Florence, Italy

[dorian]

I think some of you live - and maybe study - in Florence?
My school starts in January 2006 (Angel Academy of Art (http://www.angelartschool.com)), it would be really really cool to meet you, hang out, draw and chat a bit!

Please post here, if you're in Florence! (Even if you are just there for a few days :) )


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[fishw]

hey hey, i'm hoping to go to cecil studios in a year (some time in 2006, at the start of the academic year). i'm just putting together some slides for my application at the moment.

[dorian]

hey! I was at cecil studios for a day, looked nice! (I think it's famous for having lots of hot chicks :^^:)

give me a shout when you get there, if you'd like to meet!

[Dizon]

hey! I was at cecil studios for a day, looked nice! (I think it's famous for having lots of hot chicks :^^:)

give me a shout when you get there, if you'd like to meet!

seriously? damn!

On a serious note. Do you know the differences between the 3 ateliers? (MJAS, FAA, Cecil)

[fishw]

i visited them (albeit briefly) around 10 months ago. From what i could tell there's a scale on how strict/laid back they are.
The first thing the woman at angel academy said to me was "we are strict." which kinda worried me, but the quality of work produced their is extremely impressive. For me the atmosphere was too strict (personal thing) but i have heard loads of really great stuff from students there. There is also one thing there that (as far as i can tell) the others don't touch on...that is the business of art. There is instruction in how to be an artist who's also a business person. It has a four year syllabus.

Next i went to the florence academy. Very nice studios with smaller rooms shared between two students to do much individual work such as bargue drawings. The life room is the main room. Great collection of casts to draw. The syllabus is similar to that of angel academy...bargue drawings, cast drawings, life drawings, cast painting, still life painting, figure painting and portrait painting (roughly in that order, though it's not a straight linear thing. You do figure drawing throughout for instance. Painting begins on the second year.) Three/four year syllabus, though you can go for only 1 year or whatever.

Cecil is in an old converted church, but has been a studio for a very long time. This place has quite a relaxed atmosphere (some say the most relaxed of the three, though some have said florence academy is more relaxed), but this does not mean a low quality of work. I'm not sure that bargue drawings are included in the curriculum here (though i might be mistaken). If you wish, you can go for a term, a year, two years whatever. Charles Cecil and Daniel Graves of the florence academy used to run a school together.

I hope that helps a bit. I don't think there is a 'best' school to go to, you have to find the one that suits you and your aims best. Nothing can really replace a visit to see what they're like. Don't take my word for it, these were just my impressions from my brief visits and a few discussions with various people. visit yourself and decide what your impression is. Adrian Gottlieb has some words to say on this here (http://www.adriangottlieb.com/Links/body_links.html)

ciao

[dorian]

nice summary fishw! I completely agree.
I visited these three schools in february, and I just felt most comfortable at angel academy. the "fame" for being strict also suits me, I guess. plus most of their work just IS more refined / perfected than work from the other two schools. too refined for some, there's usually a number of students quitting schools, or switching from FAA to angel or cecil and vice-versa.

if you can, go there and check the schools out in "real life". I guess you should check the websites first, though :)

http://www.cecilstudios.org/
http://www.florenceacademyofart.com/
http://www.angelartschool.com/

they're all ARC approved ateliers (http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/atelier_list.asp) I think.
if that means anything.. :)

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[madplanet]

If I have one dream it's to chuck it all and move to Florence and spend my time drawing and painting. Live it up people! I was there visiting back in 1998 and just fell in love with the place, as I'm sure most artists do. Damn.

[Dizon]

i visited them (albeit briefly) around 10 months ago. From what i could tell there's a scale on how strict/laid back they are.
The first thing the woman at angel academy said to me was "we are strict." which kinda worried me, but the quality of work produced their is extremely impressive. For me the atmosphere was too strict (personal thing) but i have heard loads of really great stuff from students there. There is also one thing there that (as far as i can tell) the others don't touch on...that is the business of art. There is instruction in how to be an artist who's also a business person. It has a four year syllabus.

