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All Courses

LEARN TRADITIONAL ARTISAN TECHNIQUES

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ABOUT OUR COURSES

Florenceart.net have been providing art classes and workshops in traditional, historic techniques for over 20 years. We offer a range of courses designed to effectively teach the skills of decorative painting, gilding, mural decoration, painting architectural illusion, trompe l’oeil, historical lime and fresco techniques. 


Our in-person courses are held in the studio in southern Tuscany in Italy so that you can benefit from the immense wealth of inspiration this area has to offer. We are happy to accommodate beginners to advanced students. We plan your experience with us around giving you the maximum hands-on learning as possible; not just theory, but practice.

 

We also have some new online classes that you can do to get a taster of what our in-person classes are like. Please see our online classes or keep reading for more information below.

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Authentic Teachings

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ARTISAN CRAFTS

All our courses are taught by the owner of the FlorenceArt.Net studio, Alison Woolley. Alison is a Scottish born, ex-pat Canadian with more than 20 years experience living and working as a decorative artist in Tuscany. Her teachings and art are firmly rooted in the Florentine tradition and in the artisan community there.  This combination allows Florenceart.net to offer you real interaction with Italian master artisans and their techniques, while facilitating your stay and responding to your need to feel at “home away from home”. Tuscany is a truly unique location to learn. It is the cradle of the Renaissance, and the medieval town of  Anghiari is considered one of the top ten most beautiful towns in Italy.

We have some free video classes and online courses that you can do from home

For Lovers of Art

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CLASSES FOR ALL LEVELS

We believe art can be enjoyed by everyone! Across our courses, we cater for all levels. For beginners, we give step by step instructions, recipes, and make sample frames and panels. You can learn to create painted and decorative effects that you never thought you could in the country that gave birth to the decorative arts. Art lovers and visitors to Italy say that the ‘hands on’ sessions in the workshop led them to a whole new appreciation of the works of art that they see in museums. For advanced students, our courses are for immersing yourself in Italian quality, style and craftsmanship. As professionals, you can add some exciting and genuine quality finishes to your portfolio. We offer you Italian techniques and ways of improving your work, always with an eye on an efficient use of time and a level of quality that will set you apart. 

OUR PAST STUDENTS

“I couldn’t recommend Alison Woolley enough. She not only generously shares her knowledge with clarity and care but does so with great patience too. I have learnt and assimilated so much thanks to her wonderful teaching style. In just a very few days she not only gave me, a complete novice, the skills to create pieces of art using traditional techniques but she also made them easy to comprehend and assimilate whilst also imparting a deep sense of the whole creative process. The two courses which I attended were in themselves wonderful, but the added bonus is that I can now see that the skills she taught us can be used in many other ways too - for all of this I am so grateful.”

Kim Pearce - Tuscany Italy - Artist - Gilding Course, Volognano Castle Retreat 2021

In-Person Courses

IN-PERSON COURSES AND CLASSES

Select a technique below to learn more about individual courses that we run. If you would like a full list of all courses then please see the Course List below. Throughout the year we also hold retreat courses in which all students stay and learn on site in a beautiful location such as the Castle of Volognano.

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Full Course List

COMPLETE COURSE LIST

The table below shows all our in-person courses. Courses are scheduled according to demand. Once a course is scheduled, dates will be added to the list below. If you are interested in joining a course, please complete our Course Enquiry Form.

Course Group
Course Name
Description
Course Dates
Fees
Location
Mural Decoration
Mural Trompe l'Oeil Painting Techniques
Learn techniques of the ancient art passed down through generations of artisans.
2025 MAR 18-21
600 EUROS PLUS MATERIALS
FlorenceArt.Net Studio, Carmine Anghiari
Antique water based painting mediums
Casein and Egg Tempera Painting
This is an introduction to the use of casein and egg tempera paints for decorative painting.
2025 MAY 20-23
600 EUROS PLUS MATERIALS
FlorenceArt. Net Studio, Carmine, Anghiari
Gilding
Introduction to Water Gilding
Learn the basics of water gilding with 22 karat leaf, dutch metal leaf, and silver leaf.
2025 JUN 3-6
600 EUROS PLUS MATERIALS
FlorenceArt.Net Studio, Carmine Anghiari
Gilding
Advanced Water Gilding
Further your knowledge of the techniques of Italian water gilding with gold and silver leaf.
2025 JUN 10-13
600 EUROS PLUS MATERIALS
FlorenceArt.Net Studio, Carmine Anghiari
Grottesca and Fresco
Grottesca Painting and Fresco Techniques
Learn to create Renaissance Grottesca style decoration and fresco painting
2025 JUN 29-JUL 3
750 EUROS PLUS MATERIALS
FlorenceArt.Net Studio, Carmine Anghiari
Decorative Painting
Intro/ Intermediate Decorative Painting
Learn traditional techniques for producing traditional Florentine painted decoration.
2025 SEP 13-18
900 EUROS PLUS MATERIALS
FlorenceArt.Net Studio, Carmine Anghiari
Free Videos

FREE VIDEOS

Below we have a selection of free videos that you can watch anytime by selecting the play buttons. These short tutorials will take you through some of the fundamentals, like how to select a color palette and what are the correct brushes. These are the perfect introduction to one of our online courses which can also be seen below. You can also receive our downloadable class notes that accompany these free videos.

Setting up your Studio
09:21
Choosing Brushes
06:43
Choosing Paints
04:31
Choosing a Color Palette
04:40
Online Courses

ONLINE COURSES

Alison has created some online video courses, each broken into multiple sections and lessons. The courses are designed to let you practice at your own pace. The videos can be paused and returned to whenever you want. Please select an online course to get started.

Retreat Courses
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Retreat Courses take place at various beautiful locations in Italy. Students stay and learn at the retreat setting. The number of students on each course is small which allows participants to really immerse themselves in the lessons and their projects. To learn more, visit our Retreat Courses page.

RETREAT DATES

Retreat Name
Description
Retreat Dates
Fees
Retreat Location
Tuscan Luxury Gilding/Painting Retreat
An 8 day retreat in a beautiful villa. Decorative work for gilded surfaces, antique painting mediums. Accommodations and meals on site at the villa.
Sep 24- Oct 1, 2024
see course description
Anghiari, Italy
Intro Gilding Monastery Retreat
Learn about Water Gilding through this immersive course in the stunning setting of renaissance monastery
Sep 29- Oct 22, 2022
see course description
Anghiari, Italy
Private Lessons
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PRIVATE LESSONS

Throughout the year, Alison is also available for private lessons on Zoom or in person from the FlorenceArt.Net studio. These are the perfect way to maximise your learning time and to hear tried and tested tips from a working artist. Private lessons have also proved to be popular gifts for the artists in your life. More information about the lessons and how to book can be found on our Private Lessons page.

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