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General Description

Beginning, intermediate and advanced students of sculpture are welcome to join this intensive course in Figurative Sculpture, designed to further develop the student’s ability and understanding of human form and the structure of the human body. Instruction is individualized, with one-on-one critiques and exercises tailored to meet the various skill levels represented by students in the class. The course begins with a focused study of the head, as students spend one week building a human skull in clay. This exercise strengthens their understanding of the proportions and underlying anatomical structures of the human form. Building on this foundation, students will progress to sculpting a life-size portrait and a 1/2 life-size figure from life, applying their learning to demonstrate an accurate and expressive understanding of the human form. During the fourth week, students learn to cast with rubber/silicone. Each student completes the course by casting one piece, gaining practical experience in the creation and preservation of their work.

Maximum enrollment 24 students.

Additional Info

WORKSHOP CREDITS: 6 per session

Please note: The Florence Academy of Art expresses workshop coursework in credits to the equivalent of 1 credit for 20 hours of completed study. Academic grades are not awarded, and there are no exams. Please see each course for the total hours of study. Any final acceptance or recognition of hours of study or credits for a workshop (external activity) is at the discretion of the Home University or institution in question and in accordance with each institution’s transfer policy.

Medium & Materials

Water-based clay
Plaster

Although students will find all materials ready for use on the first day of class, the Florentine art supply store, Zecchi, offers workshop students discounted art supplies if they wish to purchase some for the course.

What’s Included

  • All materials and tools (students may bring their own wood modeling tools)
  • 120 hours of instruction in English
  • Individual critiques
  • Welcome Party in the gardens of the Budini Gattai Palace in Florence on the first Thursday of the workshop, to meet fellow students and faculty
  • Guided museum visit to the Bargello Museum with the Academy’s resident Art Historian to view major works by Renaissance sculptors
  • Summer Faculty Exhibition to view the latest work by FAA faculty
  • Access to the on-campus FAA Café, where students may purchase breakfast, lunch, and enjoy an afternoon aperitivo
  • Extended access to the studios and school facilities after class until 9 pm
  • List of housing recommendations

Faculty

Mitch Shea, Director.

Mitch Shea is an American sculptor and draftsman born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1987. He attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, from 2007-2010, where he studied Illustration and Metalworking, and worked on a variety of public monuments in the Bay Area. In 2011, he relocated to Florence, Italy, and began studying Sculpture and Drawing at The Florence Academy of Art.
During his study, he was awarded numerous accolades and, as a student, began teaching in 2013. Mitch is now Director of the Sculpture Program at The Florence Academy of Art. He also holds regular artist residencies in Greece and Cyprus. His works accommodate a multitude of priorities; namely, a deep commitment to observing and engaging a subject in order to produce works that contain some of the gravity and physicality of the natural world. He is keen to work in environments that are composed of striations of historical epochs that draw from both Eastern and Western cultural milieus. His work may be found in private collections throughout the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

See more of Mitch’s work at www.mitchshea.com and @mitchshea

Eirik Arnesen (b. 1990), from Norway, received his education in the figurative arts at The Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, where he studied sculpture under Robert Bodem. His focus is on the human body, and his goal is to produce carefully thought-out works with solid construction and organic naturalism in order to create convincing images of the human body in accordance with the realist tradition.
Eirik is currently Principal Instructor of Sculpture at The Florence Academy of Art.

See more of Eirik’s work at www.eirikarnesen.com and @eirik_arnesen_art

Anna-Lena Cäcilia Ledl (b. 1997) grew up near Hallein, an Austrian city in the foothills of the Alps with a long tradition of wood-carving sculpture. There, Anna-Lena began training in sculpture at just 14 years old, studying under Josef Zenzmaier and later Johanna Schwaiger. She has collaborated with local art platforms in Hallein, such as the Galerie Schloss Wiespach residency, where she has worked with internationally renowned artists like Grzegorz Gwiazda.
In 2016, Anna-Lena moved to Italy to undertake a three-year academic program in figurative sculpture at the Florence Academy of Art. Already in her second year, she was awarded both the “Best Sculpture of the Year” and “Best Drawing of the Year” prizes. Her work has been internationally recognized by organizations including the Art Renewal Centre (ARC) and The International Arts and Culture Group (TIAC). Her pieces are part of private collections in Europe, North America, and South Africa.

See more of Anna-Lena’s work at @annalena_caecilia

Bertrand Godefroy, a sculptor and draftsman from France, discovered academic drawing at a young age while living in Switzerland. He then continued his artistic education at École Émile Cohl in Lyon, where he graduated and received his bachelor’s degree in draftsmanship. During these studies, he discovered sculpture, which quickly became his primary interest. He pursued an internship at the renowned Atelier Prométhée, a mold-making and casting atelier in Paris. After this experience, it became clear that becoming a sculptor was Bertrand’s dream.
Subsequently, he enrolled in the sculpture program at The Florence Academy of Art, from which he graduated. Currently, he serves as a Principal Instructor at the academy. In addition to his teaching, Bertrand also operates his private studio, Corpo, located in the heart of Florence.

See more of Bertrand’s work at @bertrandgodefroy

Thor Larsen is a sculptor from Copenhagen, Denmark. He received his education at the renowned Rudolf Steiner School (1992-2004). After graduating from there, and following his passion for art, Larsen enrolled in the basic course for training to be a goldsmith at KTS (2004-2005), and later attended EUC to become a stone mason (2005-2009), graduating with a bronze medal. The search for academic sculpture brought Larsen to Florence, Italy, where he attended The Florence Academy of Art, graduating from the Sculpture Program in 2013. Larsen currently works from his private studio in Florence and is a Principal Instructor in the Sculpture Program.

See more of Thor’s work in the Alumni Gallery and at www.thorlarsen.net and @thor_sculp_thor

The Florence Academy of Art reserves the right to assign or reassign faculty as needed, based on scheduling and availability. While we strive to maintain consistency in our instructional team, specific instructors may change at any time. You will be contacted by the FAA Office should a change occur. 

Location

ADDRESS: Via Aretina 293, Florence, Italy