Hi

Now my third day at Angel Academy of Art in Florence already has passed. This is a drastic change in my life: I'm studying in a foreign country where I don't know the language, and for the first time, I have (together with a roommate who also studies there) the responsibility for a small apartment. My first ever, well, semi-own apartment... that's dramatic! Now I have to consider many things on my own for the first time in my life.

The exercises we do at A.A.A. are extremely time consuming and difficult. But they are effective and in a way constructed that anyone can finish them successfully, no matter whether they have any previous drawing experience or not. This is also what I think about drawing and painting in general – in theory, anyone can learn it. In reality, not everybody can learn it – not because of technique or „talent“, but because of the necessary dedication, passion, and patience: you just need these to become a master at anything, be it art, music, dance, writing...

... erm, excuse my ramblings. I found it very interesting to meet so many different people at A.A.A., some of them had little or no previous drawing experience, and they're from all age groups, 18 to 70. And all of them are doing fantastic work and learning a lot!

I feel quite challenged and motivated here. We also can watch the second and third year students, how they work in charcoal or paint plaster casts using oil paints. Altogether we first year students draw six hours each day; whoever wants can work longer, but at 9 pm the studio has to be closed.

Luckily, the school has two computers with internet access for students. That's great because at my apartment I have neither telephone nor internet. I hope to be able to use them a lot but witout missing classes... XD

The school's founder, „Maestro“ Michael John Angel (who was a student of Pietro Annigoni and paints incredibly well) looks like Santa Claus, just with less beard, and seems to be a very symphatetic fellow. He often has his dog with him in the studio, a Golden Retriever. The other students are nice people as well and they're from everywhere: Sweden, France, Finland, Argentinia, USA, Switzerland, New Zealand... I'm beginning to wonder whether I'm the only one from Germany? That wouldn't surprise me though... despite its 82 million inhabitants, there are comparatively few Germans who are interested in art. It's more a country of writers and engineers... I guess. XD

The school has two buildings, each of them on another side of the Arno river. Since we spend the one half of a day in the one studio and the other half of the day in the other studio, we have to walk a lot through Florence. If it continues like this, I'll know every corner of Florence within the next three weeks. In the last few days, me and my roommate got lost pretty often. But we don't look at our maps all the time any more, and start looking more and more like Italians instead of tourists Yesterday, I was approached by tourists asking me where they were! XD

Florence is beautiful and ugly at the same time. There are 14th century frescoes on public walls, but also ugly graffiti. There are shops with fantastic antiquities, rare cosmetics and beautiful clothes, but also people in the streets selling counterfeit Rolexes and Gucci purses. There are beautiful narrow streets and 16th century palazzoes and houses, but so many cars and motorcycles that it's pretty dangerous for pedestrians here. However, one can eat well here: for less than 5 euros you already can eat good stuff in many restaurants.

Pictures are going to follow later!