Community of Artists Florence Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

My life in Italy has been quite different from my last decade or so in America. In Texas, I was mostly alone working on my art out in my home in the country. I liked it. I loved it, really. I have always enjoyed being alone when I choose to be, regardless of how few or many people may be around.

To be honest, I did not know if I really wanted to enroll in art school … or any school ever again. I am not a patient person on many levels and I felt hard-pressed at times to finish my college degree. But I am really enjoying being at the Angel Academy here in Florence, Italy. While I still treasure the time I can find to be alone, I am relishing so much camaraderie in being with other artists. We work so hard and long, but there are laughs that we share, although I suspect that a lot of “outsiders” might find our humor a bit dull (puns on shapes, tones, lines… that sort of thing – generally nerdy humor, if you will). For example, the delight in objects… recently Luca brought in a collection of items he bought in Istanbul: A pair of knives in elaborate brass sheaths, small lanterns, Asian tea pots, and other exotic things. The fun lasted perhaps only 15 minutes as many of us stopped our painting projects to take a look at items from Luca’s collection, ahhing and oohing over each one and trying to figure out what the history behind some of the items might be. We looked, we touched, we played with some of them, and we passed them from one to another so that we could appreciate each object on our own. The most popular item was the traditional wedding headdress for an Asian woman. Several of us tried it on. Here is a snapshot that Caroline took of me wearing the headdress. I am standing in front of my cast painting (a painting of a plaster cast model made from an original sculpture), the Carpeaux. I am not quite the “Girl with the Pearl Earring,” but a moment of feeling a bit royal was lovely.

Angel is a painting school and is very strong in still life painting. In fact, I was surprised that this school could change my mind about still life art, not having been interested in it much at all before I came here. We do support one another in our choices of objects (models, as Jered calls them) and the compositions we attempt. It is a wonderful environment. One recent afternoon, a student gave the Maestro John Angel a gin and tonic (hey,… it was ALMOST five o’clock and I have never seen this happen before here), which he offered to share with several of us who were curious about the taste. [I tried it; I will try most anything. But it did not appeal to me much… tonic is too sweet and lingers on the tongue, making me want to drink some water to wash it down. I will stick to my vodka or girly liquors, thank you very much.] However, another female student laughed and asked, “Maestro, are you bribable?” He joked, “No, but I am flirtable!” I smirked, “Subtle.” And we all burst out laughing as he gave me a hug. Not all days are charming in this way, but there is some joy in each day with these other artists. I find that my heart is a little less lonely than it might be otherwise.

Last evening lots of “Angels” and I attended the opening reception for the Florence Academy of Art alumni exhibit. Wow… and I love the interaction between AAA, FAA, and the Charles Cecil Studios. Oh, and the newest classical art school in town is the Russian Academy. The Corsini Stables hosted the art event and the place was packed with artists last night. And as a little plug, I was surprised and flattered when I met a woman who already knew of me and even remembered a blog post from years ago! We were standing near the vintage cars and when I mentioned the photo of model Vida [“Il Dono”] and me inside the car, I did not need to introduce myself. The woman exclaimed, “I know YOU, Kelly!” Later she and her husband saw the Princess Corsini and we were all invited to come out to an event happening in her garden soon. Not lonely at all – Firenze feels so surreal sometimes!

Art Model in Florence Italy

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Artists depend on good models for great figurative art. Here in Florence, Italy, a lot of artists have worked with a great male model, Ernesto. He has worked for Florence Academy and also Angel Academy of Art, as well as posing privately for artists, including myself. Ernesto is wonderful to work with and is also a terrific person.

So, you can imagine how difficult it is for artists here in Florence to lose Ernesto. He and his girlfriend are leaving Italy. Ernesto’s last day of modeling was last Friday at the Angel Academy of Art. So, as much as his girlfriend told me that he hates surprise parties, that is just what he got.

