Porta Romana Open House, May 31th
During its 22-year history, The Florence Academy of Art, led by Daniel Graves, has served its mission to train students to become highly skilled realist painters and sculptors. Success has been so far measured by the quality of the artwork produced by its students and graduates. Today, the academy accepts with pride its recognition by NASAD. It looks forward to continuing to provide students with fundamental skills to produce great art with enhanced academic status.
Accreditation allows students to earn university credits while obtaining the skills offered by the Florence Academy. Executive Director, Susan Tintori, says, “This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the classical curriculum of the atelier enters the mainstream. It will no doubt increase awareness among art students looking for sound techniques and training.” The diploma issued by The Florence Academy of Art upon completion of the three year course in Painting or Sculpture is a university level Certificate. A certificate may be used by an undergraduate as credit towards a terminal degree, or by a graduate as added proof of expertise.
Writes Florence Academy supporter, Sean Mcardle, “We live in a pivotal century, when a part of Western history, culture and techniques was almost lost. I am ecstatic the National Association of Schools of Art and Design recognized the FAA. It is truly epic, and it is thanks to your values and commitment!”
National Association of Schools of Art and Design, founded in 1944, is an organization of 322 schools, colleges, and universities that establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and non-degree programs credentials.
THE POWER OF WISDOM AND BEAUTY
Oil on linen
60×80 cm
2013
Congratulations to one of our Principal Painting Instructors and Resident artist, Daniela Astone, for her acceptance into the 2013 National Gallery BP portrait competition with her recent painting entitled, “Self Portrait”. The opening reception will take place on June 19th at London’s National Gallery and the exhibition will run through September 15. For more information click here”
Alicia Ponzio’s portrait of Irving is a finalist in three competitions: the Portrait Society of America, the Society of Portrait Sculptors (London) and the Art Renewal Center International Salon. The PSoA finalists are all posted on the Underpaintings blog: http://underpaintings.blogspot.com/
About. The Florence Academy of Art is excited to offer a talented entrant the chance to study in Florence this July, with expert instruction from the academy’s faculty, as well as guided tours to the city’s historic galleries and museums (the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia Gallery housing Michelangelo’s David, the Bargello Sculpture Museum and the Pitti Palace).
The winner will be given the chance to attend the workshop (Drawing, Painting or Sculpture – Figure, Still Life or Landscape) of his or her choice (space permitting).
Submission: Simply send us 3 good quality images of your works, produced in the last 2 years. Please note the quality of the imagery may affect judgment.
Eligibility. This competition is open to people of all ages and backgrounds. If you have a passion for figurative art we would like to see your work! For full details of terms and conditions, please click here.
Judges. The Florence Academy’s founder and director, Daniel Graves, along with several members of the Florence teaching staff, will select the winner from the examples of personal artwork submitted. The judges will be looking for an interest in figurative realism, an attempt to work from life or copy an old master, and artistic strength.
Apply. Applications will be accepted by email only. Please send the following information to:
Your email must include:
- Full Name, Date of Birth, Mailing address, Phone number (with country codes)
- 3 low resolution jpeg images (maximum 72 dpi) of your recent drawings, paintings, or sculptures. Include your name and a title in the JPG file title.
- Maximum 250 words about yourself.
Deadline. May 1, 2013. Our 10 Finalists will be announced on our Facebook page daily fromMay 6th and the winner will be announced May 17, 2013, on The Florence Academy of ArtFacebook and Twitter pages.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for competition updates.
For a complete description of our summer workshops in Florence, go to Summer Florence on our Homepage or click here.
Drawing of the Week
The Alpine Fellowship is a residential programme that brings together students of classical painting with philosophers and professional painters. The aim is to foster a community with clear values, a reconnection with nature, and an ongoing dialogue with aesthetics.
The aim of the fellowship is to: reconnect and study nature, improve craft and skills in painting, foster a dialogue in philosophy and aesthetics.
General information
The prize is aimed at intermediate to advanced students of classical painting and aims to assist and improve their technical skills; broaden their cultural and aesthetic vision; reconnect with nature and study the natural world; foster a new community of painters with a clear purpose and vision. Prize winners will be invited to reside in the Swiss Alps for the month of September.