Next i went to the florence academy. Very nice studios with smaller rooms shared between two students to do much individual work such as bargue drawings. The life room is the main room. Great collection of casts to draw. The syllabus is similar to that of angel academy...bargue drawings, cast drawings, life drawings, cast painting, still life painting, figure painting and portrait painting (roughly in that order, though it's not a straight linear thing. You do figure drawing throughout for instance. Painting begins on the second year.) Three/four year syllabus, though you can go for only 1 year or whatever.

Cecil is in an old converted church, but has been a studio for a very long time. This place has quite a relaxed atmosphere (some say the most relaxed of the three, though some have said florence academy is more relaxed), but this does not mean a low quality of work. I'm not sure that bargue drawings are included in the curriculum here (though i might be mistaken). If you wish, you can go for a term, a year, two years whatever. Charles Cecil and Daniel Graves of the florence academy used to run a school together.

I hope that helps a bit. I don't think there is a 'best' school to go to, you have to find the one that suits you and your aims best. Nothing can really replace a visit to see what they're like. Don't take my word for it, these were just my impressions from my brief visits and a few discussions with various people. visit yourself and decide what your impression is. Adrian Gottlieb has some words to say on this here (http://www.adriangottlieb.com/Links/body_links.html)

ciao


Yeah, I agree that both MJAS and ARA( In Canada) always have highly refined drawings and paintings being done by the students. Although, I've seen figure drawings by students from both schools, and, all share the same amount of tedious rendering, but a lot of it lacks "life". I'm not sure, but this could be due to the level of the students or some slight drawing errors which I noticed.

On the other hand, the Cecil school seems to have gotten my attention. From what i've seen, it's more "painterly" and "looser"(not too loose. balanced is best to describe it) in terms of rendering.

However, it's best to personally visit all 3. The websites aren't enough to make final judgements.

Thanks from the replies! :)

[fishw]

hey hey. talk about digging up a dead old thread. I thought i might as well as i've just been told i've been accepted to go to Cecil studios next october (2006). woo! anybody still in florence, or going to be there?

[dorian]

going to be there in...jesus! one and a half months!!! :cheerleader:
drop me a line when you start!

[Gnosis]

hey hey. talk about digging up a dead old thread. I thought i might as well as i've just been told i've been accepted to go to Cecil studios next october (2006). woo! anybody still in florence, or going to be there?


I'm quite probably going to apply for the FAA next spring, and start there next fall hopefully. But first I'll have to talk to some of my friends who are currently studying there, and hear what they think of the place.

[Rascar Capac]

Im flirting more and more with the idea of attending an atellier... Florence Academy is the one I hear of most through instructors at LAAFA that have studied there....and what everyone'sdescribed here seems to correspond.
ARC's website doesnt seem to have their academy list updated - anybody know where I can find a more complete site elsewhere - Im looking for places in Russia, France, and spain...France preferably


I just checked out the student gallery section of the angel academy - amazing stuff...
I wonder if anyone's done the drawing program in one atellier and then switched over to the painting program of another? I'm sure if the student's portfolio is up to the standards, they would accept you straight into the the painting program...

[fishw]

I wonder if anyone's done the drawing program in one atellier and then switched over to the painting program of another? I'm sure if the student's portfolio is up to the standards, they would accept you straight into the the painting program...

yep, certainly people have done that. i met someone who switched over to go to the florence academy, when i visited it. And yes, they would let you go straight to the painting part of the course if they see your work as up to scratch.

[P E N Ricklund]

Hi there people.
Dorian, nice to see that you've started this thread. I was thinking about attending Angel Academy of Art, but sadly enough I can't get any finacial support for that school.
So I'll try to get in to Florence Art Academy. So hopefuly I'll arrive to Florence someday ;)
I've heard some thing about Florence being next after Montreal for a CA workshop. I hope I'm living there when that happens.

Trying to get my admissions together until 1st May.
Does any one know what they want to see? I know they are looking for talent, but how do I show that?
Dorian, what kinda images did you show them at Angels?

Hugs!

