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Italian Artisan Courses in Florence, Italy
Decorative Painting courses
 Courses
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 About the teachers
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These courses each have a specific focus for
decorative painters who wish to learn an historical style or
concentrate on a particular technique. They can be requested
as private lessons or
incorporated as part of a customized course. |
Ornamental Landscape
Level: 2 | Hours: 20
Duration: Monday to Friday | Time: 9:00-13:00
| Dates and prices
Example projects:
Practice how to make an ornamental landscape to insert into a
cartouche or decorative scheme
Course description:
Learn how to make quick yet effective and very expressive small
landscapes. These can be used as complements to a chiaroscuro
trompe leoil decorative scheme, on furniture, or as separate
small paintings in their own right.
Techniques covered:
how to prepare grounds for painting
how to construct a landscape, foreground, middle ground and
distance
use of casein paints
composition and use of colour
study of 16th and 17th century Italian landscapes, 18th and
19th century French styles
various finishing techniques with varnish or shellac
antiquing, waxing and patina
The courses take place within the Florenceart studio, a
working art studio producing Florentine decoration for furniture
and walls for the international interior design industry.
Students can observe and learn from their surroundings as well
as from the teaching. See our work spaces.
All levels are welcome. Teaching is in English or Italian. The
group size is limited to a maximum of 8 participants per course.
Projects per student:
1 monochromatic small landscape on a wooden panel
1 full colour small landscape on primed canvas panel
extra sample panels can be produced according to speed and
desire of individual students to explore new techniques under
the guidance of the teacher.
Instructor: Alison Woolley.
View Alison's
work. Read more about
Alison
Chinoiserie Panel
2 day weekend course | Level: 1,2 |
Hours: 1666
Duration: Saturday to Sunday | Time: 9:00-17:30
| Dates and prices
Example projects:
Course objectives:
Become familiar with this elegant European style used for
furniture and wall coverings
learn to work with materials for wooden panels and furniture
learn important elements of composition for a decorative panel
learn simple techniques for the use of gold leaf in
chinoiserie
make two samples of chinoiserie ornament
About the course:
This course deals with the whimsical Chinoiserie style popular
in Europe since the 17th century. The style developed when
Europeans, intrigued by the exotic east, created imagery of an
imaginary China in this decorative style. We explore the rich
colours, shiny finished surfaces and gilt accents of this style
while creating two lovely panels as samples to take away from
the course. One sample is on a wooden board and the other is on
canvas.
Instructor: Alison Woolley.
View Alison's
work. Read more about
Alison
Italian Column or
Pilaster ornament
weekend course | Level: 1,2 |
Hours: 16
Duration: Friday 14:00-18:00, Saturday 9:00-17:30,
Sunday 9:00-13:00 (on request the course can be changed to
full days Saturday and Sunday) |
Dates and prices
Example projects:
Course objectives:
Become familiar with Italian styles of painted decoration for
pilasters.
Learn to work with materials for wall decoration
Learn to create a harmonious scale of colours and shades
Learn use of stencils in combination with hand painting
Make a fabulous sample of pilaster ornament on easily
transportable canvas, which can then be installed in any
interior.
About the course:
This intensive course focuses on one aspect of applied
decoration: The decorated column or pilaster, a common motif for
the decorative artists portfolio. By creating an example piece,
students have a hands-on opportunity to understand the
historical aspects of creating this type of decoration , the
techniques involved in executing it and its many modern
applications.
Instructor: Alison Woolley.
View Alison's
work. Read more about
Alison
Composition of Ornament
Level: 2 |
Hours: 20
Duration: Monday to Friday | Time: 14:00-18:00 |
Dates and prices
Example projects:
Course objectives:
Become well versed in historical styles of ornament
learn to compose and adapt freehand ornament
Train your eye to create balance and flow in decorative
schemes
Use colour effectively within a composition
About the course:
The decorative painter is often called upon to create decorative
ornament that is site specific. Style, weight, colour,
composition and subject matter all must be considered. This
course deals very much with the planning stages involved in
effectively realizing freehand decoration within given
parameters.
The course consists in a carefully considered series of
exercises focusing on gaining a greater facility in working with
composition and adaptation of ornament. The course commences
with a presentation on historical styles of ornament. Students
can also take advantage of being in Florence to view and
document various famous historical decorative schemes in person.
The studio sessions are taught by Alison Woolley, experienced
decorative painter and teacher, owner of Florenceart.net.
The initial exercises involve charcoal drawing techniques. The
final exercises involve limited use of colour in painted
decoration.
Instructor: Alison Woolley.
View Alison's
work. Read more about
Alison
Florentine Panel
weekend course | Level: 1,2 |
Hours: 16
Duration: Friday 14:00-18:00, Saturday 9:00-17:30,
Sunday 9:00-13:00 (on request the course can be changed to
full days Saturday and Sunday) |
Dates and prices
Example projects:
Course objectives:
create a beautifully decorated carved wooden wall plaque
learn antique decorative techniques for wooden panels and
furniture
learn to make gesso and gilders bole
learn to apply gold leaf
explore Florentine motifs and colour combinations
learn techniques for creating an antique patina
About the course:
Starting with an unfinished carved wooden plaque we teach the
traditional procedures for applying a gesso base, gilders bole
and a small gilded border, then add a painted and antiqued
decorative motive in the center. There is much scope for
individual colour, finish and design choices within this
project.
Instructor: Alison Woolley.