Prize Specifics
Up to 4 places (two of which will be chosen from the Florence Academy of Art second year student body)
Three weeks (1.09.13 – 21.09.13) free accommodation (not including meals) and studio space
Weekly readings
Weekly seminar/painting tutorial with AJ Lawson
Visiting speakers and guest painters
for more information please click here
Drawing of the Week
Open Studio at FAA Sweden. March 16th
Drawing of the Week
Drawing of the Week
Drawing of the Week
Drawing of the Week
Congratulations to alumnus, Alan Lawson, for being awarded 3rd merit by the Portrait Society of America in the still life category for his work, The Emptiness of things, the Fullness of Love, 40 x 40 cm, oil on linen.
Alan, who originates from the UK, studied at The Florence Academy of Art from 2008-2011.
Drawing of the Week
Drawing of the Week
Figuratively speaking is a group show
featuring sculptures by Sara Stenlund
and figurative oil paintings by some of
Sweden’s top realist painters.
at JÄGER & JANSSON Galleri
Opening Saturday 12/1 at 12-17
OPENING HOURS: Wed – Fri 12 – 18, Sat – Sun 12 – 16
St Gråbrödersgatan 13, 222 22 LUND, 046-276 00 55, 0709-30 75 86
Website: www.jagerjansson.se , email: jagerjansson@pbhome.se
Drawing of the Week
To read the full article Click Here
Saturday 23rd March – Saturday 30th
This is an intensive landscape painting workshop with master painter Marc Dalessio. Marc is renowned as one of the world’s best landscape painters. His works hang in galleries and private collections round the world. This course will be based out of a typical swiss chalet. The surrounding area is replete withwaterfalls,meadows with cows, and snowy peaks. 1500chf everything included (painting materials, food, accommodation, local transportation)
To read more click in the following link http://www.drawninblack.com/category/interviews/
FAA Alumni Jordan Sokol, Peter Van Dyck, Carolyn Pyfrom, Leo Mancini-Hresko and Ben Fenske are part of the group exhibition, CONVERGE
November 15-27, 2012
Opening Reception, November 15
25 Central Park West at 62nd St.
New York
www.25cpw.org
PUBLIC OPENING new SCULPTURE STUDIO.
Bayasgalan Batmagnai, First Place, $ 3,500.00
Tanvi Pathare, Second Place, $ 1,800.00
Ione Hunter Gordon, Third Place, $ 1,000.00
Kresten Smedemark, First Place, $ 3,500.00 (won while attending another atelier, but Kresten is now at the FAA in Sculpture!)
For full details, click here (http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/scholarship.php?contest=2012%20Scholarship)
Bayasgalan Batmagnai
Tanvi Pathare
Ione Hunter Gordon
Spring Workshops 2013
Academic Figure Painting and Portrait Painting
- with Jura Bedic
The Portrait In-Depth, Painting and Sculpting the Portrait from Life
- with Jordan Sokol and Eran Webber
Perspective for the Artist: A Practical Approach
- with Richard Payne
Art History – Various Destinations in Florence
- with Prof. Joan Reifsnyder
for details on SPRING WORKSHOPS 2013 click here
for Printable Application Form Spring Workshop 2013 click here
Spring 2012 Student Work
Léon Bonnat
Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat (1833–1922) was a French painter. A teacher of Sargent, Stanhope Forbes, P.S. Krøyer, Thomas Eakins, Charles Sprague Pearce and many other notable 19th century painters.

Sixth Alumni Exhibition Prize Winners
Best in Show – First Prize – $ 5,000.00
Eran Webber, Synopsis
Second Prize – $ 3,000.00
Stephen Bauman, The Violinist
Third Prize – $ 2,000.00
Tanvi Pathare, Portrait of Stephanie
Honorable Mention
Hywel Pratley, The Paraphanalia of Unseen Change
Carla Paine, My Father’s Hat
Toby Wright, Rooftops
Alumni Choice
Zacariah Kramer, Sower
Hege Haugen, Moist
Matthew Almy, The House of Mirth
President’s Prize

Richard Greathouse, Anne-Marie
Dagnan-Bouveret
Pascal-Adolphe-Jean Dagnan-Bouveret (1852-1929) was a french painter known for hes naturalistis style. He studied under Jean-Leon Gerome.