Student artists and teachers alike signed a card and pitched in to help me buy some torte (cakes). The chocolate cake with the powdered sugar on the left was made by scratch by our friend Skye Campbell. The other two cakes (one fruit covered in typical Italian style and the other a chocolate torta with a wee bit of alcohol inside) came from Patrizio Cosi on Borgo degli Albizi, near Piazza Salvemini. This is one of my favorite pasticcerie. There are many wonderful pastry shops here in Florence, but I happened to be drawing another model, Sarah, that afternoon at a friend’s studio on Borgo Pinti, and logistics being what they were . . .

I still cannot tell if he was really surprised or if he had a heads-up, especially when he whipped out a bottle of limoncello to share. Limoncello is a famous lemon liquor made in southern Italy (although I have several Italian friends here in Florence who enjoy making their own as well). Allora, the drinks, fruit, and chocolate were pouring! It was a sweet gathering.

Anyway, since I rarely post photographs of people on this blog without their permission, I decided to share with you a charcoal drawing of Ernesto. This drawing was created by my friend Joseph Farris, during Ernesto’s last modeling session at Angel. He is not finished with it, but I was at Joe’s flat earlier today photographing other works of his and asked him if I could share this drawing with you.

Next time, I will show you some of the works I have been creating of Ernesto. I have been working furiously to try to finish these (or get them to a point in which I could finish them) before my friend leaves bella Italia.

Ringrazie tanti, Ernesto!

Florence Academy of Art Exhibit

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Last evening I attended the art reception for the Florence Academy of Art Fourth Alumni Exhibition. About 70 artists have original artworks on exhibit this week at the Corsini Family Stables in Florence, Italy.


The art was mostly strong and in a beautiful setting. I will share with you some of my favorite pieces in a bit, but I must confess that I was also drawn to people watching. Many artists attend openings, but I could not help wonder if some of the collectors were also part of the “cool” scene. I saw amazing hats, capes, hairstyles, faces, and vivacious conversations happening while the wine was flowing.

The location was fantastic, with guests walking the red carpet, cruising by some working antique cars and a motorcycle. Stone, iron, wood, all we needed were horses and hay!
In the photo with the large angel, I believe that is the art school’s founder Daniel Graves in the beret. I was too shy to go up to meet him. But I did meet a few more artists and models. The guy in the car with me (gutsy – I never would have done that alone!) is a dancer and model from Brazil, who happens to be the boyfriend of a fellow madonnara (street painter) friend of mine who attends Florence Academy. A small world indeed!

See a representation of the works online: www.florenceacademyexhibition.com

What you will not see online are the frames. Some were truly works of art themselves. Many fit the artwork they surrounded perfectly.



Sculptor Lori Shorin’s “Massi” is really expressive in bronze. Lori and I each created sculptures from the same male model during the Christmas holidays. I am pictured here with her during the reception – without wet clay about us! (My clay sculpture is still drying, so you have not seen him yet.)


My favorites (and in no order):
A charcoal drawing that was sold in the private auction before the show opened. The drawing was a study for Toby Wright’s “La Salvatrice,” a 300 cm tall oil painting.

“Portrait of Sarah” a charcoal drawing by Hunter Eddy

For the curvy fence that creates a circular path into the composition, and for the portrayal of the light in darkening clouds, I add to my favorites: Joakim Ericsson’s oil painting “Norwegian Landscape I”


Jura Bedic’s still life painting in oil “Rose Hips” for its tactile qualities and je ne sais qois.

And, of course, I loved the mysterious energy in Hege Elisabeth Haugen’s oil painting “Sonata”


Carlos Madrid’s “Mangoes” surprised me because I do not normally enjoy this kind of composition. Something about the way the fabric was painted and the softness of the fruit seemed perfect for this symmetrical design. Kudos to someone who can make my change my mind! (The image online does not do justice.)


While I am normally creeped-out with the “head on a stick” concept, Carl Martin Sandvold’s “Head of my Father” was very well done.

Cody Swanson’s Larger than Life “Judas” was perfect and moving. Really, Robert Bodem’s Sculpture Department at the Florence Academy is fantastic.