[dorian]

whut!? workshop in florence?! would be aaawesome, heh :D

about what to show:
when you apply for angel you have to send 5 slides or photographs of your work.
I didn't have to do that though because I brought a folder with all my drawings, when I visited all the schools.
I don't know about florence academy, but at angel it's quite easy to get in. just apply early enough, and... get the cash ready... :rolleyes:
I think the level of your work doesn't matter that much. everybody starts at the same point anyway, professional painter or beginner, they all do the bargues first, then charcoal, then painting.
I think when someone switches, it's a different thing because you probably have done some bargues etc.

since both schools are going for realism I'd show them drawings from life rather than abstract stuff. I guess they like anatomy studies, too. in general just your best stuff. (aha! ;))
hope that helps! good luck!!

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[P E N Ricklund]

Thanks for the quick answer, damn you're fast. You should be drawing :P
I must say, that' a sneaky way to do it ;) Wish I could visit them and do the same.
I was looking forward going to Angels. But no money no school.

Yeah, I guess life drawings are the best. By the way, did you show them any colored stuff when applying?

[dorian]

hm I don't paint too much, so it was probably mostly drawing. there might have been one or two open canvas paintings and some of the graphic design stuff I do. (mainly concert posters)
don't worry too much about the portfolio. just apply early. don't know about florence academy, though. I think there are more popular, maybe because they start to paint earlier and are not as picky as angel is. (they really are, and I like it very much. I guess it's not for everybody, though.)
when in doubt just mail the school administrators and ask what they would like to see.

[P E N Ricklund]

I've been ahving some contact with angel, liked their attitude, really wish I could get the finacial support to go there.
Florence Art Academy was suggested by Karl Dobesky at the ca workshop in Prauge. I guees it's all up to what you do with it.
I guess you visited Florence Art Academy to? What impression did you get of the school and the student?
Just have to get everything togheter earlier than thought.
I really got to thanks you for the advices.

Hugs!

[Egoartist]

Hey guys, are y'all still in Florence? Can you post more about your experiences so far? I am interested in accomodation, eating, any art extracurricular activities? I am going for a drawing program soon. Dorian, the academy is improving your skills in an awesome way.

[fishw]

pencilator, the advice i was given when chatting at florence academy was to send realist work done from life. life drawings are ideal. they don't expect incredible works, just to see potential in a student that they reckon they can teach and benefit. the advice i would give is to visit the schools if at all possible, as you get so much more of an idea from visiting and talking to students there and seeing the environment etc.

queensoul, though i'm not there yet, check out www.studentsville.it as it'll probably have some useful info.

[dorian]

Pencilator: fishw wrote something about florence academy above:


Next i went to the florence academy. Very nice studios with smaller rooms shared between two students to do much individual work such as bargue drawings. The life room is the main room. Great collection of casts to draw. The syllabus is similar to that of angel academy...bargue drawings, cast drawings, life drawings, cast painting, still life painting, figure painting and portrait painting (roughly in that order, though it's not a straight linear thing. You do figure drawing throughout for instance. Painting begins on the second year.) Three/four year syllabus, though you can go for only 1 year or whatever.
I personally felt rather uncomfortable when I visited florence academy. but that's a very subjective impression. it's a very popular school, in general a bit looser than angel, I think they start painting earlier and they do a lot more portrait stuff from what I've heard. at angel there's only a student-organised evening portait drawing, where the students alternate in posing for each other. you have to have finished all four bargues though, to be allowed to join.
from what I've heard, I guess the personality of every student is payd more attention to at florence academy. at angel it's strictly teaching the techniques and I guess you have to always be aware that what you do there is nothing but technical exercises to strenghten your eye, mind and hand. the bargues for example are not really a piece of art, but rather a splendid exercise to improve your skills. what you do afterwards (or maybe better: besides) is up to you.
hmm.. I hope you can get what I mean! :)

queensoul:
yeah, studentsville is good. I personally love florence. the place has history. lots of old and important buildings, art everywhere, amazing museums, people are generally friendly. food AWESOME :D
downsides: LOTS of tourists, esp. in summer, really hot in summer, heaters not always working in winter or switched off due to power-saving-madness.. :)

hope that helps!