Closeups from the painting “Blessing of the Young Copule Before Marriage”. Photographs are taken by Jordan Sokol
Naturalism pt. 3
Academic Paintings
Academic paintings mostly from 19th century french Ecole dex Beaux Arts school or artist graduated from that school.
Paul Marie Louis Pierre Richer (1849-1933) was a French anatomist, physiologist and a sculptor. He had a imporatant role in the 19th art scene as a teacher of many notable 19th century painters, who studied in Ecole des Beaux Arts Paris. The Images of this post include many of hes works as a sculptor and illustrator for the anatomy books that he published
Downloadable E-books:
Nouvelle anatomie artistique du corps humain (volume 2), La Femme
Website for art books
Check out this website for art books on russian painters and materials: www.4-art.org
Lördagen den 14:e April öppnar vi våra lokaler för dig som
funderar på att söka till vår treåriga yrkesutbildning i klassisk realistisk
teckning och måleri.
Detta är ett utmärkt tillfälle att skapa sig en tydligare
bild av hur det är att studera vid The Florence Academy of Art.
- Elever och lärare finns på plats för att svara på frågor
om utbildningen.
- Personal ur skolans administration rätar ut frågetecken
kring CSN-stöd, boende och andra praktiska detaljer
- Rundvandring i skolans lokaler, genomgång av utbildningens
moment.
- Elever och lärare utför demonstrationer
Under dagen finns möjlighet att lämna in ansökan för ht
2012. Ansökningsformulär finns att hämta på:
http://florenceacademyofart.com/application.php
Götaforsliden 17, Mölndal
+46 (0)31 – 70 60 860
gothenburg@florenceacademyofart.com
Välkommen
On Saturday, April 14, we open our facilities for future applicants to our three-year painting program. This is an excellent opportunity to gain a clearer picture of what it is like to study at The Florence Academy of Art.
- Students and teachers are available for questions about the program.
- Staff from the school administration answer questions about CSN support, housing and other practical details.
- Guided tour around the school premises, with a brief introduction of the program.
- Demonstrations.
During the day it is possible to submit the application for Fall Trimester 2012
Application forms are available at: http://florenceacademyofart.com/application.php
Götaforsliden 17, Mölndal, Sweden
+46 (0) 31-70 60 860
gothenburg@florenceacademyofart.com
Welcome
Winter 2011-12 Student Work
Process, by Sarah Margaret Gibson
Second year student, Sarah Margaret Gibson, published an article entitled, Process, in the online magazine, Composite Arts, http://compositearts.com/. Click on the featured photo (No. 6 Process) to download the magazine as a PDF file.
Under Construction
test
Work in progress in Sculpture
Fall 2011 Student work
Thursday morning brought happy news as The Florence Academy of Art in Sweden was officially ackredited as a KU-education for study assistance by the Swedish state.
- The Florence Academy of Art is an alternative to the already existing art schools of Scandinavia. Students who study here do so because they acknowledge that tradition-based training in drawing and painting is a fundamental part of their artistic endeavor. FAA students now enjoy the same rights as students enrolled in colleges and universities in northern Europe – I think this is only fair, says Andreas Birath, Executive Director of FAA/Sweden.
The decison allows for Swedish students to apply for study assistance from the Swedish state (through CSN) to fund their studies at The Florence Academy of Art in Sweden. This study assistance consists of a loan and a grant.
- I am really happy for our students. They have shown such dedication. The training itself is highly demanding, add to that the insecurity of economic issues – it has been a great challenge for them. This decision now puts all of our students in a place where they can fully focus on their artistic training, says Joakim Ericsson, Academic Director of FAA/Sweden.
Starting with Fall trimester 2012, students at FAA/Sweden have the option of applying for study assistance. Deadlines for application are February 1, for early acceptance, and May 1.
