Florence Academy of Art - Should I go?

[Kimber Scott]

I'm graduating in May with a BFA in painting. Now I'm thinking of attending an atelier in Europe so I can learn how to paint. I haven't quite conviced my husband, yet, but I've started doing the research to see if it would be as beneficial to me, and us, as I think it will. We would have to sell our house and live off the equity while we were abroad. When we come back to the US, we will have to start over again. In my mind, it would be the adventure of a lifetime. My husband is not quite as adventerous as I am. I'm the romantic. He's down to earth. He did say he would think about it, though. I know, if I REALLY, REALLY want to go, he will want to, too. My problem is I need to know more before I know for sure that I really, really want to do this.

I'm looking at the Florence Academy of Art for starters. Does anybody have any inside information on this school? Have you heard any feedback from alumni? (This is all assuming, of course, they would accept me.) Has anyone spent any extended amount of time in Florence? Pros? Cons? Are there other ateliers in Europe you would recommend above this one? If so, why? IAnd, is there something you would be particularly wary of in taking a risk such as the one I'm thinking of here?

Thanks for your help!
Kimber

[Michele Rushworth]

You don't have to go to Europe to attend a top notch art atelier. There are many listed on the Art Renewal Center's website. One of them is right here in Seattle.

That said, the Florence Academy might be worth attending just for the experience of living in Europe. There is no right answer as to whether that is the "correct" choice for you and your husband, of course. There is no way of knowing how it will turn out.

You should probably do a LOT of research about the various schools, here and abroad. I made the mistake of choosing the first art school I knew of, and wasted years and lots of money. Of course there were only one or two ateliers in North America at the time, none of which I was aware of.)

I would suggest the Art Renewal Center's website as a first place to look. Read everything you can about the schools they recommend, for starters, then talk to alumni.

Keep us posted as to what you decide to do.

[Sharon Knettell]

Kimber,

I think Michele has given you some GREAT advice. Even if you were to come back with the ability to challenge Michelangelo, the market for figurative art is a slim albeit a growing one. If you have a house, a rarity among artists DO NOT SELL IT.

There is NO guarantee that you will ever recoup your loss. It would take at least 10 years to establish yourself after that, and few ever do.

You can cobble together a course of study from the many ateliers and talented teachers around the country.

Some of many accomplished painters, including Michele have built successful careers doing just that.

[Mischa Milosevic]

Kimber, I spent 2.5 yrs at Angel Academy in Florence. Best Investment for my money at the time but if I was to do it over again and I was living in the US as you are than I would find the best academy in the US and go there.

The instruction at Angel is top notch but be prepared to work hard if you decide to go here. I have visited Florence academy and have friends there and have seen the work there. Same as Charles S. academy also at the top. Charles is all about training the youth. Florence is a good school but there is a few draw backs first being the lighting. Reed the comment Fred Ross ARC president mentions in regard to lighting at Florence. Angel has a definite standard and that standard is they follow the system to a T and push you beyond your abilities at times to the point of tears.

Living in Florence was a real adventure. Now, are you going for the adventure or to study? Get that point straight in your mind before you decide. My class time was from 9:30

[Alexandra Tyng]

Kimber,

The first thing that I wondered when I read you post was "Does she want to go to Europe for adventure, or to study?" So I am kind of echoing Mischa, but from the "American" point of view. I do agree you should absolutely figure out the answer to that question before deciding one way or another.

If your main reason is to study art, I would stay in the U.S. and find an academy, atelier, or artist here. I am wondering why you chose the Florence Academy? Do you like their way of teaching color? As Mischa pointed out, they teach a very specific way of using color that may not be to your taste. Florence Academy uses very monochromatic color. Compare that to, say, Nelson Shanks' Studio Incamminati here in Philadelphia, where they use a range of chromatic colors and encourage bold color notes (after you've mastered charcoal and grisaille, of course). And there are several other excellent schools, each offering a distinct approach.

If you feel like adventure, why not go on a trip to the museums of Europe? You can set up your easel in Boboli Gardens or a piazza or anywhere that inspires you. With the combination of American school and European painting trip, you might learn just as much (or more) with less risk.

Alex

[Kimber Scott]

Thank you all very much for your advice! When I consider the question of adventure, or study, I come up with the answer study, with adventure being the frosting.

Mischa - the information you provided is exactly what I was looking for - physical, mental, emotional and economical. Thank you. It gives me a very good picture to look at. I have much to think about.

Also, Mischa, I see you live in Germany. I lived two years in Bad Krueznach. I was in the Army. Actually, I had an apartment in Feilbingert, near Bad Munster. It was so beautiful and clean. I miss the church bells and the slower lifestyle. I left in 1989. I never wanted to leave there. So, maybe my wanting to go to Flornece is just an excuse to return to Europe. Although, I can guess Florence is not so slow, or quiet. I assume. I don't know.

If I were younger and singler, I'm sure I would have thrown caution to the wind already and gone. Now, I'm thinking, as you all have suggested, to scale back my ambitions and proceed with a little more calculation. Selling our house, in this market, probably isn't the smartest thing to do. We'd have a hard time buying even half as much house when we returned. Ah, such grand ambitions seem always thwarted by reality.

So, I'm still thinking about where to go from here. In the meantime, I guess I'll go paint. Thank you, again.

[Debra Norton]

Kimber, I'm a third year student at The Atelier in Minneapolis. We moved here from Washington state. I went through a situation similar to yours. My husband took early retirement to enable me to go to school, (we're empty nesters). To retire we had to sell our house
(fortunately we had a good deal of equity since we built it ourselves). We used part of the money for school and moving expenses and the rest we invested in property which we plan to subdivide and sell, keeping one lot for ourselves to build on when we move back home in a little over a year from now. This works out well for both of us, he wanted to retire (really to change careers) and I wanted to go to school. Selling the house enabled us to do that, but also to reinvest so we're not having to start over financially in middle age. As it stands now, we have his pension, plus he works. We ended up buying a fixer upper here, which we'll sell when we leave to help us get started on the house back home. Maybe some of these ideas would work for you too?

About school, I agree with what the others said, check out the Art Renewal Center. That's where I found my school. We took a summer vacation trip to visist a couple schools and then made the choice. I think I made an excellent choice, I love what I'm learning here. You might try taking workshops at different schools too. We offer workshops three times a year, two weeks in the summer and a week each in the spring and fall.

If you have any questions I'd be glad to answer what I'm able.
Debra