Details
Join New Masters Academy for an unforgettable week-long experience in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. Immerse yourself in a beautifully renovated 10th Century Castle in Chianti, just outside of Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance.
During this once-in-a-lifetime event, you'll have the opportunity to learn from some of the most influential figures in the art world. NMA founder, marble sculptor, and traditional drawing expert Joshua Jacobo and NMA Program Director and sculpting instructor Johanna Schwaiger will guide you through a traditional drawing method that will transform the way you approach your work.
Throughout the week, you'll attend a series of drawing workshops at the castle, complete with presentations, live art models, and one-on-one feedback. You'll also embark on three full-day art excursions to the nearby city of Florence, where you'll draw inspiration from the works of the great masters, including Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, Titian, Donatello, and Ghiberti.
Our carefully structured curriculum will demystify the art of the Old Masters, making their workflows and styles accessible and applicable to your own work. You'll also be inspired by contemporary art leaders and honorary guests*, including Glenn Vilppu, a world-famous animation industry drawing teacher, Bill Perkins, Marvel Director of Visual Development and Disney Art Director of Aladdin, and Ben Fenske, an American Artist Magazine Top Ten American Landscape Painter.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from the great masters of the past while exploring the stunning Tuscan countryside. Book your experience today and take the first step towards mastering the art of traditional drawing.
*Honorary guests are subject to change.
Itinerary
Saturday
Arrival
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Welcome Evening Buffet
Sunday October 1st
8 am: breakfast
9 am: Morning Session: Joshua lectures on Renaissance drawing and tools, line exercises, and practice life drawing with models using calligraphic methods.
1 pm: lunch
2 pm: Afternoon Session: Discuss the morning's exercises, focus on life drawing with frontal and side views, explore historical design and positioning methods in a lecture, and finish with egg-based head construction exercises with life models.
7 pm: finish
Monday, October 2nd
Morning Session
7:15 am: Optional Meditation Exercises with Johanna
Standing Qi Gong Meditation exercises, approximately 30 minutes long.8:00 am: Breakfast at the Castle (Optional; €14 fee applies)
9:00 am: Departure via Private Bus to Florence City Center
9:40 am: Visit to Zecchi Art Supplies Store
Florence's premier art supply store: Stock up on sketchbooks, pencils, specialty items, and more.
10:30 am: Piazzale Duomo by Steps: Lecture by Johanna
Topic: "Florence as the Cradle of the Renaissance and Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Heaven"
Background on Florence’s most influential artists and families and the beginnings of the Renaissance.
11:15 am: Opera del Duomo Museum (scheduled visit)
Skip-the-line group entry with Ghiberti Pass
Sketchbook Drawing Session
Focus: Titans of Classical Form, featuring works by Donatello and Michelangelo.
Assignment is given before Museum entry
Afternoon Session
1:30 pm: Lunch and Free Time
Explore nearby trattorias, cafés, and grocery stores.
2:30 pm: Life Drawing, Critique Al Fresco, and Baptistry Visit
Meet at the Duomo Steps for a critique session and life drawing with Joshua. Concurrently, alternating groups will tour the Baptistery with Johanna.
4:00 pm & 4:15 pm by appointment: Medici Chapel Visit
Entry for groups in two shifts
Assignment: Sketchbook Study Focus on "Dusk and Dawn" by Michelangelo
5:15 pm: Meeting at San Lorenzo Church
Lecture by Johanna on "Michelangelo's Hidden Room and the Medici"
Followed by an Al Fresco Critique by the Church with Joshua
Evening
6:00 pm: Dinner Time
8:00 pm: Bus Departure back to Castello Mugnana
Tuesday October 3rd
8 am: breakfast
9 am Morning Session: Joshua lectures on the Renaissance approach to figure drawing, exploring the complexity and balance in historic methods. Students engage in interactive drawing exercises that focus on different body parts, optical measuring techniques, and proportion systems, applying these skills in live sessions with models to create orthographic model sheets and sketches emphasizing various aspects of the figure.
1 pm: Lunch
2 pm Afternoon session: The session delves into topics like posing, balance, and anatomical considerations in Renaissance art, along with practical exercises including stick-figure drawings, geometric frameworks, and range-of-motion studies. It concludes with specialized rendering techniques like Relievo and Sfumato and an exercise on draping over nude figure sketches.
Wednesday October 4th
7:15 am: Optional Meditation Exercises with Johanna
8:00 am: Breakfast at the Castle
9:00 am: Private Bus Departs for Florence
9:45 am: Loggia della Signoria
Lecture by Joshua on the "Rebirth of Hellenistic Antiquity."10:15 am: Splitting the Group in Half
Group 1: Guided drawing from sculptures at the Loggia with Joshua.
Group 2: Walk to Galleria Uffizi (Scheduled entry). Group can stay in the Museum for about one 1 ½ hours to explore and draw.
11:30 am: Group Swap
Group 1: Proceeds to Galleria Uffizi (Scheduled entry). Group can stay in the Museum for about one 1 ½ hours to explore and draw.
Group 2: Guided drawing from sculptures at the Loggia with Joshua.
Afternoon
1:00 pm: Reassemble at Loggia della Signoria
Start walking together towards the other side of the Arno River.