For more information, please contact Birgitta Holmström, Office Manager at FAA/Sweden: gothenburg@florenceacademyofart.com
Richard Greathouse, First Place, $ 4,000.00
Terra Chapman and Dana Zaltzman, Second Place, $ 2,400.00 respectively
Tanvi Pathare and Sarah Gibson, Third Place, $ 1,400.00
For full details, click here
Roland Muntoiu, show
Epic Muse Cycle by James Henry Zukin
Click here to read an epic poem by contemporary poet, James Henry Zukin, kindly reproduced with consent of author, © Copyright 2011
Book Description:
“Controlling the Creative Process” is a painter’s guide that offers step by step photographic demonstrations and instruction on the preparation of oil paint, canvases, and frames using traditional methods and materials.
At 130 pages, with more than 200 color photos illustrating every stage of the process, this book is one to have by your side, in the studio, or at home in your private collection.
A 100% natural cotton hard cover, with dust jacket, protects the highest quality archival ProLine uncoated photographic paper, that will be sure to keep your paintings company as they stand the test of time together.
Controlling the Creative Process is also available as an ebook for iBooks app on the iPad, iPhone & iPod touch for busy painters on the go.
Virtual Preview:
Toby Wright, solo show in Monaco
Monaco’s Oceanography Museum marks its 100 year anniversary with a solo exhibition of paintings by Toby Wright, Portraits Du Temple de la Mer, on view through January 2, 2012:
More information at http://www.oceano.org/fr/actualites/expositions/portraits-du-temple-de-la-mer-par-toby-wright/1/
Australia’s premier awards for realism and figurative art, the A.M.E Bale Travelling Scholarship and Art Prizes, were awarded last night to the artists who have excelled in traditional styles. Leigh Kaplan was announced as the winner of the prestigious A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship, valued at $50,000. Kaplan, said she was thrilled to be given the opportunity to combine art and travel. “It’s invaluable for traditional artists to be exposed to both the old masters and also contemporary works. For Australian artists, travel is essential in our early careers – it fuels our curiosity and inspires new ideas,” said Ms Kaplan. The Scholarship is a sought-after prize for emerging artists keen to build their career. Ms Kaplan plans to use the A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship to tour Europe, Russia and America over an extended period, to place herself in the best position for a future career as a painter.
“With travel from Australia often a lengthy and costly exercise, it’s difficult for emerging young artists to develop their skills abroad and learn from other artists. The scholarship allows the winner to travel and experience what the rest of the artistic world has to offer – a unique and exciting opportunity for any artist,” said Perpetual’s General Manager Philanthropy, Andrew Thomas. According to Mr Thomas, Alice Bale’s contribution to the arts through her charitable trust has made a lasting impact on the lives of many young Australian artists. “Alice Bale was an established artist who was known as one of Australia’s pre-eminent flower and still life painters of the early 20th century. Her legacy has continued for more than fifty years now through her charitable trust, supporting many artists in that time,” he said.
See more about the prize at www.gleneira.vic.gov.au
A poem for the FAA
I most enjoyed
receiving your splendid
Art eye candied delights.
A chinese plum; take just one?
Decidedly most effusive
Provider of undeserved praise
Sparked from ignition
so sparse as my larks of words
Visceral phenomenon
indelible if inedible
Secret recipe of
FloAcadArtica
bark of mangrove
+ eye of viper
+ piss of rhino
+ yellow dust of bee
Will the paint harden
providing color
To meaning and
meaning to color?
Poetry you say;
I say let there be words
Reflected off juggling balls
of magic or
Effortlessly emerging
from Pandora’s secret place.
I am your poet; how will the
Academy use verbal imagery?
- By James Henry Zukin
Farewell to Leo Mancini-Hresko
by Alan Lawson
With over a decade of outstanding service to The Florence Academy of Art, Leo Mancini-Hresko, director of drawing in the sculpture department and head of materials, leaves us for Boston.