[Egoartist]

Thanks for your answers Dorian and fishw. I'll look into the site you provided.

[Gnosis]

I'm going to Florence tomorrow, bringing with me my application for the FAA. Gonna be there for a week.

[dorian]

hey, tell me if you wanna meet up!
I'll be at piazza della repubblica today (sunday) with 2-3 guys from angel, 15:00. watch out for sketching dudes ;]
can pm you my cellphone number if you like

if you want to check out angel, too, I can get you in since I got a key ;)

[Gnosis]

Yeah, sure! PM me your number. I wont arrive in Florence until tomorrow actually, since I'll have to spend the night waiting at the norwegian main international airport.
I've been thinking about checking out Angel as well. The only problem is that I don't think the norwegian state provides any scholarships or student loans to people going there. But I'll think about it some more. Thanks for the offer anyways!

[Egoartist]

Have fun Gnosis, and goodluck. They sound really nice on the phone. Like they actually care. I hope you get in.

[Gnosis]

Thanks, Queensoul!

[Egoartist]

Gnosis any update? Where you able to get in?

[fishw]

well, the florence season begins soon. who's going to be there? i'm flying out at the end of september, let me know if you're going to be around.

[dorian]

getting back there on september 18th!

[fishw]

do you have your accomodation sorted? i'm still trying to sort it...very much looking forward to getting there tho. just found a flight for £30 inc. tax!

[dorian]

£30?! what teeh..?! good for you :teeth:
yeah I'm still at the place I was at when I came. rent went down almost 50% though. Insane, huh? I bet I got the best deal in town now! Just because the landlady/flatmate/hostmom/friend liked me so much that she didn't want me to leave :D (she suggested the new price!)

have you tried www.easyroommate.com (http://www.easyroommate.com/)?
also good: www.studentsville.it (http://www.studentsville.it)

[fishw]

yeah i've tried them, i'm still struggling! it seems everyone at my school is sorted already. you don't happen to need a flatmate do you?

[dorian]

nope, sorry :/
it's probably easier once you're in town, there are "looking for flatmate" sheets on walls and stuff in the streets, too. plus you can just walk to different places and check them out.
but I know, it's far more relaxed if you know you have a place when you're leaving home..
good luck!

[AndreasM]

Hi there, just dropping by. There is a small chance that I will be able to study in Florence this fall. I have recieved a place at the Florence Academy of Art, but I still have problems getting financial aid. But if it happens, it would be cool to meet you guys down there. Pherhaps we could start a small scetch group of sorts (given that we aren't swamped with work allready :P).

[fishw]

cool, definitely get in touch if you can make it. Florence Academy has some sort of scholarship scheme don't they? which i'm sure would help

[johnny78]

Hello dorian, we will be in Florence and have a 4-day-sketch-session... You know: sitting around in cafés, exhibitions, piazas, maybe a little trip into Tuscany.
I´d love to meet some of you.

We are going to be there from sept.14th to sept.17th.

[dorian]

lol.. hard to believe but I'll get back to florence on sept. 19th..
I guess you already have your ticket for your journey back home settled?

If you have time available, take the bus to fiesole!!
or one of the red doubledecker busses, 20EUR for a ticked you can use the whole day, you can get off and on at all the stations, including fiesole. the tickets can be bought in the busses, it's worth it!

[johnny78]

No, I don´t have my tickets yet. As my friends can´t drive due to job/money reasons I´m thinking about delaying my trip (sept. 29th to oct. 1st). But I´m not sure how everything will turn out as I´ll have a presentation on sept.18th and it could be that I´ll have a lot work stuff to do after that.

And thank you for the hint, it sound really intersting!

[dorian]

School starts on 25th for me and my girl might come for a couple days around 1st, but let me know if you can make it!
Maybe via email/pm :)

[conundrum]

Hi Dorian, I'm going to be starting at Angel in Jan next year, so if your still studying I should see you then.

I was wondering if you had any tips for how and when i should try and arrange accommodation given that i don't have any contacts in Florence?

