If you like hands-on learning, this is for you.

In Florence, this workshop teaches art in a very practical way: you do the work, step by step, using techniques linked to masters from Tuscany and beyond. You pick one creative path in the studio, from Leonardian drawing to clay relief, botanical plaster casting, and multiple painting styles.

I particularly like the teacher-led approach, since it doesn’t assume you already know how to make art. The studio also includes all the basics you need, so you’re not hunting for supplies after you arrive, and you’ll also get a few snacks to keep the pace comfy.

One possible drawback: with so many options to choose from, you’ll want to decide ahead of time what you actually want to leave with, because the 3 hours go fast and you can’t do everything in one session.

Quick Highlights

• Choose your own masterpiece path: Leonardian drawing, clay relief, botanical plaster casting, palette knife painting, watercolor, gold leaf watercolor, or a Van Gogh-style class
• Classic materials are part of the lesson: sanguine, sepia, charcoal, plus clay, canvas, colors, and pencils
• You’re not stuck with a big group: it’s a private activity for your group in a studio setting
• You’ll feel guided even as a beginner: instructors like Octavio, Rosanna, and Katherina have been known for clear, patient coaching
• You’ll take something home: at minimum a finished artwork, and for the botanical option you bring the plaster mold with you

Why This Florence Art Class Feels Different

This is not a museum lecture where you stand still and nod. It’s a studio session that treats art like a skill you can train in real time. In about 3 hours, you’ll work directly with traditional methods and also more modern techniques, depending on the option you choose.

The Florence studio start point is easy to get to: Geko Art Studio Florence, Via Coluccio Salutati, 3r (near public transportation). The format is also simple: you check in, meet your teacher(s), and get to work while you focus on one clear project.

The private-group setup is a big part of the appeal. Instead of sharing attention with a crowd, your group stays together with the instructors, and the tone stays relaxed. That matters a lot when you’re new, or when you’re rusty and want coaching that feels calm rather than rushed.

Also, the workshop is offered in English, so you won’t have to translate basic instructions while trying to draw, paint, or model. You’ll even get snacks, which is a small thing that makes a big difference during a hands-on class.

Choosing Your Workshop in the Studio

Here’s the key: you don’t just sign up for a general class. You choose one option, and the whole 3 hours shape itself around that choice.

Your available workshops include:

• Leonardian drawing (traditional process on paper using sanguine, sepia, or charcoal; reproducing a famous sketch by Leonardo da Vinci)
• Low artistic relief with clay modeling (you create a small figurative sculpture relief)
• Botanical plaster casting workshop (reliefs and drawings using plants, flowers, and sculptures on clay; you bring the plaster mold home)
• Palette knife painting class (a small oil painting using a palette knife instead of brushes)
• Watercolor class (naturalistic details like flowers or fruit)
• Watercolor with gold leaf (you add gold leaf to your watercolor)
• Van Gogh workshop (you paint using the technique and style of the famous artist)

This “choose-your-track” design is great value because you’re paying for one focused outcome, not a grab bag. It’s also ideal if you’re traveling with someone who likes a different style of art.

The main consideration is fit. If you hate messy textures, clay and plaster options may not be your first pick. If you want instant visual impact, the painting options (palette knife, watercolor, gold leaf, Van Gogh-style) usually give the quickest “I made this” feeling.

Leonardian Drawing: Sanguine, Sepia, or Charcoal

If you’re curious about how Renaissance artists trained their eyes, the Leonardian drawing session is the most direct route. You’ll follow a traditional drawing process on paper, and you’ll use sanguine, sepia, or charcoal. Then you reproduce one of the sketches associated with Leonardo da Vinci.

What I like about this option is that it turns “art history” into a usable skill. You’re not just looking at Leonardo’s work; you’re practicing the kind of controlled observation and mark-making that makes drawing feel less like a talent contest and more like technique.

You’ll also get to choose your materials (sanguine, sepia, or charcoal). That’s not a random detail. Each one changes how dark your marks feel and how forgiving the surface can be, so the same subject can look very different depending on what you pick.

One smart way to approach this class: don’t aim for perfect lines. Aim for confidence in the process. With patient instruction, your progress tends to show quickly, even if you start with no drawing background.

This session also tends to work well for mixed skill groups—adults, teens, even parent-and-child—because the focus is on learning a method, not performing at an advanced level.

Clay Relief and Botanical Plaster Casting

If drawing isn’t your thing, the clay-based workshops are where the day turns tactile. You’ll work in the studio with materials provided, and you’ll shape a small relief you can actually hold.

For the low artistic relief option, you create a small figurative sculpture relief using clay modeling and a clay support. It’s a simple concept that feels surprisingly satisfying: instead of making an image on a flat page, you build form and texture.

For the botanical plaster casting workshop, the focus shifts to nature as a source of texture and form. You’ll create reliefs and drawings using plants, flowers, and sculptures on clay, and then you bring the plaster mold home.

Two important value notes:

1. The included materials cover clay support and basic tools needed for the session.
2. Plaster casting is about the mold you take away, so you should feel comfortable leaving with a finished item and not expecting extra replacement pieces.

Also, one item is explicitly excluded: for sculpture, casts are excluded. In plain terms, you’ll likely make the relief and molds, but don’t assume additional cast versions are part of the package.

If you’re the type who loves texture and hands-on work, these options are a great way to spend time in Florence without just “seeing” the city. You make a small object you can remember long after the trip.