Opportunity for grocery shopping or picking up snacks near Ponte Vecchio for a communal picnic lunch at Palazzo Pitti Square.
3:00 pm: Pitti Palace Museum Visit (scheduled entry)
Group 1: Drawing assignment will be given before entry.
3:15 pm: Pitti Palace Museum Visit (scheduled entry)
Group 2: Drawing assignment will be given before entry.
4:30 pm: Group Walk to Jason Arkles' Sculpture Studio
Located at Lungarno Torrigiani; Jason Arkles is a marble sculptor and host of "The Sculptor’s Funeral Podcast."
6:00 pm: Dinner Time
8:00 pm: Private Bus Departs Back to Castle
Thursday October 5th
8 am: breakfast
9 am: morning session
Joshua lectures on various sketching techniques, ranging from thumbnail sketches to sculptural and anatomical curves, inspired by Renaissance artists. Students engage in interactive exercises to practice these techniques, such as drawing small figures for rapid prototyping and using boxy forms for poses.1 pm: lunch
2 pm: afternoon session
The focus shifts to techniques like calligraphic curves and life studies. Students will practice drawing from life models and learn how to integrate these studies into their own work, while receiving individual critiques throughout.
Friday October 6th
7:15 am: Optional Meditation with Johanna
8:00 am: Breakfast at the Castle
8:30 am: Private Bus to Florence
Note: The bus will leave half an hour earlier today to ensure timely arrival for our scheduled museum entries.9:45 am: Bargello Museum Visit (Group 1)
10:00 am: Bargello Museum Visit (Group 2)
12:00 pm: Group Walk to Santa Croce Basilica
A leisurely group walk to this iconic Florentine landmark.12:15 pm: Lunchtime at Santa Croce Steps
The steps offer a convenient spot for communal rest. Cafes, trattorias, and grocery stores are nearby for you to grab lunch.1:15 pm: Al Fresco Life Drawing and Critique at Santa Croce Steps
2:40 pm: Walking together towards Casa Buonarrotti
3:00 pm: Casa Buonarroti Museum Visit (Group 1)
Optional drawing session.3:15 pm: Casa Buonarroti Museum Visit (Group 2)
Optional drawing session.4:15 pm: Group Walk to Galleria dell’Accademia
The walk will take approximately 15-20 minutes.
Note: Lines at the Accademia tend to thin out in the late afternoon, but some waiting is to be expected.
Galleria dell'Accademia Visit
Home to Michelangelo's iconic David, the museum also features a rich collection of Renaissance art, including works by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, and Uccello.
Saturday
8:00 am: Breakfast optional
Goodbye, hugs and kisses
Please note: This itinerary is subject to change
FAQs
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We selected the Castello di Muggalana because of its historical character, charm, and proximity to Florence. It has spacious communal rooms that allow group gathering for drawing sessions and lectures. The Castel ground has many recreational spaces with a pool for relaxation during breaks and the opportunity for open-air discussions and lectures. Staying in one of the rooms in the castle creates a sense of community but is not mandatory.
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The closest airport is Firenze Peretola, with a 30 min drive.
Warning: Official taxis in Italy can be recognized by their white or yellow color, and they display a 'Taxi' sign on their roof. They should also have an identifying number on their side (usually on the driver's door) that can be quoted to the taxi company concerned should you experience any problems with the taxi driver. Under no circumstances should you accept any services offered to you in the terminal of the airport, even if their prices seem cheap. They may be operating illegally, and their services may not be high quality. All legitimate taxi drivers will be waiting at the taxi rank outside the airport, and they do not try to find 'business' in the Arrivals area.
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You do not need to rent a car. We recommend taking a taxi from and to the airport.
At the Castle, we will provide a private bus to take roundtrips to and from Florence. We will have a vehicle rented that our assistant will use for errands and grocery runs and in the case of an emergency.
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The castle provides breakfast for €14 per day, which is optional.
We will do regular grocery runs for the group. Good Quality Produce is very affordable in the Tuscany region. There are two kitchens and dining areas for self-service at the castle. We also will be in Florence three times per week, where you can stock up on food and try florentines cuisine, from delicious, affordable snacks to authentic regional restaurants.
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Nonartist friends or partners are welcome, although the same flat rates apply to all attendees. All activities are optional.
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Because of the arrangement of the castle and the large-sized rooms, many rooms will be offered as shared rooms which means you will be staying in a room with at most four beds. The rooms are spacious, and each room has access to a bathroom. We wanted to cultivate a sense of community and an affordable option for this event.
You can also book a more private bedroom with a partner at a different pricing tier.
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Yes, please email us, and we will do our best to accommodate your preferences.
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You can cancel free of charge until August 31st. There are no refunds after this day.
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Yes, we offer one scholarship. If you are interested in a scholarship, please write to johanna@nma.art
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Yes! Many stores and restaurants do not take credit cards, so you will need to carry Euros on you.
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You don't need to stay at the castle. You can attend our all-day programs and Florence excursions by joining us at the castle every morning.
If you are interested in this option choose the no accommodation product option above.
If you would like to find your own accommodation, we recommend a highly rated and charming Bed and Breakfast within close walking distance of the castle called La Mugnana.
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Yes! All museum tickets are included in your pass.