[dorian]

I hope I'll still be there :)

hm email the school for the contact of an agent, if you have plenty of time (she's ....slow.) or do it on your own: www.easyroommate.com (http://www.easyroommate.com/)
I just learned about http://www.couchsurfing.com, you could use that to have something for the first couple days so you can walk around and visit those places that sound interesting.

I can put up a little sheet at our school, too. People are coming and leaving, there are usually people who know about rooms that are available every now and then.

[conundrum]

Thanks for the reply,

If thats the case i'll keep looking around with the search websites as I still have a reasonable amount of time left. So thanks a lot for the offer but its probably not worth putting up a note just yet.

If i can't find anywhere I think i'll probably just wait until I arrive to get a place (although i've heard that if you leave it too late you can miss out on the better apartments). If I do end up doing that the couchsurfing link could come in handy:^^:

[AndreasM]

Hey guys! Turns out I'll be able to sudy in florence after all :) I think I'll move in around sept 30th. Pherhaps we could meet up some place?

[fishw]

sweet, i'm flying into florence on the 1st in the evening. It'll be good to meet people going to all three schools in Florence, as it seems most people at Cecil studios only socialise with other students at Cecil.

[dorian]

let's do it!
how should we organize this? also for future "get togethers", should we open a group at http://community.conceptart.org/groups/?

[fishw]

i suppose we could do... for the minute this thread's small enough to be manageable. I've no way of accessing the internet besides internet cafes, so my communication may not be super speedy. The first week or two will probably be pretty manic, so let's see what's happening and try to plan accordingly. I may buy a cheap mobile phone while i'm there, which could make things easier.

[dorian]

>> http://community.conceptart.org/groups/?id=100
yaaaay we are group number 100!! :teeth:

[stephen]

woot, great thread, its nice to hear peoples opinions on the different schools there.
I may or may not be studying in florence starting winter 07, I sent my app to FAA and I guess im on a wait list.. and I should know for sure in november!

[dorian]

might be interesting:
article on/by daniel graves (http://www.danielgraves.com), director, founder and teacher at florence academy of art (http://http://www.florenceacademyofart.com/):

http://www.myamericanartist.com/2006/12/daniel_graves_s.html


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[aitor_tilla]

Hi,

I´m new here... I am going to go to study in Cecil studio this october... Anybody still in Florence, or going to study there?

Thanks :rendered:

[dorian]

I'm still there!
shoot me a pm if you'd like to meet up for coffee or sketching etc.! :]

[aitor_tilla]

Hi,

Of course, Thanks a lot ... :rendered: :rendered: :rendered:

[AndreasM]

dorian, pherhaps we could meet up sometime! I may come down the 20th of september and i don't know alot of other people who will be around at that point.

edit: never mind, i'm staying at the beach for a couple of days in stead :p

[saa]

Hey guys, I am going to be attending the figure oil painting workshop at the angel art academy, and I'll be staying in Florence from 29th of June to 13th of July. Please get in touch with me if you are there too. Cheers guys.

[dorian]

Hehe awesome! I'll probably be there, I'm going to help the maestro with his other workshop (The Methods of the Masters: Underpainting and Overpainting Procedures) which is a week later than yours.
Drop me a note when you're in town!

edit: I'll be back from NY (yay!!) 3rd of july!

[Maidith]

Hi Dorian! :D

I've been accepted at Angel Academy of Art; the semester will start in fall this year. Maybe we'll see each other there?
Now I have to go look for some housing. Just curious; how much do you pay for rent and living a month?

(I'm really really happy about this... I feel I can learn so much more there than I've learnt by myself in the last five years.)

[Hennaha]

Any new people that have been accepted into the 3 major ateliers?

I'm starting at the Angels this Fall. I'm planning to arrive there around 20th September (a week before the school starts) and spend the remaining time looking for apartment and meeting new people. So if you know you are going to Florence next Fall, give me a shout and we can meet for a coffee! :)

I just registered, so I'm feeling little scared and newbie here.