Palette Knife, Watercolor, and Gold Leaf

Painting in a studio is often where people get surprised. Even if you think you’re not a painter, the structure of a guided project helps you skip the blank-page panic.

The palette knife painting class uses a palette knife instead of brushes. You’ll create a small oil painting, and the technique changes how the paint sits and moves. That makes it a fun entry point because you’re not forcing yourself into traditional brush control.

The watercolor class focuses on naturalistic details, like flowers or fruit. This option is great if you want something lighter and more delicate looking, and it also gives you a path to learn how to build forms with color and detail.

Then there’s the standout visual option: watercolor with gold leaf. You’ll apply gold leaf directly to your watercolor. Even if you’re nervous about craft work, gold leaf is one of those materials that can turn a simple composition into something you feel proud to take home.

Quick consideration: gold leaf isn’t for everyone if you dislike tiny, careful tasks. But if you like details, it’s a memorable way to add Florence’s “wow factor” to your own paper.

Across painting options, one of the biggest practical perks is that the studio provides canvas and colors. That means you’re paying for instruction plus the tools to finish, not just the lesson time.

Van Gogh Workshop: A Fun Way to Learn a Style

The Van Gogh workshop is built around technique and style from the famous artist. You’ll create a painting using the class approach tied to that look.

What I think is smart about this option is that it encourages style thinking without requiring artistic genius. You’re given a structure, and you’re guided through translating that style into your own finished piece. It’s a good pick if you want energy and bold visual results without spending the day stuck on fundamentals.

This is also a nice “middle choice” if you’re deciding between classic drawing and more free-form painting. You’ll still leave with something you can frame or display, and the session is designed so you’re not wandering around asking yourself what to do next.

If you’re traveling with someone who loves art history, but you personally prefer painting outcomes, Van Gogh-style can satisfy both sides. It’s art-inspired learning that doesn’t feel like homework.

Value, Instructors, and the 3-Hour Rhythm

Let’s talk value, because $114.02 isn’t pocket change. Here’s what makes the price make sense: you’re paying for a structured studio lesson in English, private group attention, and included materials.

Your included items cover:

• Snacks
• Drawing supplies: paper and pencils
• Sculpture supplies: clay and support (but remember casts are excluded)
• Painting supplies: canvas and colors

So when you finish, you’re not walking away empty-handed. You’re also not paying extra for supplies on-site, which is a common surprise with art experiences.

Timing matters too. About 3 hours is long enough to start, practice, and finish something real, but short enough that it doesn’t swallow your whole day in Florence. That’s useful if you’ve planned other sights and you want a focused activity without derailing your schedule.

Finally, the instructor team approach seems to be a major strength. In past sessions, people have been guided by Octavio, with Rosanna handling check-in, and Katherina providing patient, clear instructions. That pattern matters because studio learning is all about tone. You want to feel supported when your first marks don’t look like the final result.

If you’re a beginner, the most important thing you’ll get is permission to try. Clear steps reduce anxiety, and encouragement helps you keep going when the technique feels unfamiliar.

Practical Tips and Who Should Go

This workshop is labeled as suitable for most travelers, and service animals are allowed. It also starts in a studio that’s near public transportation, so you should be able to work it into a day without a car.

Now, who will enjoy it most?

• Couples or friends who want a shared activity that ends with a real souvenir
• Travelers who like hands-on learning more than sightseeing tours
• Beginners who want guidance that doesn’t talk down
• Families looking for a creative experience with options that can fit different interests

What might not be your match?

• If you only want to watch, not participate, you’ll likely feel restless in a hands-on class.
• If you dislike messy textures, clay and plaster options may feel challenging.
• If you want a broad range of techniques in one sitting, you’ll need to know that you pick one workshop track for the full session.

One last practical suggestion: decide what you want to take home. If your top priority is a framed-looking piece, palette knife painting, watercolor, gold leaf watercolor, or Van Gogh-style are strong choices. If you want something tangible and sculptural, choose the clay relief or botanical plaster casting.

Should You Book This Leonardian Drawings & Art Workshop?

I’d book it if you want a real Florence memory you can hold, and you like learning by making mistakes in a supportive setting. The best part is the structure: you get one clear project, you use real materials, and you leave with an outcome that feels personal rather than generic.

I’d skip it if your idea of a perfect day is mostly walking around looking at buildings, since this is a studio session where you’re hands-first, not camera-first. Also, if you’re unsure which option fits you, pick based on the final object you want more than the technique names.

If you’re traveling in English and you want a high-touch, teacher-led art class with materials included, this is a strong value bet.

FAQ

Where does the experience start?

It starts at Geko Art Studio Florence, Via Coluccio Salutati, 3r, 50126 Firenze FI, Italy.

How long is the workshop?

The duration is approximately 3 hours.

Is the workshop offered in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates.

What’s included in the price?

Included items are snacks, and materials for the class you choose (paper and pencils for drawing, clay and support for sculpture, and canvas and colors for painting).

Are casts included for sculpture?

No. For sculpture, casts are excluded.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Yes, free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

You Might Also Enjoy

Pisa and Florence: Shore Excursion from La Spezia Cruise PortFlorence: Walking Tour & Duomo Visit with Terrace & Dome AccessPisa Street Art Self-Guided Bike TourUffizi Gallery Small group semi private tour max 15 people