A Firenze!

  I'm getting some final things ready because I am leaving for Florence on Friday!  I'll be gone for 7 weeks and will be back in the US in mid-August.
​  My reason for going is to finish my MA degree from the Florence Academy of Art; I was actually supposed to graduate last year, but I postponed it for my Giverny residency.  Once I'm back in the US, I want to write a review of the whole program for anyone else who's considering it.  In a nutshell, the program has been wonderful and has given me the academic training that I've always yearned for.
  Like last summer in France, this isn't a vacation since I'm going to be very busy with my schoolwork, but I am planning to share my journey on my blog.  I'm planning to explore Florence as much as possible and to also visit Venice, Siena and Rome.  Many people have been telling me how great the food is so I can't wait to taste various dishes.  I've also been studying Italian so that I can embrace more of the culture.  (learning Italian has been much easier than French so far haha)
  For me, the three major European countries which have influenced my Art are Spain, France and Italy.  I've been to Spain and France, but I haven't been to Italy before so I'm pretty excited to see these works that I've read about for years.  The Statue of David alone is something that I absolutely can't wait to see.  Florence also has the Boboli Gardens which were a favorite painting spot of John Singer Sargent (Sargent himself was born in Florence).  
  I never thought that my artistic journey would take me to all these amazing places.  I've loved painting for more than half my life now and I'm still obsessed with the ideas, techniques, materials, history and especially the feeling of it.  And  I had the same fascination once I began teaching and was able to share this feeling with others.   I've always worked very hard and pushed myself as a painter and teacher, but I'm still amazed by what painting has given me and taught me.  I'm very thankful and now I can't wait to see what's next!  Arrivederci!
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  Please Note: my SHOP will be closed during this time since I won't be able to ship work.