View Alison's
work. Read more about
Alison
Grottesca (grotesque) Ornament
Level: 2,3 |
Hours: 20
Duration: Monday to Friday | Time: 9:00-13:00 or 14:00-18:00 |
Dates and prices
Example projects:
Course objectives:
Become familiar with famous Italian style of "Grottesca (grotesque)"
ornament and learn its history.
learn to work with materials for wall decoration and for
wooden panels.
create a rich and harmonious colour palette
make a two or three sample panels of Grottesca (grotesque) ornament for
your portfolio
About the course:
This intensive course focuses on one aspect of painted
decoration: The decorative style called "Grottesca (grotesque)" that
characterizes many famous interiors in Florence and Rome. Grottesca (grotesque) decoration is a renaissance style which takes its name
from the grottos, or archaeological digs, which took place in
renaissance times. These excavations unearthed richly decorated
antique Roman interiors, specifically the villa of Nerone, The
Domus Aurea, excavated in Rome in 1480. The artists of the day
were so taken by this lively and versatile decorative style that
they incorporated it immediately in their commissioned works.
Raphael decorated the Logge of the Vatican in this style and
later in Florence, Vasari's workshop decorated the Palazzo
Vecchio with Grottesca (grotesque) motifs. The style is infinitely adaptable
and is fun for artists because it is fresh, colourful, and
contains many unexpected amusing elements.
Florence Museum itinerary for Grottesca (grotesque) decoration:
Palazzo Vecchio Firenze:
http://www.museicivicifiorentini.it/palazzovecchio/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palazzo_Vecchio
The seat of civic power in Florence since the 13th century, this
palace is an important stop on a Grottesca (grotesque)-viewing tour. The
museum on the first floor allows visitors an up-close view of
the Grottesca (grotesque) decorations executed by Vasaris workshop in the
16th century. The courtyard is also a good place to view
Grottesca (grotesque) ornamentation, though the work is badly worn due to
exposure to the elements.
Uffizi Gallery:
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/uffizi/
Never mind the masterpieces in the gallery rooms, you can spend
your time in the hallways looking up at the decorated ceilings,
viewing more of Vasaris rich and varied Grottesca (grotesque)
ornamentation.
Instructor: Alison Woolley.
View Alison's
work. Read more about
Alison
Intro to Florentine
Decorative Painting
Level: 1 | Hours: 20
Duration: Monday to Friday | Time: 9:00 to 13:00 |
Dates and prices
Example projects:
Traditional and modern techniques for producing genuine
Florentine artisan decorated panels
Course description:
Students are introduced to the processes involved in producing
the traditional Florentine painted panels. During the course you
will learn about:
- how to prepare wooden pieces for painting
- techniques for making a traditional gesso ground
- use of casein paints, lime paints, and ground pigments
- presentation on composition of ornament
- basic gilding techniques
- various finishing techniques with varnish or shellac
- antiquing, waxing and patina
The courses take place within the Florenceart.net studio, a
working art studio producing Florentine decoration for furniture
and walls for the international interior design industry.
Students can observe and learn from their surroundings as well
as from the teaching. See our work spaces.
Students explore the historical aspects of Italian arts and
crafts and gain an understanding of the high quality materials
and craftsmanship involved in the production of them. The course
is meant to be inspirational as well as educational. All levels
are welcome. Teaching is in English or Italian. The group size
is limited to a maximum of 8 participants per course.
Projects per student:
-1 gilded and painted tray
-1 panel with simple two tone decoration
- several small panels with various finishes for wooden
furniture
- extra sample panels can be produced according to speed and
desire of individual students to explore new techniques under
the guidance of the teacher.
Instructor: Alison Woolley.
View Alison's
work.
Intermediate/Advanced
Decorative Painting
Level: 2,3 | Hours: 20
Duration: Monday to Friday | Time: 9:00 to 13:00 |
Dates and prices
Example projects:
Simple techniques to help strengthen the most important aspects
of effective decorative painting.
Course description:
This course is very useful for artists or decorators who would
like to concentrate on specific aspects of decorative painting
that will strengthen their work overall. Students have the
opportunity to immerse themselves in Renaissance Italian
masterworks to key their work to very high standard. We study
examples of historical decorative painting cycles here in
Florence, and spend studio time concentrating on the following
important techniques:
- developing colour schemes for decorative work
- the rendering of form with decorative brushwork
- recreating historical Italian decorative styles
Learn techniques for walls panels and furniture:
Paints used are casein paints, and acrylics. Grounds used are
gesso, both natural and synthetic, and Italian plaster.
Working with these different mediums allow students to
understand the adjustments necessary when changing between work
on walls, panels and furniture.
Projects:
1. Designing a colour palette: Using a picture reference we
extract a colour palette and mix our own shades to make a simple
ornament. We discuss how to expand this palette to a larger
scale environment.
Time: 1 day
Materials: latex wall paints and acrylics
2. Rendering form with decorative brushwork: this exercise
focuses on several ways of creating an effective illusion of
depth and form in decorative painting in the most simple way
possible. Starting from a study of antique roman wall paintings
for simple examples of form in decoration, we progress to vases
and drapery.
Time: 2 days
Materials: gesso ground casein paints
3. Grottesca (grotesque) ornament from the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence-
Students are asked to visit the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence,
make sketches and take some and notes. Then at the studio we
make a small decorative panel working with additional picture
references to really absorb the style of this popular 16th
century ornament:
Time: 2 days
Materials: Italian plaster ground, Casein paints
please note: the choice of Grottesca (grotesque) ornament is optional,
students may choose a different style to study.
Instructor: Alison Woolley.
View Alison's
work. Read more about
Alison
Courses
listt |
Schedule & fees
|
How to register
|
About the teachers
|
Accommodation
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