I was contacted recently by Rebecca Harp of the Jerusalem Studio School who told me about the launch of the JSS summer art program in Tuscany, Italy. As Italy and art go together like good food and fine wine, both of which can also be found in abundance in Italy, I decided to help spread the Jerusalem Studio School word.
With the striking natural beauty of Italy’s landscapes complimented its wonderful architecture, Italy really is a superb place for artists and for art schools.
From open-air works of art like Venice, Rome, and Florence, to Italy’s Tuscan panoramas, Italy is a country of timeless beauty. A country which just begs artists to immortalise its enchanting panoramas. I do spend a little time trying to capture the visual magic of Italy photographically, and I’m sure artists will an abundance of subjects for their endeavours. Indeed, what better way to brush up your artistic skills; if you’ll excuse the pun; than by doing a summer school course, overseen by internationally renown teachers and artists, in beautiful Tuscany in Italy?
If you are a new or even an established artist, and the idea of doing an art summer school in Italy appeals, then read on to discover a little about the new Jerusalem Studio School summer art school program at the Certosa di Pontignano near Siena in Tuscany.
Actually, one of these courses might make a rather special present for someone you cherish.
A First for the Jerusalem Studio School
2010 is the first time the Jerusalem Studio School (JSS) has opened its summer art program to anyone who feels that their skills may benefit from 2, 4 and 6 week courses in, as the JSS puts it, “this divine haven for artists”. Indeed, the divine haven in question at which the JSS is holding its summer school art courses is the University of Siena’s glorious Certosa di Pontignano.
Certosa di Pontignano, Tuscany
Stop reading, start speaking
Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.
A former monastery, the Certosa di Pontignano is now a Siena University training centre. The 14th century structure has been equipped with bedrooms, apartments, work rooms, and lecture halls, together with a restaurant, vineyards, olive groves, not to mention having extensive gardens.
Situated on on a hill overlooking Siena, the Certosa enjoys stunning panoramas whichever way one turns one’s head. It’s the perfect location for an artists’ retreat, and, aside from the tuition and other aspects of the art program, I suspect that artists doing one of these courses will return home feeling refreshed and relaxed, as well as being full of new, exciting ideas which they can exploit to take their artistic skills to a new level.
And views like this should provide suitable inspiration:
The JSS Summer Programs
For 2010, there are three programs on offer at the Certosa di Pontignano:
- JSS Master Class Summer Program – Artists must provide examples of their work as part of their application. This year’s teachers will be Israel Hershberg (the founder of the Jerusalem Studio School), Ken Kewley and Stuart Shils.
- Artists Residency Program – For artists who wish to spend 2, 4 or 6 weeks working on their own as well as sharing and contributing to an intense incubator-like environment of work, research, culture and ideas.
- JSS Studio Program – A two week intensive course open to teens and adults from all over the world.
These courses are just the thing for artists wanting hone their skills in suitably stimulating surroundings. The company of other like-minded people will not go amiss either, I’m sure.
Details of costs, and how to apply, can be found here on the JSS at the Certosa web site – which is also worth visiting simply to see the site’s lovely images of Tuscany.
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