The Portrait workshop

This course is mainly an intensive study of the physiognomy. Through making rapid strokes in pencil (or charcoal) students will learn how to portray the essential features of a human face, and through more elaborate drawings they will focus on details, on the effect of light and shade (“the chiaroscuro”), as well as on the psychological value of facial expression.

Colour techniques will be then taught by using either pastel or oil or also acrylic. Students will acquire good skills and abilities for painting the shades of complexion, the position of hands and the glittering of the eyes, which most of the great artists used to consider the “soul’s mirror”.

The workshop is meant not only for capable students who wish to improve their style and their creativeness, but also for those people whose aim is to discover the fundamentals of the portrait and its secrets. That is why most of the time during classes every student will be tutored individually.

The course has a duration of 5 days, from Monday to Friday, for a total amount of 30 hours of tuition. Two life models and copies of classical portraits will be available throughout the workshop.

Course code: RI
Language: English and Italian
Duration: 1 week
Dates:

June 7th - 11th 2010
Expiring date for enrollment: May 14th 2010

Total amount of hours: 30
Schedule: morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday.

Maximum number of students per class: 10.
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Life Drawing Workshop

This course deals with visual understanding by direct observation of the human body and it includes the acquisition of basic notions of anatomy as well as the methodology used to draw bodies and faces. Students will practice with the main drawing tools, i.e. graphite, charcoal, sanguine, pen-and-ink, pastel crayon. It is possible to combine the study of the drawing with the colour techniques such as oil or acrylic.

On every session students will draw from either female or male models posing in the nude. Quick poses will aim at teaching the sketch technique while longer poses will intend to develop the study of anatomy and of shades as well as the student’s observation abilities.

No specific artistic skills or background are required.

The workshop has a duration of 5 days, from Monday to Friday, for a total amount of 30 hours of tuition: it includes 4 hours a day of living models.

Course code: LD
Language: English and Italian
Duration: 1 week
Dates:

June 21st - 25th 2010
Expiring date for enrollment: May 28th 2010

August 2nd - 6th 2010
Expiring date for enrollment: July 9th 2010

Total amount of hours: 30
Schedule: morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday.
Maximum number of students per class: 10.
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The sanguine drawing and other classical techniques

A full immersion in the ancient technique of sanguine and charcoal, a voyage of discovery of the renaissance drawing, from Botticelli to Leonardo, from Michelangelo to Raffaello.

The natural sanguine chalk originally comes from some mines in Italy and, according to the majority of the artists, it is ideal for a more subtle and accurate drawing.

Participants who start from scratch will study the fundamentals of anatomy and will practise drawing proportions both of a body and of a face on a paper sheet.

The more skilled students will on the contrary have the opportunity to acquire this traditional technique and perfetc it at their best, by polishing their style and experimenting the potentialities of this long-established art.

Two life models and copies of classical drawings will be available throughout the workshop. Students will focus especially on the effect of light and shade (“the chiaroscuro”) as well as on gradations and nuances. The lessons will be integrated with conversations on art history. At the end of the course participants will be awarded a certificate of attendance.

The workshop will take place in our institute and will have a duration of 5 days, from Monday to Friday, for a total amount of 30 hours of tuition.

Course code: SG
Language: English and Italian
Duration: 1 week
Dates:

July 19th - 23rd 2010
Expiring date for enrollment: June 25th 2010

Total amount of hours: 30
Schedule: Monday through Friday, morning and afternoon.
Maximum number of students per class: 10.
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Watercolor workshop

An in-depth approach to the watercolor technique, a full immersion in the soft and delicate colors of the Florentine buildings, a study of light tones along the river Arno and its historical bridges.

This workshop is meant not only for beginner students who already have some drawing skills and wish to become acquainted with the watercolor technique, but also for those experienced students who are determined to improve and enrich their portfolio. That is why most of the time during classes our teacher will follow every student individually.

Classes will be held both at our academy and outside and they will aim at teaching the secrets and tricks of the watercolor painting, besides enhancing the student’s creativeness and skills through several tests on different kinds of papers (i.e.: dry paper, wet paper and sponged paper).

This 5-day workshop will start on Monday morning and will end on Friday afternoon, for a total amount of 32 hours of tuition, which will include a one-day excursion (approximately 8 hours of en plein air lessons) in the Tuscan countryside. At the end of the course participants will be awarded a certificate of attendance.

Course code: AC
Language: English and Italian
Duration: 1 week
Dates:

July 5th - 9th 2010
Expiring date for enrollment: June 11th 2010

August 9th - 13th 2010
Expiring date for enrollment: July 16th 2010

Total amount of hours: 32
Schedule: Monday through Friday, morning and afternoon, including a one-day excursion by private bus.
Maximum number of students per class: 10.
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