers a series of workshops conducted in English. They can help you arrange accommodation in Florence and there is a range of prices for the workshops. Courses include: Anatomy, Constructive Drawing, Watercolor, Plein-Air in Florence, Drawing Full Nude Figures, Costumed Portrait, Plein Air and Portraiture, Iconography and Others. Click here for more information and to register.
- Angel Academy of Art: Located in a new state of the art building, the Angel Academy of Art will give you the opportunity to study under a living master: Michael John Angel. This summer the Angel Academy is offering Methods of Contemporary Portrait Painters, Landscape Painting in and Around Florence, the Painting Methods of Rubens, Velasquez and Van Dyck, Painting the Human Figure, Methods of the Masters: Caravaggio, Painting from the Live Model, The Painting Practices of William Bouguereau, Copying the 19th Century French Nudes. Click here for specific dates and registration.
- The Florence Academy of Art: The FAA derives its curriculum from the classical realist tradition rooted in the 19th century, but also addresses contemporary environment. It is one of the premier ateliers in the world with studio locations in three countries and 25 principle instructors. Florence is the original location for the school, and its alumni list reads like a Who’s-Who of the atelier art world. This summer they are offering several 2-4 week workshops including: Figure Drawing, The Academic Method, Painting the Figure in Oil, Portraiture Techniques and Traditions, Still Life Painting, Figurative Painting, and Landscape Painting. Click here for more information.
- Charles H. Cecil Studios: This atelier is located in the most historic Florentine atelier still in active use. The Chiesa di San Raffaello Archangelo was adapted as a studio complex by Lorenzo Bartolini in the early nineteenth century. The studio runs a series of short courses throughout the year, including a drawing course that is great for beginners. There is a 2 week and 4 week drawing course as well as a 2 week and 4 week portrait painting course. Additionally, they’ve collaborated with the British Institute of Florence to offer part-time evening courses as an introduction to the sight-size method. Click here to find out more.