As Leo moves on to focus on his flourishing painting career it is with sadness but also admiration that the FAA family bid him farewell. As I planned this brief tribute I spoke to some of his colleagues and students and amongst the comments were, ‘Leo the charismatic teacher, Leo the voracious and pioneering painter, Leo the bon viveur, the funny guy, and the man with time for anyone and everyone.’
I met Leo shortly after moving to Florence and I was struck by his bold painting, his unique style, his love of colour, and his willingness to share his knowledge. It would not be hyperbole to say that you can call Leo at any time to ask him about painting materials or techniques, and needless to say generations of FAA students have profited from his generosity and knowledge.
It’s impossible to do justice to someone’s past, present and important future career in such a short space, so I won’t attempt it. However I will give you one quote of Leo’s that offers something of an insight into his artistic vision. When I asked him about his paintings he said this:
‘Many of the painters I like are for that ‘illusion’ quality…impastos and glazes, using the paint itself, not just trying to paint an image, sculpting with the paint, dragging the brush back into it. Not slavishly painted detail but ‘suggestion’, ‘impression’. Tony Bennett had a good one, he told me, “You have to respect your audience. If you explain everything to them, if you don’t trust them to figure it out, that’s not respecting the viewer”’
It is with great respect that everyone at the FAA wishes Leo, and his fiancée Elpida, not adieu but a very fond au revoir.
To see more of Leo’s work, click on the link below:
Alumni Gallery in Florence Academy website

Portrait of Guido, Oil on canvas, 2011

Snowy Landscape, Oil on canvas, 2011
Jordan Sokol Video interview
Insane Productions video interview, of Jordan Sokol is now available in American Painting Video Magazine in the new summer issue!. Click in here to go the web site. Here is the trailer.
Check out the August issue of American Art Collector Magazine! The article, titled ‘Beyond a Likeness’, features alumnae and former instructors Alicia Ponzio and Teresa Oaxaca, who were both honored at this years Portrait Society of America’s portrait competition. The artists speak about what qualities they strive to create in a portrait! Click on the images to read the article
Jordan Sokol exhibits at Arcadia Gallery
Congratulations to two of our alumnae, Alicia Ponzio and Valentina Zlatarova, who have been selected by the prestigious ‘Society for Portrait Sculptors’, in London, to participate in their annual juried competition, called ‘FACES 2011′.
The Open Exhibition is the only forum for contemporary portrait sculpture and consists of about 70 sculptures of which approximately one third are chosen from open submission from non-members. It is held each year in May at The Gallery in Cork Street, London.
Valentina Zlatarova received the Tiranti prize for the second time. The Tiranti Prize is awarded to the best work from a young portrait sculptor of 30 years old or under. Here is the sculpture that were selected. Valentina previously won the prize in 2008.
Here are the two sculptures by Alicia Ponzio that were selected for participation,
This is the website of the Society for Portrait Sculptors.
http://www.portrait-sculpture.org/index.php
Angel Ramiro Sanchez, our painting program Director, will be having a one-man exhibition at ‘the pretigious Fondazione Stelline’ in Milan, from June 10-July 2, 2011.
The show, which will be Ramiro’s most important solo show in Italy to date, will include 31 works that chronicle his career with particular attention to his more recent work from the last year.
This exhibition of paintings by Angel Ramiro Sanchez has been organized by the Fondazione Stelline, the Embassy of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Holy See and Consulate General of Venezuela in Milan, with the patronage of the Comune di Milano and the Concilio Europeo dell’Arte in recognition of this young master’s unique perspective on two worlds: his
native Venezuela, and the land where he lives and works, Italy.
“As this fascinating show reveals, the two worlds of Ramiro: Realtà di due mondi are the lands of his origins and formation, Venezuela and Italy. But they are also the pictorial worlds of visual reality, rendered by the brush as few other painters can, and the invisible reality of the spirit. Whatever theme he chooses, Ramiro is an artist who never ceases to look inside himself and indeed look reality in the face.”
John T. Spike
College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 8 May 2011
After many smaller exhibitions, this present show at the Fondazione Stelline is the first important monographic exhibition of his work in Italy. Some thirty paintings and drawings from all phases of his career are included with an emphasis on his most recent work of 2010 and 2011.
