Drawing and Painting techniques

14 hours per week

1 week, 14 hours €245
2 weeks, 28 hours €395
3 weeks, 42 hours €595
1 unit, 4 weeks, 56 hours €715
2 units, 8 weeks, 112 hours €1375
3 units, 12 weeks, 168 hours €2025
6 units, 24 weeks, 336 hours €3875
9 units, 36 weeks, 504 hours €5765
Enrolment fee €45

20 hours per week

1 week, 20 hours €285
2 weeks, 40 hours €525
3 weeks, 60 hours €735
1 unit, 4 weeks, 80 hours €975
2 units, 8 weeks, 160 hours €1795
3 units, 12 weeks, 240 hours €2685
6 units, 24 weeks, 480 hours €5195
9 units, 36 weeks, 720 hours €7795
Enrolment fee €45

• basic Art material: paper sheets, pencils and erasers. Any other material can be purchased in a nearby Fine Arts store offering a 10% discount to our students.
• a certificate of attendance at the end of the course.

Suggested Art material.

Basic drawing techniques (A). An introduction to the basic drawing techniques and practices (line, design, light and shadow or “chiaroscuro” as the Italians say) through which students will learn how to place and reproduce an object on paper, according to its natural shape and proportions. Students will practice mainly with graphite and charcoal. No specific artistic skills or background are required.

Basic Drawing Techniques (B) This unit includes the acquisition of notions of anatomy and the methodology traditionally used to draw bodies and faces. Students will learn the shading and blending technique, they will be taught how to gauge the dimensions of a subject while sketching it in the drawing as well as how to render the texture of a drawing, by also using the hatching and stippling technique. Part of the course can be dedicated to the approach of line drawing. Students will be able to practice the following media: sanguine, pen-and-ink, pastel crayon, Conté, silver point.

Drawing from life (C) In-depth study of the skills acquired in the first two units, especially the “chiaroscuro” technique, including the basics of shading and perspective. Students will also approach the study of the “écorché* technique, through which they will learn to draw a figure or a part of a body that shows the muscles without skin. This technique was practiced for the first time in Florence during the Renaissance period by those masters who wanted to study the human figure. Classes may take place also in the squares of Florence so as to sketch some famous statues.

Drawing from life (D) With a focus on both figure and portraiture this unit deals with visual understanding by direct observation of the human body and it concentrates on the methodology used to draw bodies and faces. 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.

Basic Painting Techniques (E) This unit focuses on the rudiments of the colour theory and the practice of various techniques, such as acrylic, watercolor and pastel painting. Students will learn how:

• to choose the right brushes as well as the most suitable support (canvas, canvas board, wood, paper) for each medium;
• to paint one or more objects from direct observation by reproducing their right dimensions and by studying the light-colour effects on them;
• to depict a landscape or a portrait out of a photo by focusing mainly on tones and shades.

Basic Painting Techniques (F) In-depth study of the skills acquired in unit E, from mastering color mixing and palette organization to preparing mediums, especially the watercolor and the acrylic techniques. Students will also be taught how to emphasize or fade the brightness of the colours of different objects and the effects of light on metal, glass, etc. Part of the programme can be dedicated to the study of a particular subject, such as still life, portrait, life painting, townscape or landscape.

Advanced Painting Techniques (G) An approach to some traditional painting techniques, i.e. oil and tempera, including an introduction to their history and applications. During the course participants can opt for the study of various advanced techniques such as the “écorché” technique (with various drawing and painting media) and the glaze painting technique. The latter one is mainly used with oil colors and it is considered one the most ancient techniques. Students will learn how to spread thin semi-transparent layers of paint over an opaque completely dried painting. The glaze technique is ideal for the rendering of details such as the the complexities of skin tones.

Advanced Painting Techniques (H) Students will be given the opportunity to:

• hone and master one or more of their painting skills;
• study the fresco technique;
• discover the trompe l’oeil and create optical illusions;
• concentrate on abstract painting;
• approach to the fundamentals of the old masters techniques, such as the gilding technique with tempera, which was used in the middle age and in the early renaissance period.

Towards the making of a Personal Portfolio An in-depth study of one or more media which every student will choose to take up and engage in. Students will search for a personal style by focusing on a particular subject or technique that they particularly like or that they consider as challenging and inspiring for their artistic vocation.

Part of the course can be dedicated to the syudy of the fundamentals of sculpture techniques with clay.