Henna

[dorian]

Maidith: awesome! :D I'll be there! Average rent for a room in a shared flat is about 500€, if you're outside the very centre. Living is the same as in all bigger cities in europe I think.

Henna: I've heard it's quite a big group starting in september, so there might be one or two people from the forums!
I'll probably be back around the 20th as well, we should have a little get-together with everybody!

Both of you are so young and have good work already - can't wait to see what you'll produce here! Can't wait to welcome you :)

[Soja]

Hey Guys!!

I would love to go to Florence in 2 weeks and have a look at the schools over there. Im planning to be there from Monday 1st of December and stay there till the 3rd. Well i would love to attend to one of those schools but im not sure which one is the right one for me.
Another problem is i dont have much money right now so i would love to ask u if u could tell me if there's a cheap hostel in Florence or if u could offer me a place to stay for 2 night that would be great.
I also love to meet for sketch and draw if u like too.
So would be nice if someone could help me out or just meet me there if i will make it to florence in 2 weeks.
Thanks a lot

[dorian]

check pm, Soja!

[hummel1dane]

Hey all what a cool thread!!! I'm pretty new here at CA and starting at Angels in April!!
Dorian it's great stuff you're doing by the way! (I envy you...) - Could you tell me how long it takes to finish the fundamental program if you work real hard?
Oh yes I didn't send the academy any slides or pictures of any drawings and they still accepted me as a student!

Take care and thanks for starting this thread!

[artozi]

Somebody still in Florence?:) If you guys would like to catch up, drop a line here. It would be a great way to start a new year:)

[dorian]

I'm leaving for good in 3 days... weird after 4years!!

hummel1dane is here! you can check the websites of the schools and take a look at the student galleries, do a search for the people with work you like and you'll find blogs and sites with contact info and all, generally people are happy to get together!

use your time here well, it's a magical place!

www.florenceacademyofart.com/
http://www.angelartschool.com/
http://www.charlescecilstudios.com/

Open Figure Drawing:
Angel Academy: Wednesdays and Fridays, 5:30-7:30pm
Florence Academy: Thursdays and maybe Mondays? Not sure about the times

Art History Lectures at Cecil Studios:
Thursdays around 7:30pm

Art History Lectures at Angel Academy:
they are fantastic, must see, 1-2 Fridays a term, dates change each term, find out from a student

Art History Lectures at Florence Academy:
Friday evenings, not sure how often

[artozi]

These were greatly spent 4 years:) you inspire man! I am staying here only for one semester, leaving in February unfortunatelly. I will just sit near the front doors of the academy and accost random people;) It is easy to start conversion by just asking if they have a pencil sharpener... Anyway, what is open figure drawing? Does it mean i can spy on nude people for free? I am finding more and more opportunities here in Florence!:)

Buon Natale dorian!!
Mateusz

[Farin]

I m going to start my studies in florence in september as well -not at the FAA but at the AAA. If the flight wont be canceled I will arrive at florence on the 22nd of september and will spend a few days there just sightseeing :) and searching for a room in a flat share (so if anyone is searching for a flatmate or wants to start a new flat share - give me call).

maybe someone would like to join me exploring the city...

[Konstruktion]

Yes yes I am in Florence..!

[Kadin.T.Goldberg]

Hey all! I am planning on a attending AAA, FAA, or Cecil this coming spring (FAA told me they are full right now, I applied to AAA) but would love to get some up to date info about the schools.

Is all the info in this thread still relevant?? Can anyone give me a current idea of the differences between the 3 schools. I can't really go visit them before because I live so far away so I am going to try and make a decision through the 'ol interweb.

Thanks to anyone that can help me decide!!!

[elfenomeno]

Hello everybody,
I should be at the Angel Academy.
i am set to start in spring 2013,it start 8th april.
Anyone else starting at this date?

[Kadin.T.Goldberg]

Hello everybody,
I should be at the Angel Academy.
i am set to start in spring 2013,it start 8th april.
Anyone else starting at this date?

Hey elfenomeno! I am starting this trimester. Just got to Florence a couple days ago. Are you in town?