Day 10:  Figure Drawing/Galleria Accademia An intense day beginning at the Accademia where students saw Michelangelo's David along with numerous figurative works...  followed by an evening of figure drawing at the SRISA studios. Madi draws Michelangelo's David Anika Draws Michelangelo's David Scierra, Elizabeth and Rebecca draw at the Accademia Michelle, Lauren, and Madi draw at the Accademia a figurative piece at Accademia a figurative piece at Accademia Rigatoni draws at SRISA Studios Kate Draws at SRISA Studios Michelle and Lauren Draw at SRISA Studios Students Draw at SRISA Studios

Lauren, Michelle, Kate, Hannah, and Maddi with a view above the city from San Miniato Day 9: Works on Paper/San Miniato Al Monte This morning students's projects are starting to take shape.  Their objective is to create a new work or works on paper exploring some of the material/sculptural qualities of manipulating paper for a critique on Monday. ...In the afternoon we took a city bus to the south end of the city at Piazzale Michelangelo and then a short walk up to San Miniato al Monte.  Professor Tiziana Landra presented an informative lecture on the art history of this Romanesque church with three levels and the sacristy.  Afterwards students looked for sketchbook inspiration in the view lover looking the city and the surrounding cemetery where many illustrious characters are buried.  Many students stayed for the evening mass in the church where monk sang in Gregorian Chant. Rebeccah and Sciera work at the SRISA studios   Madison and Kate...

The class met south of the Arno river at La Specola for a tour of the wax anatomy models and visit to the museum of Zoolology and Natural History.  In the afternoon, we returned to the SRISA drawing studio for a long figure drawing session. Students on a tour of the anatomy collection at la Specola Students draw at la Specola Phil drawing at La Specola Elizabeth drawing at La Specola Wax anatomical model at La Specola Susan Seaborn's watercolor of a wax model at  at La Specola Wax anatomical model at La Specola Scierra and Madison Drawing in the SRISA drawing studio Lauren Drawing in the SRISA Drawing Studio Madi drawing at SRISA drawing studio Mariana and Morgan Drawing at SRISA studio

Marinana, Morgan, and Anika at Sazzione SMN Our morning studio session focused on finding inspiration in the planar forms of objects with a reverse-engineering demonstration, followed by students developing a paper manipulation/sculptural paper project.  In the afternoon we drew at the  Stazzione Santa Maria Novella.  We drew people for a few hours in this bustling train station.  It is amazing to see the range of emotion and body language concentrated here. Anika drawing at Stazzione SMN Susan drawing at Stazzione SMN

Days 5-6: Weekend Adventures Students rested up, enjoyed a few sites in Florence, had pot-luck dinners, and a few took to a day trip to Fiesole, a city on the northern hills looking over the city of Florence... P ot luck in Florence means bring a cooking pot, beverage, and tomatoes for the hosting chef... Anika, Morgan, Brendan, Kendal, and Mariana on the way to Susan’s apartment for dinner. Celebrating Christian's Birthday Il Porcellino: If you touch the snout of this little bronze pig fountain, you are supposed to be destined to return to Florence. Flowers in Fiesole Roman amphitheatre in Fiesole Cyclists in Fiesole Students congratulate themselves after ordering the meal IN ITALIAN!

Our group at the Duomo di Siena Our group took a bus to the Mediaval hill town of Siena where our guide Reggina walked us up and down narrow cobblestone streets with an crash course on the history of the city's patron saint (Catherine), contrade (rival neighborhoods), wealthy banking families, palaces, churches, city hall, artists, and the Piazza del Campo where a horse race is run every July. After our walking tour and lunch, our students spent time drawing in sketchbooks at locations throughout the city. Anika Drawing at Piazza del Campo, Siena View of Basilica di San Domenico where we viewed the relics of Santa Caterina View of Siena Duomo View of inside the Duomo di Siena View of inside the Duomo di Siena Torre Di Mangia, Siena. Several  students climbed the bell tower! Pizza Lunch in Siena Rigatoni and Amber on the bus ride home to Firenze! Simple delights in Siena An arched walking path in Siena a detail of marble surfaces in th...