Painting the Portrait with Matteo Persiani
January 25th to the 29th, 2027
Introduction
Painting the Portrait from Life is a five-day intensive workshop designed to advance an understanding of painting the portrai in oil using comparative method to strengthen visual accuracy and observational skills.
Explore various technical aspects of oil painting materials, as well as the fundamental principles of realist painting, including composition, rhythm, light
effects, and the illusion of spatial depth.
The course will begin with a palette-mixing demonstration by Matteo, followed
by daily demonstrations designed to guide students step by step through the painting
process.
Through daily individual critiques, Matteo will offer personalized guidance and support, helping participants develop accurate and fully resolved paintings.
Suitable for both beginners and experienced artists, the workshop is designed to
deepen and refine each student’s approach to painting from life.
The entire workshop will be held inside the PADASOR studio which is located below the Poggi Trastevere art shop.
- Recommended Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- Total Learning Hours: 21 hours over 5 days (See schedule below for details)
Curriculum
Monday morning:
- Introduction to the workshop: methods, process, composition and a look at at some portraits as benchmarks.
- A demonstration on mixing the palette and how to use it through various stages of the work.
Monday afternoon:
- Work from the model.
- The first half hour will feature a demo by Matteo
Tuesday through Friday:
- Afternoons only, working from the model, with thirty-minute demos at the start of each session.
Cost
- €700
- The Registration Fee is €50.
- The Deposit is an addtional €300
- The Final Payment is €350 due in cash on the day of the first lesson. No exceptions.
- Materials not included, Model fee included.
- See Terms and Conditions below for further details.
Additional Info & Inquiries
For additional info, please click the respective link:
- Schedule
- Materials
- Terms and Conditions
- Food & Accommodations
- Things to Do During Your Free Time in Rome
- Register for the Workshop
Else, feel free to contact us via WhatsApp using the link below or via email using our contact form.
About Matteo Persiani
Matteo Persiani (classe ’96) è un pittore figurativo italiano. Fin dalla giovane età, ha coltivato una profonda passione per l’arte, che lo ha portato a iniziare i suoi studi di disegno e pittura a Roma sotto la guida di un pittore locale.
Ha proseguito la sua formazione alla Florence Academy of Art, dove ha affinato la sua tecnica e sviluppato il suo linguaggio artistico. Concluso il suo percorso formativo, Matteo ha vinto una residenza per artisti presso l’Accademia stessa, dove ha trascorso un anno esplorando la sua voce artistica e contribuendo all’ambiente accademico come insegnante.
Dal 2023 ha insegnato regolarmente presso la Florence Academy of Art nei workshop di Ritratto e Figura dal Vero. Ha partecipato a mostre collettive a Torino, a Lecce durante la Biennale “Messapia” e a Roma in via Margutta. Attualmente risiede a Firenze dove alterna l’attività di insegnamento alla propria ricerca artistica in studio.
Matteo Persiani (born in 1996) is an Italian figurative painter.
He began his studies in drawing and painting in Rome under the guidance of a local painter. He later continued his training at the Florence Academy of Art, where he refined his technique and developed his artistic voice. During his studies, Matteo was awarded an artist residency at the Academy itself, where he spent a year further exploring his artistic vision and contributing to the academic environment as a teacher.
Since 2023, he has been teaching regularly at the Florence Academy of Art in portrait and figure painting from life workshops. He has participated in group exhibitions in Turin, in Lecce during the Biennale “Messapia” and in Rome. He currently lives in Florence, where he balances teaching with his own artistic research in the studio.
Terms & Conditions
- A minimum number of 6 students is needed to run the workshop.
- The maximum number of students is 10.
- There are three payments: the first is the Registration Fee of €50. The second is the Deposit of €300. The third payment of €350 is due in cash on the day of the first lesson. Credit cards for the final payment are not accepted. No exceptions.
- The workshop will be confirmed by May 15th, 2026, or as soon as we have the minimum number.
- If the workshop sells out, we will create a Waiting List.
- The Registration Fee is non-refundable, unless the workshop is canceled on May 15th, 2026. If that happens, the Registration Fee will be reimbursed in full. If you are traveling from outside of Europe, please wait until the workshop is confirmed prior to making your travel arrangements.
- As soon as we reach the minimum number, participants will be asked to pay the Deposit. The Deposit must be paid within a week of confirmation. If not, the participant will forfeit their Registration Fee and their space will be offered to the next person on the Waiting List.
- ALL paid Deposits and Registration Fees are non-refundable and it is not possible to request a credit toward a future workshop should you be unable to attend. If you are coming from somewhere outside of Europe, we strongly recommend you invest in travel insurance.
