During today's painting session with the model I was firstly checking my drawing again with a fresh pair of eyes before approaching the shadows to unify them and finally introducing a second value to carefully build up form. Throughout the process of working on the underpainting it's best to keep the amount of paint film as thin as possible to be able to make changes easily and also allow for better drying in between the sessions. I hope to be able to keep the pace with it as I also work various other painting projects these days. So, some planning does good.

This was an exciting Monday to start off week five of my studies at the FAA in Florence. I got a great assignment for a portrait painting from life with a model for 6 half days and am absolutely extatic about it. The sitter an Italian guy named Frabricio has very defined facial features that seem to be ideal for complex charactre portraiture. First day of setting up and getting some lines down on the canvas went fairly well and I am looking forward to continue tomorrow.

The Still life is a classical subject in realist art and provides ample challenges to learn about a structured working method, deepen drawing skills, train observation, judge values and colours, handling paint and composing an interesting scene. The picture here shows little snippets of the work I did on a still life with a metal object, some fruit, a wooden box and a dark piece of cloth.

When it comes to creating a successful drawing or painting one of the most important points to look into is getting your values right that will describe and carry all information about light, shadow and form. I am currently preparing a charcoal cast drawing and spent some time on defining a value scale that I will use as reference throughout my drawing.

Had a very interesting time at the art history lecture at the Academia yesterday

It feels like time is flying extra fast since it's already 3 weeks when I started with the studies of academic drawing and painting at the Florence Academy of Art which I really enjoy. I am very lucky to learn and train at this renown institute among very dedicated people.

My goal here is to upgrade my techniques during this classical master atelier and to train my eye in translating from life. Another great aspect are the lectures in art history in the city of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Donatello and numerous other fantastic artists while you can see so many of their original works here.

It's great fun to work in a very international team of students where there is also find time to explore and enjoy the city to the fullest.

View from the Palazzo Vecchio in direction of the academy

At the studio grabbing paper for some sketching at the museum

At the city centre admiring statues at the Loggia dei Lanzi

Back in the studio working from life