FAA alumni shine at this years Portrait Society of America, ‘International Portrait Competition’.
The PSoA recently held their Art of the Portrait conference where they announced the winners for their annual International Portrait Competition. We’re very proud to have several FAA alumni among the winners.
Congratulations to all!
Graduate and former drawing instructor, Jesus Villarreal won the Draper Grand Prize with his painting, ‘The Mirror’.
Click here to see more of Jesus’s work.
Graduate and former drawing instructor, Teresa Oaxaca won second place with her painting, ‘Father Time’.
Click here to see more of Teresa’s work.
Our current Anatomy and Ecroche instructor, Alicia Ponzio recieved an honor award for her sculpture, ‘Claudia Regina Del Fiume’.
Click here to see more of Alicia’s work.

Lecture: Beauty, Teleology, and Taste
This lecture offers a brief introduction to the subject of beauty. It begins with the rejection of classical notions of beauty in the early twentieth century and the causes of this. The lecture then jumps back and forth in time in an attempt to show some of the major ethical and epistemological developments and their impacts on ideas of ‘beauty’. The conclusion, is not a definition of beauty but an attempt to frame the correct questions in approaching it.
“The answer to the question ‘What is beauty?’ is approached vicariously through another question: ‘how should we live?”
YOU CAN WATCH THE LECTURE HERE
Insane Productions
Insane Productions was founded in 2009. Our goal is to create video tutorials for the arts, by interviewing contemporary young artists within different media. We want to push current art education tools beyond their borders and make them accessible to anyone who is interested. As artists ourselves, we think we can put our knowledge together to create something unique and useful, whether for a seasoned professional or for an aspiring beginner. Videos of artists, for artists, created by artists.
Great ideas often seem insane at their start, but given time, they integrate themselves into everyday life, until the world would seem insane without them. This concept is a driving force behind our aims to share traditional knowledge through modern means.
Creativity is the key to making a difference, and to making videos that can change the perception of what art education can be. To find out more about us, roll over “Team” in the menu bar…
The Florence Academy of Art blog
We are happy to launch The Florence Academy of Art blog and look forward to everyone’s contributions about artists, events, galleries, exhibitions, competitions, grants, information on materials and techniques, and videos. If you have news or an image you would like to share, please send it to one of the emails below:
info@florenceacademyofart.com
gothenburg@florenceacademyofart.com
Nude Study by Daniel Graves

Daniel Graves
Nude study
Oil on panel
40 cm x 50 cm
2010
Jordan Sokol is featured in January’s American Artist Magazine, 11 Groundbreaking Artists to Watch in 2011

Jordan Sokol
Penumbra
Oil on canvas
40 cm x 60 cm
2010


Joshua McPherson is winner of the prestigious A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship. The A.M.E. Bale Travelling Scholarship is Australia’s premier award for traditional realism and figurative art and is awarded to an Australian artist who has demonstrated talent and achievement in traditional styles. It is intended to encourage, support and advance classical training of emerging artists (in their early to mid-career) at any stage of life, who are pursuing the study and practice of traditional art and who desire to study the works of old masters.
Funded by the Alice Marian Ellen Bale Art Foundation Trust, the major prize is a travelling scholarship currently valued at $40,000. The scholarship allows the winner to travel around the world, learning from other artists and developing their skills. Joshua said he was thrilled to be given the opportunity to combine art and travel. “I believe the old master painters provide a foundation for great painting. Travelling to Western Europe, Russia and America to see the skill of the masters first hand and extend my own artistry will be invaluable in kick-starting my future as a painter.” Josh will chronicle his experience in a blog.






















































































































































































